After midnight, the Prophet(sa) again met the Muslims from Medina in the valley of ‘Aqaba. His uncle Abbas(ra) was with him. The Muslims from Medina numbered seventy-three, out of whom sixty-two belonged to the Khazraj tribe and eleven to the Aus. The party included two women, one being Ummi Ammara(ra), of the Banu Najjar. They had been taught Islam by Mus‘ab(ra), and were full of faith and determination. They all proved to be pillars of Islam. Ummi Ammara(ra) is an example. She instilled in her children undying loyalty to Islam. One of her sons, Habib(ra), was taken prisoner by Musailima, the Pretender, in an encounter after the Prophet's(sa) death. Musailima tried to unsettle Habib's(ra) faith. "Do you believe Muhammad(sa) to be a Messenger of God?" he asked. "Yes," was the reply. "Do you believe me to be a Messenger of God?" asked Musailima. "No," replied Habib(ra). Upon this Musailima ordered one of his limbs to be cut off. This done, he asked Habib(ra) again, "Do you believe Muhammad(sa) to be a Messenger of God?" "Yes," replied Habib(ra). "Do you believe me to be a Messenger of God?" "No." Musailima ordered another limb to be cut off Habib's(ra) body. Limb after limb was cut off in this way and Habib's(ra) body was reduced to many pieces. He died a cruel death, but left behind an unforgettable example of personal heroism and sacrifice for the sake of religious conviction (Halbiyya, Vol. 2, p. 17).
Ummi Ammara(ra) accompanied the Prophet(sa) in several wars.
This party of Medina Muslims, in short, attained to great distinction for their loyalty and faith. They came to Mecca not for wealth, but for faith; and they had it in abundance.
Moved by family ties and feeling legitimately responsible for the safety of the Prophet(sa), Abbas(ra) thus addressed the party:
O Khazraj, this my relation is respected here by his people. They are not all Muslims, yet they protect him. But he has chosen now to leave us and go to you. O Khazraj, do you know what will happen? All Arabia will be against you. If you realize the risks entailed by your invitation, then take him away; if you do not, then give up your intention and let him stay here.
The leader of this party Al-Bara’(ra) replied assuredly:
We have heard you. Our resolution is firm. Our lives are at the disposal of the Prophet(sa) of God. We are decided, and only await his decision (Halbiyya, Vol. 2, p. 18).
The Prophet(sa) gave a further exposition of Islam and its teaching. Explaining this, he told the party that he would go to Medina if they would hold Islam as dear as they held their wives and children. He had not quite finished when this party of seventy-three devotees cried, 'Yes,' 'Yes,' in one voice. In their zeal they forgot that they could be overheard. Abbas(ra) cautioned them to speak low. But the party was full of faith. Death now was nothing in their eyes. When Abbas(ra) cautioned the party, one of them said aloud, "We are not afraid, O Prophet of God(sa). Permit us, and we can deal with the Meccans right now and avenge the wrongs they have done you." But the Prophet(sa) said he had not yet been commanded to fight.
The party then took the oath of fealty and the meeting dispersed.
The Meccans did get to know of this meeting. They went to the Medina encampment to complain against these visitors to their chiefs. Abdullah bin Ubbayy bin Salul—Chief of chiefs—knew nothing of what had happened. He assured the Meccans that it must be some false rumour which they had heard. The people of Medina had accepted him as their leader and could not do anything without his knowledge and permission. He did not know that the people of Medina had cast off the rule of Satan and accepted the rule of God instead.