40 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUBAMMAD
"Wthma, God bless him, then left and joined an assembly of Quraysh who
were being addressed by Lahid b. Rabi'a b. Malik b. Jacfar. Wthmm sat down
with them. Labid spoke a verse:
'Is not all hut God vanity?'
"'Uthman commented, 'You speak the truth!'
"Labid then said,
'And all pleasures must fade.'"At this Wthma protested, 'You lie! The pleasures of paradise will last forever!'
"Labid commented, '0 men of Quraysh, those who sat with you used not to
be so insulted; when did this come about so?'
"One man replied, 'This is just one of those fools allied with him; they have
abandoned our faith. Don't take to heart what he says.'
"'Uthmi%n spoke back to this man and they became angry with one another.
The other man then got up and hit 'Uthman in the eye, makimg it black. Al-
Walid, who was nearby and saw what had happened to 'Uthma, commented,
'Well, nephew, your eye didn't need to suffer so; earlier you were fully protected!'
"Wthmm replied, 'Not so; I swear the only problem is that my good eye is in
need of what the other one suffered for God's sake! Actually I am under the
protection of One stronger and more capable than yourself, 0 Abii 'Abd
al-Shams! '
"To this ai-Walid replied, 'Come on now, nephew, just come back under my
protection.'
"'No,' 'Uthman told him."
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Regarding Abn Salama b.'Abd al-Asad: my father, Ishaq b.
Yasar related to me that Salama b. 'Ahd Allsh b. Abii Salama told him that when
Abii Salama sought the protection of Abii Talib some men of the Banii
Makhzm went to the latter and asked him, '0 Abii Tdib, you've already given
protection from us to your nephew Muhammad; how is it you are now doing the
same for one of our own men?'
"Abii Talib replied, 'He sought out my protection, and he is my sister's son.
And if I am not to protect my sister's son, how could I protect my brother's son?'
"Abn Lahab then arose and said, '0 men of Quraysh, you've treated this
sheikh harshly, and you're constantly attacking him for giving protection to his
own people. Either put an end to this, or let's all take his side in this so he attains
his goal.'
"They replied, 'All right, Ahii Lahab, we'll stop behaving contrary to your
wishes.' He had been their ally and assistant against the Messenger of God
(SAAS), and they wanted to maintain that.
"Aba Tdib had high hopes of him when he heard him speak thus and antici-
pated his aid regarding the Messenger of God (SAAS). And so he spoke the