32 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADWe will not, by the Lord of the temple, deliver up Ahmad because of the tribula-
tions of time or the agony,
And when our necks and hands and yours will otherwise be cut by glinting blades
of Qussi steel!
In a narrow battlefield where broken spears will be seen, over which vultures hover,
like drinkers at a party,
And the space where the horsemen gallop and the heroes cry out will make it like a
battle in a war.
Was our forefather Hshim not courageous, and did he not advise his sons to thrust
and to strike?
We do not tire of warfare before it tires of us, nor do we complain at whatever mis-
fortunes may strike.
We are people who stay firm and prudent at times when the spirits of brave men fly
off in terror."'
Ihn Ishaq stated, "And they remained under those conditions for two or three
years in the utmost distress, with nothing getting into them unless secretly, from
those members of Qwaysh who wanted to keep ties with them.
"Aba Jahl h. Hisham, so they say, met Hakim b. Hizm b. Khuwaylid h. Asad
with whom was a slave hearing wheat for Hizam's aunt Khadija, daughter of
Khuwaylid, who was in the enclave along with the Messenger of God (SAAS).
Aba Jahl took hold of him and said, 'Are you taking food to the Banii Hashim? I
swear, you'll not go, you and your food, without me making a scandal about you
in Mecca! '
"Aba al-Bakhtari h. Hishm h. al-Harith b. Asad then came up to him and
asked, 'What's going on between you and him?'
"He replied, 'He's carrying food into the Bana Hashim.'
"Aba al-Bakhtari commented, 'This is food belonging to his aunt that she had
sent hi and he had at home. Would you prevent him from taking to her her
own food? Get out of the man's way!'
"But Abii Jahl, God damn him, refused and they began to fight. Aha
ai-Bakhtari picked up a camel's jawbone and struck him with it, giving him a
head wound. He then stomped on him.
"Hamza b. 'Ahd al-Mu@lih was nearby and saw ail this. But they did not like
to tell the Messenger of God (SAAS) and his Companions of this incident lest
they gloat over them."
THOSE WHO MOCKEDThe Messenger of God (SAAS) continued as before, calling upon his people by
day and night, secretly and openly, calling out the commands of God Almighty,
fearing no man.
- Swords of @sas were reknowned for their high quality