A CROWD OF PEOPLE CAN DO NOTHING ALONE

      The lesson to be taken from theses verses is that even though the love for wife and children and property and positions may hinder some weak hearted Muslim partners from Jihad, the faithful believers should not be confused and discouraged in their way of truth, because it is always the help of God, and not more or less the number of forces which brings the victory in the field. As an instance; in the Battle of Badr, Muslims were very few in comparison with their foes, and yet they routed their enemies! On the contrary, Muslims had at Hunine tremendous odds in their favour, and yet their number availed them nothing, and the earth straitened against them with all its vastness and they turned back their fleeing! Had the invisible help of God not saved them, they would have been routed out.

 

THE INCIDENT OF HUNINE

      Hunine is on the road of Mecca to Taif, some fourteen miles to the east of Mecca. After the conquest of Mecca, a great gathering of the big tribe of HAVZIN was arranged and organized by their young and brave leader whose name was MALIK- IBN- AUF, in order to rout Muslims by a surprise attack. They took with them their wives, children, flocks and herds to make sure that none of them would turn his back to the enemy in the expected fight. They came out of the city of Taif for a great expedition. Well prepared, so as to show their military power and skill to the Meccans who had so easily given up to Muslims.

      Although the prophet had obtained the necessary information about the enemy and its startegies, Muslims had now a dangerous weak point, that they were too confident of their power due to their extraordinary numbers and odds. They were now some twelve thousands of warriors and relatively well equipped:

      ``Verily Allah helped you in many battle- fields; and in the Day of Hunine, when your great number amazed you, but it availed you nothing....''

      The prophet's forces marched down the valley of Hunine first time of the day, after morning prayer was performed. The enemy had the advantage of knowing the ground there. They laid an ambush in which the vanguard of Muslim troops was trapped and routed. Then the enemy attacked boldly, and their archers who were concealed behind the rocks, caused a havoc and panic, and a sudden over powering fear and fright, though groundless, seized Muslims! Many were slain, and the rest of them turned their backs in confusion and retreat.

      Here again the incident of the battle of Ohud was repeated, and Hazrat imam Ali (AS) who was the flag- bearer stood firm and fighting with a group of less than ten warriors round him. He did manage to uphold the banner of Islam and Mohammad S.A. The prophet too was at the heart of the army who were fleeing, and his uncle Abbas was besides him calling loudly the Muslims to stop fleeing and rejoin the prophet.

      The prophet as usual was calm and sure in his faith! With his unique patience, he managed to collect some of his forces once again, and reduce to order his confused troops. The enemy did a hard work to put out the light of God, but Allah's light shone brighter and more glorious than ever, God sent down invisible hosts, and the necessary tranquility to His Messenger, and to the true believers, and the prophet's confidence inspired all round him, and stopped the rout of those who fled.

      The infidels were severely punished, their camps, cattles and herds were all captured while hundreds of their men were killed in the fight:

      ``Then Allah sent down a tranquility upon His Messenger and the believers, and sent down hosts which you saw them not, and He punished the unbeleivers, and so was the recompense of the infidels.''

 

THE BATTLE OF HUNIN

      (Our presumption in this book is that, most of our dear readers are non-Muslims who are not well acquainted with the history - the true history of Islam. We therefore think it is necessary to give more details about the most important historical events of Islam, such as the dreadful wars that the pagans waged against our prophet, the defence for which was inevitable. In all these narrations our references are the most important and the most trusted historical books of Islam, that may leave no room for any doubt. An instance of this is the Battle of HUNINE which happened as follows:

 

RESISTANCE AGAIN!

      The conquest of Mecca turned to a general topic of conversation among people, throughout the Arabian peninsula, and particularly in the suborbs of Mecca. The leaders and chiefs of tribes whose hard strive and endeavour against the prophet had failed, were now anxious for their lives or at least for their positions. They still tried to convince the laymen and common people that there existed not such a Lord as Allah, with the qualifications that Mohammad attributes to Him; and that the conquest of Mecca had nothing to do with Allah, as Mohammad says. Had the Meccan been ready to defend, Mohammad could never succeed, and etc.

      A young abmitious and very bold man from the chiefs in the tribe of HAVAZIN, some fourteen miles away from Mecca in the easts, managed to rouse the bold and obstinate people of Taif against the prophet. He soon organized and mobilized a great gathering of good warriors, in order to make a concerted attack against the prophet.

      An order was issued by the commander that all the warriors had to bring with them their wives and children, cattles, and other important properties, in the battle- field, to ensure that no one escape the fight.

      The prophet collected necessary information about the gatherings and strategies of HAVAZINS and prepared accordingly. He sent ABDULLAH- IBN- ABIHAZARD to play the spy, and watch secretly, and let him know the report. When the intelligencer returned, he said to the prophet that the HAVAZINS were ready and in attention for us to pass by, and that they were resolute to fight.

      OMMAR- IBN- KHATTAB denied the spy and called him a liar! reasoning such that; after the conquest of Mecca, no one stands against Islam and Muslims, ABDULLAH was angry with OMMAR, who accused him of lying and said: ``How dare of you to call me a liar! I am not the first one whom you are falsifying! you denied and refuted the prophet too, before being a convert; but soon the prophet quenched the flame of their hot dispute before it could turn to quarrel.''

