Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
5. Lessons of the Prophet’s Life
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it meant that, after a lapse of six years, they would
soon be going to Makkah and visiting the Holy
Ka’bah. In accordance with this dream, the Prophet
set out for the holy city with 1400 of his
companions. When they reached Ghadir Ashtat,
they heard that the news of their journey had
reached the Quraysh. Indignant at the idea of the
Muslims visiting the House of God, they had
amassed an army, and vowed to prevent
Muhammad and his companions from entering
Makkah, although it was absolutely contrary to
Arab tradition to prevent anyone from visiting the
Ka’bah. The Prophet was acting under divine
inspiration: perhaps that is why he remained calm
when he heard of the Quraysh’s reaction. He was
informed by his spies that Khalid ibn al-Walid,
intent on blocking the Muslims’ path, had advanced
with two hundred cavalrymen to Ghamim. On
hearing this, the Prophet changed route, deviating
from a well-frequented path to a little-known and
arduous route, which led him to Hudaybiyyah. In
this way he avoided clashing with Khalid’s army.
This is how the historian Ibn Hisham describes the
events:
