that we should turn upon the families and children of those who have aided them and seize them? If they remain behind, they will remain bereaved; and if they escape, it will be a neck that Allah has cut off? Or do you think that we should proceed to the House, and fight whoever bars us from it?”

Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah, you set out intending this House, not wishing to fight anyone or wage war. So proceed to it, and we will fight whoever bars us from it.”

He said, “Proceed in the name of Allah.” So they set out. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Khalid ibn al-Walid is at al-Ghamim with a cavalry detachment of Quraysh serving as an advance guard, so take the route to the right.” By Allah, Khalid did not notice them until he saw the dust cloud raised by the army. He then galloped off to warn Quraysh.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, continued until, when he reached the mountain pass from which he would descend upon them, his camel knelt down. The people said, “Go on! Go on!” But she refused to move. They said, “Al-Qaswa has become stubborn.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Al-Qaswa has not become stubborn, for that is not her nature. Rather, she has been restrained by the One who restrained the elephant.” Then he said, “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, if Quraysh call upon me today to accept any terms by which they honor what Allah has made sacred and uphold the ties of kinship, I will grant it to them.” Then he reproved her, and she rose up.

He turned away from them until he encamped at the far end of al-Hudaybiyyah, beside a small waterhole from which the people drew water little by little. Before long, they had exhausted it, and the people complained to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, of thirst. He took an arrow from his quiver and gave it to one of his Companions, named Najiya ibn Umayr, who was the driver of the Prophet’s sacrificial camels. He descended into the well and planted it in its depths. By Allah, water continued to gush forth for them in abundance until they departed from it fully satisfied.

While they were in that state, Budayl ibn Warqa al-Khuza‘i came to him with a group of his people. Khuza‘ah were the trusted confidants of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, among the people of Tihamah. He said, “I have left Ka‘b ibn Lu’ayy encamped at the numerous water sources of al-Hudaybiyyah, with their nursing camels and their young. They are prepared to fight you and bar you from the House.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “We have not come to fight anyone; rather, we have come to perform Umrah. War has exhausted Quraysh and caused them harm. If they wish, I will grant them a truce for a period, and they may leave me to deal with the people. If I prevail, then, if they wish, they may enter into what the people have entered into; otherwise, they will have had a respite. But 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.”

Budayl said, “I shall convey to them what you have said.” He then departed until he came to Quraysh and said, “We have come to you from this man, and we heard him say something. If you wish, we shall present it to you.” Their foolish ones said, “We have no need for you to tell us anything about him.” But those among them who were men of sound judgment said, “Tell us what you heard him say.”

He said, “I heard him say such-and-such,” and he told them what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had said. Then Urwah ibn Mas‘ud al-Thaqafi stood up and said, “O people, am I not as a father to you?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “And am I not as a son to you?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Do you accuse me of mistrust?” They said: