what a powerful truth the above-mentioned verse expresses and what a firm point of support it was. We shall mention only a few events classed as definite as examples.

First Event: Scholars of Hadith and the Prophet’s biography report unanimously that the Quraysh had made a certain agreement to kill God’s Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace). Upon the suggestion of a demon in human form, so as to prevent discord within the Quraysh, at least one member of every branch of the tribe formed a group of nearly two hundred men under the leadership of Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab, and they staged a surprise attack on the Prophet’s house. ‘Ali was together with God’s Messenger. He had told him to sleep that night in his bed. The Messenger waited till the Quraysh came and completely surrounded the house, then he went out and threw a handful of earth at their heads, and not one of them saw him. He passed through them and disappeared.(275) When he reached the cave of Hira, two pigeons and a spider became his guards, and protected him against all the Quraysh.(276)

The Second Event: It certainly occurred that when they emerged from the cave and set off towards Madinah, they were followed by a very brave man called

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(275) Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa: i, 349; Musnad (Tahqiq: Ahmad Shakir) iv, 269 no: 2009; al-Haythami, Majma’ al-Zawa’id ii, 228.
(276) Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa: i, 349; al-Khafaji, Sharh al-Shifa: iii, 236; see page, fn. 246, 247.