      Now the prophet knew that Sefvan, his dangerous enemy, that was recently converted, had a great deal of arms stored in his house. So he said to him: ``Sefvan! will you let us have the armours that you have stored in your house?'' In answer to the prophet, Sefvan said: ``Do you intend to confiscate them by force- majeure?''

      ``Not so Sefvan!''Said the prophet; ``I only want to borrow them from you, and if any of them is lost, I shall give you a replacement for it.'' So Sefvan; the prophets yesterday's enemy, and today's friend, brought hundreds of pieces of swords, spears, shields, chain mail, breast plates and etc!

      The prophet set out with more than 12 thousands men well armed, and made for the rebellions of Havazins who had also some hostile activities against the Meccans. On the evening of 30th Jan. 630, the prophet had his great camp at HUNINE, a valley in the mountainous country, in the road of Mecca to Taif, some 14 miles to the east.

      The enemy who was well acquainted with the ground and the round about, was sure that Muslims had no other option, but to pass a narrow isthmus - or a strait that was there in front of them.

      Muslims reposed in their camp without any anxiety for the night, while their enemy was laying in wait to make a surprise attack, when Muslims would pass the strait.

      Next morning, when the congregational prayer of dawn was performed, the huge and unique army of Mohammad S.A. set out, and marched forth. When they considered their large number and wide variety of their arms and equipments, they thought too much of themselves, and some of them felt haughty and proud!

      So far, Muslims had fought on the basis of their faith, but now they relied upon their worldly and physical forces.

      When Muslims were passing the strait with pride and self confidence, they were suddenly entrapped by the HAVAZINS who were laying in wait for the purpose of attacking by surprise. In their ambush, the vanguard of Muslims was caught, then by a sudden rush the enemy's covalry attacked the leading part of Muslim's army who fled away almost at once and in panic! Then the enemy archers caused havoc with their arrows from their places of concealment. In such a critical state as that, the large number of Muslims were themselves a disadvantage in that strait and small field, and therefore all of them retreated in confusion!

 

THE PROPHET STOOD FIRMELY

      In that critical moment of panic and havoc, the prophet stood firmly as ever. He seemed to be calm and watchful, and sure, as if nothing was wrong! His tranquility and firmness inspired and radiated all round him, and stopped the rout of those who had turned their back.

      Hazrat Imam Ali (AS) with a small group of Helpers and Emigrants, which numbered not more than 10 warriors made a fence of themselves arround the prophet, and fought bravely. By the order of the prophet, his uncles Abbas, who had a loud and rough voice, began to call loudly: ``O, you Emigrants! O, you Helpers! Here is our beloved prophet standing firmly among your enemies! Whereto, are you fleeing from God and His Apostle.'' Some of the fleeing Muslims heard that, and took their own control and once again gathered round the prophet and the tide was turned.

      Now there came the turn of Muslims to attack, and make a raid upon the enemy; and it was no long when they were badly defeated. Some were killed, some of them were taken captives, and the rest of them scattered and escaped. Muslims chased them and captured their camps, and their women and children, who were in the field, and also a lot of spoils.

 

WHO KILLED THAT WOMAN?

      In the battle- field of HUNINE, the prophet saw a woman of the enemy who was slain! He asked who did that, and he was informed that KHALID- IBN- VALID killed her. Seeing that forbidden and unlawful murder, the prophet became angry and said to his page: ``Go you as quick as possible to Khalid, and tell him that; `Allah Has prohibited the slaughter of women, children, and the weak in the battles.''

      Among the captives, there was a woman, named SHEMط, who claimed to be the Foster- sister of Mohammad. No one believed her, yet they brought her to the prophet, and she gave evidences and proved that she was the daughter of Halimeh the prophet's wet- nurse in childhood. Then the prophet spread his robe on the ground and offered her to sit down. Then the prophet gave her two options: either to live with Muslims respectfully, or to join her clan, which Shema chose the latter.

 

THE CAPTIVES OF HUNINE WERE FREED

      In the battle of Hunine, six thousands of women and children from the heathens were taken as captives. They belonged to different tribes and clans who were in alliance against Muslims. When the war was over some of the elders of the clans came to the prophet and begged his pardon and asked to free the captives.

      The prophet himself was looking for some excuse to release the poor women and children. So he instructed the elders to ask for fogiveness and amnesty in the congregational prayer; and when they did that, they asked the prophet to intercede with the Muslims on their behalf, and they also asked the Muslims to intercede with the Apostle on their behalf, so that they be excused, forgiven, and their woman and children freed.

      The prophet excused them on his part, and the Muslims too, followed their kind and compassionate leader, and an amnesty was granted and the captives were all released.

      Even MALIK- IBN- AUF, the bold commander of the battle of Hunine, joined the prophet when he heard of that great generosity, and the prophet forgave him, and gave him back all that he had and even more! The prophet respected Malik in accordance with his social valour and military values, and appointed him as the chief and commander of his tribe, who were by now all converted!

      This shows that Mohammad was not that sort of a leader to leave valuable brains, and talents, to escape from his dominion, or to destroy something of which, good use could possibly be made!

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE