250 tlFB OF MOHAMMED* 



movements concealed, that the Meccans were only- 

 apprized of their arrival by the blaze of 10,000 fire:^ 

 within four parasangs of the city. Leaving Omar 

 in charge of the camp to intercept all spies and com- 

 munications, the Prophet advanced his army in four 

 detachments to invest the town on every side. The 

 left wing was conducted by Ali with tlie great 

 standard of Islam at its head, and the right by 

 Khaled ; while he himself, mounted on his camel 

 and clothed in a scarlet robe, took the rear, and ex- 

 pressly prohibited his generals from committing vio- 

 lence except in cases of defence. 



The inhabitants were in a state of great conster- 

 nation, but it was too late to offer effective resist- 

 ance. Abu Sofian and two of their chiefs had falleii 

 into the hands of Omar : to save their heads they 

 swore fealty to Mohammed, not without suspicion 

 of treachery.* Tlie Moslem troops met with no 

 opposition, and three divisions, without striking a 

 blow, marched peaceably into the city just as the 

 morning sun was appearing above the horizon. 

 Khaled alone encountered a large body of the 

 enemy, who disputed his passage through the plain 

 with a shower of arrows ; but, after a sharp conliict, 

 they were speedily dispersed. Ignorantly or pur- 

 posely disregarding the prohibition of the Prophet 

 as to the effusion of blood, the furious chief pursued 

 the fugitives into the heart of the town ; massacri)ig 

 all that came in his way in tlie streets and public 

 squares as far as the gate of the temple, where vast 

 multitudes had taken shelter. Seventy are said to 

 have fallen by his ovv^n hand ; numbers sought the 



* M. de Rrequigny, in his excellent Dissertation (Mem. dei 

 I'Acad. des Inscriptions, tome xxxii.), conjectures that a secret 

 treaty had been concocted between Mohammed and Abu Sufi.Tn 

 at Medina, the precedmg year. The marriage of the Prophet 

 With his daughter Habiba, and the liberal share of spoil whii:h 

 he conferred on him and his two sons after the battle of Honain, 

 Certainly confirm the suspicion. 



