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Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1‘alid, who commanded the Meccan cavalry, ‘ seized the opportunity thus afforded, and took the Muslims on the flank and completely routed them. Mohammed himself was wounded in the mouth and narrowly escaped with his life, and ‘Hamzah, his uncle, surnamed the Lion of God, was slain. ‘ The Meccans did not pursue their victory, but believing Mohammed, whom they had seen fall, to be dead, returned to their own city. The defeat placed Mohammed in a very critical position, and he kad great difficulty in restoring confidence to his followers 1. About the beginning of the year 627 A.D. the Muslims were in great jeopardy. 4,000 Meccans and 1,000 men, gathered from the neighbouring tribes, marched upon Medinah, being instigated thereto by the Jews who had been expelled from that city. Mohammed was only apprised of the ‘movement at the last moment, but he at once took measures for the defence. On the advice of Salman, a Persian captive, he caused a deep trench to be dug round the city, and earthworks to be raised in those parts where it was undefended, and behind the trench he posted his army, numbering 3,000 men. The invading Meccans were completely checked by this mode of defence, and although the Beni Qurdidhah, a Jewish tribe, deserted to them from Mohammed’s side and 1 See Chapter III, vers, 115-168. INTRODUCTION. XXXik rendered them every assistance, their attacks were unsuccessful. At length one cold winter’s night a violent storm of wind and rain arose, and a complete panic took place in the camp of the Meccans, who broke up and precipitately retired to their homes. This was the siege of the Confederates alluded to in the Qur'an}, The enemy having disappeared, Mohammed at once marched against the traitorous tribe of Qurdidhah, and besieged them in their fortress, about six miles south-west of Medinah. Being quite unprepared, these were obliged to surrender after fourteen days, which they did on condition that the Benu Aus, their allies in Medinah, should decide their fate. Mohammed chose for arbitrator one of the chiefs of the Aus tribe, named Saad ibn Moddf, a fierce soldier, who was at the time dying of the wounds which he had received in the attack upon the fortress. He ordained that the men should be beheaded one and all, the women and children sold as slaves, and the property divided amongst the soldiers. This terrible sentence was promptly executed, and the men, to the number of 800, were beheaded, and the women and children bartered to the Bedawin in exchange for arms and horses. _ Mohammed’s power and influence was now extending every day.
2This terrible sentence was promptly executed, and the men, to the number of 800, were beheaded, and the women and children bartered to the Bedawin in exchange for arms and horses. _ Mohammed’s power and influence was now extending every day. For six years neither he nor his followers had visited the Kaabah, or performed the sacred rites of the pilgrimage, and in the year 628 A.D. he resolved to attempt it. The time chosen was inthe sacred month of DHw'l Qa’hdah, when the Lesser Pilgrimage was wont to be performed, rather than Duu’l ‘Higgeh, that of the Greater Pilgrimage, as less likely to lead to a collision with the other tribes. Fifteen hundred men only accompanied Mohammed, bearing no other arms than those usually allowed to pilgrims, a sheathed sword for each. The Meccans contemplated Mohammed’s advance with no small apprehension, and not believing in his pacific 1 Chapter XXXII. xl THE QUR'AN. intentions, resolved to bar his progress) Mohammed, thus checked, turned aside towards ‘Hudaibiyeh, on the frontier of the sacred territory. Here, after some negotiations, a treaty was concluded in which a truce of ten years was agreed upon; any of the Meccans who pleased should be at liberty to join Mohammed, and vice versa, any of the Muslims who chose might enter the Meccan ranks; only those who were clients of powerful chiefs were not to be allowed to become Muslims without the consent of their patrons. Mohammed and his followers were not to enter Mecca that year, but the next year they were to be permitted to do so and to remain for three days. This was, in reality, a great triumph for Mohammed, as it recognised his position as an independent prince, while the ten years’ truce not only enabled him without hindrance to propagate his doctrines at Mecca, but, by removing the constant danger in which he stood from that city, gave him the opportunity of turning his attention elsewhere. He now not only endeavoured: to reduce the Bedawin tribes to submission, but wrote letters to the great kings and emperors of the world, to the Persian Khosrou, to the Byzantine Emperor, and to the Abyssinian Nagg4si, peremptorily bidding them embrace the faith and submit to his rule. The replies that he received were not flattering to his pride, but he or his immediate successors were, ere long, to repeat the summons in a form that admitted neither of denial nor of delay. One potentate only, the governor of Egypt, Maqauqas, xeturned, a favourable answer, and he sent amongst other presents two slave girls, one of whom, a Coptic girl named Mary, Mohammed took to himself, and by so doing estranged his numerous wives, and was only reconciled by a revelation 1. In 629 A.D., in the month of DHu’l Qa’hdah (February), 1 See Chapter LXVI. INTRODUCTION. xli the long-expected pilgrimage took place. With two thousand followers the prophet entered the Holy City, and the Meccans having retired to the neighbouring hills, all passed off quietly.
3In 629 A.D., in the month of DHu’l Qa’hdah (February), 1 See Chapter LXVI. INTRODUCTION. xli the long-expected pilgrimage took place. With two thousand followers the prophet entered the Holy City, and the Meccans having retired to the neighbouring hills, all passed off quietly. In the course of the short three days’ sojourn in Mecca the Muslim ranks were strengthened by the accession of two influential personages, ‘//alid, who had conquered them at Ohod, and ‘Amr, the future conqueror of Egypt. In this year the Muslim army experienced a terrible defeat at Mata on the Syrian frontier, in which the prophet’s friend Zaid was slain. His prestige, however, was soon re-established by fresh successors and the accession of numerous border tribes. Two years after the truce of “‘Hud4ibiyeh, a tribe who were under the protection of Mohammed, were attacked unawares by another tribe in alliance with the Meccans, and some Meccans in disguise were recognised amongst the assailants. This was a violation of the treaty, and Mohammed, on being appealed to by the sufferers, was nothing loth to take advantage of the opportunity afforded him for recommencing hostilities. The Meccans sent Abu Sufiyan to Medinah to offer explanations and procure a renewal of the truce, but without success. Mohammed began to make preparations for an expedition against Mecca, but concealed his plans even from his immediate followers; his Bedawin allies were ordered either to join him at Medinah, or to meet him at certain appointed places on the route, but it was not until the last moment that his troops knew that their destination was the Holy City. While they were encamped in the immediate neighbourhood, and before the Meccans had any certain knowledge of their approach, the camp was visited at night by Abu Sufiyan, who was introduced to Mohammed by his uncle “Abbas, the latter having become converted to Isl4m now that he saw that its cause must certainly triumph. Mohammed promised Abu Sufiy4n that all those inhabitants of Mecca who should take refuge in his house or in the Kaabah or even in private houses, provided the doors were closed, should be xlii THE QuR’AN.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1‘alid, who commanded the Meccan cavalry, ‘ seized the opportunity thus afforded, and took the Muslims on the flank and completely routed them. Mohammed himself was wounded in the mouth and narrowly escaped with his life, and ‘Hamzah, his uncle, surnamed the Lion of God, was slain. ‘ The Meccans did not pursue their victory, but believing Mohammed, whom they had seen fall, to be dead, returned to their own city. The defeat placed Mohammed in a very critical position, and he kad great difficulty in restoring confidence to his followers 1. About the beginning of the year 627 A.D. the Muslims were in great jeopardy. 4,000 Meccans and 1,000 men, gathered from the neighbouring tribes, marched upon Medinah, being instigated thereto by the Jews who had been expelled from that city. Mohammed was only apprised of the ‘movement at the last moment, but he at once took measures for the defence. On the advice of Salman, a Persian captive, he caused a deep trench to be dug round the city, and earthworks to be raised in those parts where it was undefended, and behind the trench he posted his army, numbering 3,000 men. The invading Meccans were completely checked by this mode of defence, and although the Beni Qurdidhah, a Jewish tribe, deserted to them from Mohammed’s side and 1 See Chapter III, vers, 115-168. INTRODUCTION. XXXik rendered them every assistance, their attacks were unsuccessful. At length one cold winter’s night a violent storm of wind and rain arose, and a complete panic took place in the camp of the Meccans, who broke up and precipitately retired to their homes. This was the siege of the Confederates alluded to in the Qur'an}, The enemy having disappeared, Mohammed at once marched against the traitorous tribe of Qurdidhah, and besieged them in their fortress, about six miles south-west of Medinah. Being quite unprepared, these were obliged to surrender after fourteen days, which they did on condition that the Benu Aus, their allies in Medinah, should decide their fate. Mohammed chose for arbitrator one of the chiefs of the Aus tribe, named Saad ibn Moddf, a fierce soldier, who was at the time dying of the wounds which he had received in the attack upon the fortress. He ordained that the men should be beheaded one and all, the women and children sold as slaves, and the property divided amongst the soldiers. This terrible sentence was promptly executed, and the men, to the number of 800, were beheaded, and the women and children bartered to the Bedawin in exchange for arms and horses. _ Mohammed’s power and influence was now extending every day.
