5. Would you like to meet him outside the institution? (cont.)

He said, "Delay Abu Sufyan in the narrow pass of the valley so that he can witness the armies of Allah as they pass by him." People are like the minerals of the earth Al-'Abbas took Abu Sufyan to the narrow pass of the valley just as the armies began to flood into Makkah. The battalions, one by one, began to pass by him. When he saw the first battalion, he asked, 'Who are they, O 'Abbas?' Al-'Abbas replied, "They are Sulaym." Abu Sufyan said, "What do I have to do with Sulaym?" When the second battalion passed by, he asked, "Who are they, O 'Abbas?" Al-'Abbas replied, "They are Muzaynah." Abu Sufyan said, "What do I have to do with Muzaynah?" Every time a different battalion passed by, Abu Sufyan asked the same question and made the same statement in response to al-'Abbas', until there finally came the Messenger ofAllah with his Green Army, surrounded by the Muhajirun and the Ansaar. Their bodies were covered with shields and nothing of them was to be seen except their eyes. Abu Sufyan said, "SubhaanAllah! O 'Abbas, Who are these people?" Al-'Abbas said, "This is the Messenger of Allah amongst the Muhajirun and the Ansar." He said, "This is the army of death! By Allah, nobody could ever challenge this army!" He then said, "By Allah, O Abu al-Fadl, your nephew's kingdom has expanded!" Al-'Abbas said, "O Abu Sufyan, this is prophethood!" "Prophethood, it certainly is!" replied Abu Sufyan. People are like the minerals of the earth When the armies had passed by, al-'Abbas told him to rush back and warn his people. Abu Sufyan quickly went back to Makkah and began to shout at the top of his voice, "O Quraysh! Muhammad is approaching with an army you cannot match! Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan shall be safe!" The people said, "May Allah curse you! What good will your house do us?" He said, "Whoever shuts himself in his house is safe! Whoever seeks refuge in the Mosque is also safe!" The people dispersed into their houses and some entered the Mosque. How wonderful was the Prophet to have such a positive effect on Abu Sufyan! A person's nature and personality should be understood before he is spoken to, as this would assist a great deal when dealing with him. At the expedition known as al-Hudaybiyah, the Prophet left with the Muhajirun and Ansaar as well as other Arabs for 'Umrah. They numbered a thousand and four-hundred altogether. They had taken with them animals to slaughter and had made the Ihraam, so it was known that they were heading to visit the House in its honour. The Prophet took with him seventy camels to slaughter in the Haram. When they approached Makkah, the Quraysh prevented them from going further, so the Prophet and his Companions camped at a place called al-Hudaybiyah. The Quraysh then began sending messages to the Prophet , one after the other, to bargain with him. They first dispatched to him Mikraz bin Hafs. Mikraz was from Quraysh but was not known for keeping to his agreements. People are like the minerals of the earth As a matter of fact, he was an evil and treacherous person. When the Prophet saw him approaching he said, "He is a treacherous person." When he came to the Prophet , the Prophet spoke to him in the way that he deserved, and further informed him that he had not come to fight; rather, he had only come to perform 'Umrah. The Prophet did not sign any agreement with him as he knew he never kept his promises. Mikraz returned to the Quraysh without any result. They then sent Halis bin 'Alqama, the chieftain of the Ahabish, who were allies of the Quraysh. They had settled in Makkah in honour of the Haram and in the service of the Ka'bah. When the Prophet saw Halis he said, "This man is from a people who think highly of animal sacrifice. Drive the sacrificial animals in full view of him so that he can see them." When he saw the sacrificial animals and realised that they had been brought all the way to Makkah to be sacrificed at the Ka'bah, he became worried. He didn't even meet the Prophet , for how could he have even thought of preventing them when they had so obviously come solely to perform 'Umrah. He therefore returned immediately to the Quraysh and told them his opinion frankly. The Quraysh said, "Sit down! You are simply a nomad Arab. You have no idea regarding plots and conspiracies." Al-Halis became angry and said, "O Quraysh! By Allah, this is not what we pledged allegiance to you upon.