Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/227

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THE BOOK OF RELIGIOUS WAR
207

It is related from Abú Ráfiʿ that he said, 'The Quraish sent me to the Apostle of God; and when I saw him (the desire for) Islám was kindled in my heart and I said, "O Apostle of God, by God! I will not return to them at all." He replied, "Verily, I do not break a promise or detain ambassa-dors. Return, and if there still remain in thy heart (the desire) which is now there, then come back." He said, "So I went, and afterwards came to the Prophet and embraced Islám."'—Abú Dáud.

It is related from Nuʿaim bin Maʿsúd that, 'The Apostle of God said to two men who had come from Musailamah, "Beware! by God! were it not that ambassadors are not killed, I would have struck off your heads."'—Aḥmad, Abú Dáud.

Concerning the Division of Plunder, and
Purloining therefrom

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Plunder was not lawful for anyone before us. That (has been made so for us), because God saw our weakness and helplessness, and so He made it lawful for us."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Yezid bin Hurmuz that he said, 'Jandahuʾl-Ḥaruriyah wrote to Ibn ʿAbbás to ask him concerning the slave and the woman who are present at the place where booty is obtained: whether the booty should be shared with them. He said to Yazid, "Write to him that they should not receive any fixed share; but a little may be given to them."'—Muslim.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that a man presented the Apostle of God with a slave called Midʿam. And whilst he was unsaddling the Prophet's beast, behold a stray arrow struck him and killed him. Then the people said, "May it be well with him in paradise!" But the Apostle of God said, "Never! by Him in whose hands is my life! verily the cloak which he took from the plunder on the day of (the conquest of) Khaibár, when ye had not yet divided it, will light a fire upon him." When the people heard that, a man brought one or two thongs to the Prophet and said, "This is a thong or two from the fire."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.