and—by Allah—it went on bubbling with water, giving them all they could drink, until they moved on.

While they were in that state, Budeil ibn Warqā’ al-Khuzāʿī arrived with a few men of Khuzaʿah. They were people of Tihāmah who kept the Messenger of Allah ﷺ’s secrets and offered him sincere counsel. He said, “I have left the clans of Kaʿb ibn Lu’ayy and ʿĀmir ibn Lu’ayy encamped around the springs of al-Hudaybiyyah. They have brought their milch animals and their young ones with them, and they are resolved to fight you and bar you from the House.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “We have not come to fight anyone; we have come only to perform ʿumrah. Quraysh has been worn down by war and it has taken its toll on them. If they wish, I will grant them a truce for a time, provided they allow me to mix with the people. If they want to enter into what everyone else has entered into, they may do so. Otherwise—surely they have already had enough. Yet if they refuse, then by Him in whose hand is my soul I will fight them over this matter of mine until my neck is severed or Allah brings His decree to pass.”

Budeil said, “I shall convey to them what you have said.” He went off until he reached Quraysh and said, “We have just come from this man and heard him say something. If you wish, we will relate it to you.” The foolish among them retorted, “We have no need to hear anything from you about him,” but those of sound judgment said, “Tell us what you heard.” He replied, “I heard him say such-and-such,” and he repeated the words of the Prophet ﷺ.

Then ʿUrwah ibn Masʿūd al-Thaqafī spoke up: “My people, am I not like a father to you?” They answered, “Indeed.” He said, “And am I not your son?” They said, “Indeed.” He asked, “Do you suspect me of anything?” They replied, “No.” He said, “Do you not know that I rallied the people of ʿUkāẓ, and when they turned away I came to you…"