intimation of the intended attack. The Prophet peace be upon him received news from the heaven of
Hatibs  ' action and sent A ' li and Al -Miqdad with instructions to go after her. They overtook the  messenger, and after a long search discovered the letter carefully hidden in her locks. The Prophet  peace be upon him summoned Hatib and asked him what had induced him to this act. He replied, "O
Messenger of Allâh peace be upon him! I have no affinity of blood with Quraish; there is only a kind of  friendly relationship between them and myself. My family is at Makkah and there is no one to look  after  it or to offer protection to it. My position stands in striking contrast to that of the refugees whose  families are secure due to their blood ties with Quraish. I felt that since I am not related to them, I  should, for the safety of my children, earn their gratitude by doing good to them. I swear by Allâh that
I  have not done this act as an apostate, forsaking Islam. I was prompted only by the considerations I  have just explained."
U ' mar wanted to cut his head off as a hypocrite, but the Prophet peace be upon him accep ted his  excuse and granted him pardon, then addressed U ' mar saying: "Hatib is one of those who fought in  the  battle of Badr. How do you know that he is a hypocrite? Allâh is likely to look favourably on those who  participated in that battle. Turning then, to Hatib, he said: "Do as you please, for I have forgiven you."
After making full preparation, the Prophet peace be upon him proceeded to Makkah at the head of ten  thousand soldiers on the 10th of Ramadan, 8 A.H. He mandated Abu Ruhm Al-Ghifari to dispose the  affairs of Madinah during his absence. When they reached Al-Juhfa, Al-A ' bbas bin A ' bdul Muttalib and  his family came to join the Prophet peace be upon him. At Al-Abwa', the Muslims came across Abu
Sufyan bin Al-Harith and 'Abdullah bin Omaiyah, the Pro phets  ' cousins, but, on account of the harm  they had inflicted, and their satiric language, on the believers, they were not welcomed. A ' li addressed
Abu Sufyan to go and beseech the Prophet peace be upon him for pardon and confess his ill-behaviour  in a manner similar to that of Yusufs ' (the Prophet Joseph) brothers:
"They said: B ' y Allâh! Indeed Allâh has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been  sinners." ' 12:91 Abu Sufyan observed A ' lis  ' counsel, to which the Prophet quoted Allâhs  ' Words:
"He said: No ' reproach on you this day, may Allâh forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those  who  show mercy!" ' 12:92
Abu Sufyan recited some verses paying a generous tribute to the Prophet peace be upon him and  professing Islam as his only religion.
The Muslims then marched on in a state of fasting until they reached a place called Al-Qadeed where  water was available. There they broke fast and resumed their movement towards Mar Az-Zahran. The
Quraishites were quite unaware of the development of affairs, but the Prophet peace be upon him did  not like to take them by surprise. He, therefore, ordered his men to kindle fire on all sides for cooking  purposes. The idea behind this was that Quraish should be afforded full opportunity to assess the  situation in which they were pitchforked correctly, and should not endanger their lives by leaping  blindly  in the battlefield. U ' mar bin Al -Khattab was entrusted with the guard duty. In the meanwhile, Abu
Sufyan along with Hakim bin Hizam and Budail bin Warqua', two terrible polytheists, went out to  reconnoiter. Before they got near the camp, they met A ' bbas, the Prophets  ' uncle. He apprised Abu
Sufyan of the situation and advised him to accept Islam and persuade his people to surrender before
Muhammad peace be upon him; otherwise, his head would be struck off.
Under the prevailing compelling circumstances, Abu Sufyan went in the company of A ' bbas seeking  the
Prophets  ' peace be upon him audience. The Muslims were furious to see Abu Sufyan and wanted to kill  him on the spot. But the two men managed, not without difficulties, to see the Messenger of Allâh  peace be upon him who advised that they see him the following day. The Prophet peace be upon him  addressed Abu Sufyan saying: "Woe to you! Isnt ' it time for you to bear witness to the Oneness of
Allâh  and Prophethood of Muhammad?" Here, the archenemy of Islam began to beseech the Prophet peace  be upon him in the most earnest words that testify to the Prophets  ' generosity and mild temper  begging  for pardon and forgiveness, and professing wholeheartedly the new faith. On request by A ' bbas, the
Prophet peace be upon him, in the context of the general amnesty he proclaimed, gave Abu Sufyan,  who had a liking for bragging, a special privilege, saying: "He who takes refuge in Abu Sufyans ' house  is safe; whosoever confines himself to his house, the inmates thereof shall be in safety, and he who