72
ʾILÂM-EN-NÂS.
about it. And he gave thee the lie, and drove thee away in disgrace. So thou hast shown thyself an enemy to the sons of Hâshim both as an infidel and as a Muslim.—I do not blame thee for thy hatred at the present time, O thou son of Abu-Maît![1] and
- ↑ Abu-Maît was grandfather to el-Walîd, the son of ʾUkbah. It is supposed by some that a denunciatory passage in the 25th chapter of the Kurân particularly relates to ʾUkbah son of Abu-Maît. El-Beidhâwy relates that ʾUkbah used to be much in the Prophet's company, and having once invited him to an entertainment at his house, the Prophet refused to taste of his meat unless he would profess el-Islám. He did so, but soon after, meeting an intimate friend, and being reproached by him for changing his religion, ʾUkbah assured him that he had only pronounced the profession of faith because he could not for shame allow the Prophet to leave his house without eating. His friend, however, declared that he should not be convinced unless ʾUkbah went to Muhammad, set his foot on his neck, and spat in his face. He did this in the public hall where the Prophet was sitting; whereupon the latter told him that if ever he met him out of Mekkah he would cut off his head. And he was as good as his word, for when ʾUkbah was taken prisoner at Bedr, the Prophet immediately condemned him to death. El-Aghâny states that his executioner was Asîm son of Thâbit, and not ʾAly. ʾUkbah's children obtained the surname of Sibyât-en-Nâr (Children of the Fire, or of Hell-fire,) in consequence of the Prophet's answer to their father's question at the time of his execution. El-Walîd (ʾUkbah's son) was one of Abu-Bekr's generals in Upper Palestine, and was nominated governor of that province before its conquest. In an engagement before Damascus, he was, however, seized with panic, and with his troops fled before the enemy, for which conduct he was deposed.
