Asʿad ibn Zurārah's Caution

In another narration, there is another interruption, when al-Anṣār started extending their hands to pledge allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Asʿad ibn Zurārah, the early Muslim among them, stood up and interrupted, and said, "Slowly now" — telling his people, "Take it easy, slow down. We only hurried here because we know that he is the Messenger of Allah. Bringing him out now, however, would be a provocation to all the Arabs, and would cause you to lose your elite, and would box you in with swords raised against you. If you are able to withstand that, then adopt him, and it will be up to Allah to reward you. But if you are people who have great fear for yourselves, then leave him, and make that fact plain. That course would be more forgivable in Allah's sight. Do you realise what agreement we are entering into? If we take the Messenger of Allah with us, that means we are going against the whole world, and we will be boxed in with swords surrounding us. We might lose our elite, we might spend our money, we might be killed. Now either we stand up and commit, or, if we have any fear in our hearts, we pull out now while it is not too late." They pushed Asʿad ibn Zurārah away and said, "We will give the pledge of allegiance." They said, "Keep away from us. We won't renegade on this pledge. We will never deny it." Allāhu akbar — look at the commitment of al-Anṣār, and the courage that they had.