2This terrible sentence was promptly executed, and the men, to the number of 800, were beheaded, and the women and children bartered to the Bedawin in exchange for arms and horses. _ Mohammed’s power and influence was now extending every day. For six years neither he nor his followers had visited the Kaabah, or performed the sacred rites of the pilgrimage, and in the year 628 A.D. he resolved to attempt it. The time chosen was inthe sacred month of DHw'l Qa’hdah, when the Lesser Pilgrimage was wont to be performed, rather than Duu’l ‘Higgeh, that of the Greater Pilgrimage, as less likely to lead to a collision with the other tribes. Fifteen hundred men only accompanied Mohammed, bearing no other arms than those usually allowed to pilgrims, a sheathed sword for each. The Meccans contemplated Mohammed’s advance with no small apprehension, and not believing in his pacific 1 Chapter XXXII. xl THE QUR'AN. intentions, resolved to bar his progress) Mohammed, thus checked, turned aside towards ‘Hudaibiyeh, on the frontier of the sacred territory. Here, after some negotiations, a treaty was concluded in which a truce of ten years was agreed upon; any of the Meccans who pleased should be at liberty to join Mohammed, and vice versa, any of the Muslims who chose might enter the Meccan ranks; only those who were clients of powerful chiefs were not to be allowed to become Muslims without the consent of their patrons. Mohammed and his followers were not to enter Mecca that year, but the next year they were to be permitted to do so and to remain for three days. This was, in reality, a great triumph for Mohammed, as it recognised his position as an independent prince, while the ten years’ truce not only enabled him without hindrance to propagate his doctrines at Mecca, but, by removing the constant danger in which he stood from that city, gave him the opportunity of turning his attention elsewhere. He now not only endeavoured: to reduce the Bedawin tribes to submission, but wrote letters to the great kings and emperors of the world, to the Persian Khosrou, to the Byzantine Emperor, and to the Abyssinian Nagg4si, peremptorily bidding them embrace the faith and submit to his rule. The replies that he received were not flattering to his pride, but he or his immediate successors were, ere long, to repeat the summons in a form that admitted neither of denial nor of delay. One potentate only, the governor of Egypt, Maqauqas, xeturned, a favourable answer, and he sent amongst other presents two slave girls, one of whom, a Coptic girl named Mary, Mohammed took to himself, and by so doing estranged his numerous wives, and was only reconciled by a revelation 1. In 629 A.D., in the month of DHu’l Qa’hdah (February), 1 See Chapter LXVI. INTRODUCTION. xli the long-expected pilgrimage took place. With two thousand followers the prophet entered the Holy City, and the Meccans having retired to the neighbouring hills, all passed off quietly.
3In 629 A.D., in the month of DHu’l Qa’hdah (February), 1 See Chapter LXVI. INTRODUCTION. xli the long-expected pilgrimage took place. With two thousand followers the prophet entered the Holy City, and the Meccans having retired to the neighbouring hills, all passed off quietly. In the course of the short three days’ sojourn in Mecca the Muslim ranks were strengthened by the accession of two influential personages, ‘//alid, who had conquered them at Ohod, and ‘Amr, the future conqueror of Egypt. In this year the Muslim army experienced a terrible defeat at Mata on the Syrian frontier, in which the prophet’s friend Zaid was slain. His prestige, however, was soon re-established by fresh successors and the accession of numerous border tribes. Two years after the truce of “‘Hud4ibiyeh, a tribe who were under the protection of Mohammed, were attacked unawares by another tribe in alliance with the Meccans, and some Meccans in disguise were recognised amongst the assailants. This was a violation of the treaty, and Mohammed, on being appealed to by the sufferers, was nothing loth to take advantage of the opportunity afforded him for recommencing hostilities. The Meccans sent Abu Sufiyan to Medinah to offer explanations and procure a renewal of the truce, but without success. Mohammed began to make preparations for an expedition against Mecca, but concealed his plans even from his immediate followers; his Bedawin allies were ordered either to join him at Medinah, or to meet him at certain appointed places on the route, but it was not until the last moment that his troops knew that their destination was the Holy City. While they were encamped in the immediate neighbourhood, and before the Meccans had any certain knowledge of their approach, the camp was visited at night by Abu Sufiyan, who was introduced to Mohammed by his uncle “Abbas, the latter having become converted to Isl4m now that he saw that its cause must certainly triumph. Mohammed promised Abu Sufiy4n that all those inhabitants of Mecca who should take refuge in his house or in the Kaabah or even in private houses, provided the doors were closed, should be xlii THE QuR’AN.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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