1856.] Alfred von Kremer's edition of Waqidy. 215 



An^ar among them. He wrote a letter for him and told him not to 

 look into it before he had proceeded two days journey. Then he 

 should read it and go to the place indicated in it, but that he was 

 not to compel any of his men to accompany him. The men of 

 Ja^sh were: (see list supra, p. 65 note). When Ibn Ja^sh had 

 advanced two days he opened the letter and read it, and he found in 

 it what follows : ' When you have read this letter proceed as far as 

 Nakhlah between Makkah and al-Tayif. Watch the movements of 

 the Qorayshites and give me information.' When he had done 

 reading it he said, I hear and obey, and then addressing his fol- 

 lowers, he spoke : The prophet orders me to proceed to Nakhlah to 

 watch the movements of the Qorayshites and to bring him the 

 intelligence thereof, and he ordered me not to force any of you to 

 accompany me. Let those of you who wish to earn the glory of 

 martyrdom, accompany me, but those who have no inclination may 

 return. As to myself I carry out the orders of the prophet. Hav- 

 ing said so he proceeded, and they all went with him, not one of them 

 remained behind. They went along the iZijaz road until they came 

 to a Ma' dan above al-For', which is called Bahran or Bo/zran. There 

 a camel, which Sa'd and 'Otbah were riding in turn, went astray. 

 They went in search of him and were left behind. Ibn JaAsh and 

 his other followers proceeded until they reached Nakhlah. There a 

 Qorayshite caravan passed them laden with raisins, leather and other 

 articles, in which the Qorayshites used to trade. The persons in 

 charge of the caravan were 'Amr b. al-iZadhramy, 'Othman b. 'Abd 

 Allah, his brother Nawfal and .Hakam b. Kaysan. When these 

 men saw the party they were afraid ; because they had encamped 

 quite close to them. 'Okkashah, after he had his head shaved, 

 showed himself to them, and they were put on their ease and said 

 to each other, They are pilgrims, they will do us no harm. As 

 this was the last of Rajab ; the Moslims consulted among each other 

 what to do, some said, If you do not attack them to-day they will 

 slip into the sacred territory, where you canuot attack them, and if 

 you do kill them, you kill them in the sacred month. They were 

 doubtful what to do, and afraid to attack them. At last they took 

 courage and agreed to kill as many of them as they could, and carry 

 away the booty. Waqid shot 'Amr with an arrow and killed him. 



2 f 2 



