Abū Jahl Presses On

He then sent a letter back to Makkah, saying, "You came out to do battle in order to protect your caravan, your people and your wealth. Allah has now saved these, so go back." Abū Sufyān said there was no point now in fighting, since the caravan was safe, so they should go back. Abū Jahl said, "By Allah, we will not turn around until we reach Badr" — Badr being a place where the Arabs would hold a fair and a market each year, gathering in that place to hold a fair. Abū Jahl went on: they would stay there three days, slaughter some camels, eat well, drink wine, and the entertainers would play music for them; the Bedouin would hear of their journey and of their gathering there, and would respect them for it — let them proceed ahead. For Abū Jahl it was a matter of flexing muscles: they would go, they would celebrate, they would drink wine, they would have the slave girls sing for them, and let all the Arabs come and see the strength of Quraysh, and fear them after that.

Do not be like those who came forth from their homes insolently and to be seen by people, averting them from the way of Allah, and Allah is encompassing of what they do. The people of Quraysh came out with exactly this insolence; they came out to show off and to boast of their power and strength.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), now realising that the caravan was trying to get away, and that instead of facing a caravan guarded by forty men they might be facing an army a thousand strong, held a shūrā and asked the Companions, "What do you think?"