358 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADHe left his beloved ones to fight for them, and fled by
giving his steed free rein.
It outstripped the he horses in the desert, with the
speed of a rock on a rope descending a well,
Joyfully it sped away with him, while his friends lay
prostrate there in a terrible state.
His brothers and people locked in battle in which God
was giving his support to the Muslims.
God fulfils His purpose, and so the war, its flames
flaring on them, ground them to dust.
If not for God and the horses' racing, they would have
left him for the beasts, and for them to tread underfoot.
There were some who were captive and firmly bound, like
an eagle defending itself against the spears.
And others who lay prostrate, answering no call, until the
highest mountains might cease to exist.
In shame and clear humiliation when he saw the swords'
blades driving off all the chiefs,
Swords held by noblemen, great lords whose ancestry lines
can be traced and found blemish-free,
Swords that flash like lightning when striking iron in the
gloom beneath the rain clouds."'Ibn Hisham stated, "We have omitted three verses from the ending of the above
poem since I found them obscene."
He went on, "He was answered by al-Hsrith b. Hishzm, brother of Aba Jahl
'Amr b. Hish%rn, who spoke the following verses:
'The people well know that I did not abandon their battle
until they had covered my horse with red foam.
I knew that if I battled on alone I would be killed, yet my
martyrdom would not harm my enemy.
And so I left them, my friends among them, intending to
bring them punishment some other terrible day."'Hasszn also said,
"0 &irith, you acted badly, not like someone to be relied
upon, at the battle, at the time for noble valour,
When you rode a swift-footed thoroughbred, fast and long-
flanked.
Your people left behind you, you having quit the battle,
hoping for escape when it was no time to leave.
Had you not compassion for your brother, lying there
pierced with spears and plundered?
The Almighty had hastened to him, destroying his force
in base dishonour and terrible punishment."Hassan also spoke the following,