46 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
"'We'll agree to that,' they said, and so compacted.
"They then looked and found it as the Messenger of God (SAAS) had said.
But this only increased their malice.
"Thereupon the group of Quraysh men took their action to revoke the
document."
Ibn Ishxq stated that when it had been torn up and its contents revoked, Abn
T3ih spoke the following verses in praise of those who had taken action to annul
the document:
"Has our Lord's action reached our men at sea, despite their distance, for God is
most kind to people,
And will tell them that the document has been torn up, and that all things that
displease God come to nought.
Falsehood and deceit alternated and conjoined in it, hut ultimately deceit is not
bound to prevail.
Those uninvolved in it gathered together on a level plateau, while its fate remained
undetermined.
It was an incident so worthy of being considered evil as to have arms and necks
severed for it.
And for the people of all Mecca to leave in flight, their hearts quaking in fear of its
evil,
The ploughman was left to ponder his options, whether because of it to head for low
ground or for high,
So let him of Mecca's people whose prestige intoxicates him know that our glory in
Mecca's heart is longer lived.
We grew up there when those there were few and we have always had our prestige
and praise for us increase.
We fed our guests until they were forced to leave leftovers, and till the hands of
those inundated with food began to give out.
God reward that group who united at al-Hajiin behind a chief who guides rightly
and decisively,
Who sat on the heights at al-Hajiin as though they were kings, though even more
noble and glorious than that.
Each hero helping in that, though walking with difficulty and impeded by his
chainmail,
Courageously moving to great deeds, like a flame flaring in a torchbearer's hands
Men of the most noble of Lu'ayy b. Ghslib whose faces bum in anger if they are
insulted:
Men tall in stature, their swords reaching to the middle of their shanks, men for
whom the clouds receive rain and bring joy.
Generous lords and sons of lords, urging their guests to eat, piling the food,
Constructing safety and paving the way for their tribesmen when we travel the
country.
Every blame-free man strives to keep this peace; (every) leader of great renown for
that reason.
They spent part of the night asleep then awoke quietly, while the rest still slept.