290 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADIhn Ishaq stated, "When his men busied themselves in taking prisoners, the
Messenger of God (SAAS) noticed, so I have been told, some discontent in the
face of Sa'd b. Mu%dh at what they were doing. He therefore asked him, 'Do I
see you dislike what our men are doing, Sa'd?' He replied, 'Yes, by God, 0
Messenger of God; this is the first battle God has waged against the polytheists
and I would have preferred the men to he massacred rather than kept alive!'"
Ibn Ishaq went on, "Al-'Abb% b. 'Abd Allah b. Ma'bad related to me, from
some of his family, from 'Abd Allah b. 'Abbas, that the Prophet (SAAS) said to
his Companions that day, 'I bave learned that some men of the Banii Hashim,
and others, have been forced to come out and did not want to do battle against
us. If any of you should meet up with any men of the Banii Hashim, do not kill
them. If one of you should meet Abii al-Bakbtari b. Hishw b. al-Harith b. Asad,
he should not kill him. Anyone meeting al-(Abbas b.'Abd al-MutMib (the uncle
of the Messenger of God (SAAS)) should also not kill him; he only came forth
reluctantly.'
"Abii Hudhayfa b. Wtba b. Rabi'a then asked, 'Should we then kill our own
sons and brothers yet leave al-'Abbas alone? I swear by God, if I meet up with
him, I'll attack him with my sword!'
"This comment reached the Messenger of God (SAAS) and he said to Wmar,
'0 father of Hafs' - 'Umar swore this was the first time he had ever used this
name when addressing him - 'shall the face of the uncle of the Messenger of God
be struck with a sword?'
"'0 Messenger of God,' Wmar replied, 'let me strike Abii Hudhayfa's neck
with my sword, he's turned hypocrite!'
"Abii Hudhayfa stated, 'I never felt safe, having made that comment that day.
I always feared that the only thing that would mitigate it would be my martyr-
dom.'
"And he was killed as a martyr at the battle of al-Yamitma. God be pleased
with him."
THE DEATH OF ABU AL-BAKHTARI B. HISHAM.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) only forbad the killing of Abii
al-Bakhtari because in Mecca he had been the most protective of the Messenger
of God. He never harmed him, nor allowed anyone to mistreat him. He had also
been oneof those who had annulled the document boycotting the Messenger of
God (SAAS). Al-Mujadhdhir h. Dhiyzd al-Balawi, an ally of the Helpers met up
with him and told him, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS) has forbidden us from
killing you.' Abii al-Bakhtari had with him a friend who had come forth from
Mecca in his company, a man named Junada b. Maliha, of the Banii Layth. Abii I 1
al-Bakhtari asked, 'And what about my friend?'
"Al-Mujadhdhir replied, 'No, by God, we'll not excuse your friend; it was i
about you alone the Messenger of God (SAAS) gave orders.' Aba al-Bakhtari^1