THE INCIDENT OF HUNINE

      Hunine is on the road of Mecca to Taif, some fourteen miles to the east of Mecca. After the conquest of Mecca, a great gathering of the big tribe of HAVZIN was arranged and organized by their young and brave leader whose name was MALIK- IBN- AUF, in order to rout Muslims by a surprise attack. They took with them their wives, children, flocks and herds to make sure that none of them would turn his back to the enemy in the expected fight. They came out of the city of Taif for a great expedition. Well prepared, so as to show their military power and skill to the Meccans who had so easily given up to Muslims.

      Although the prophet had obtained the necessary information about the enemy and its startegies, Muslims had now a dangerous weak point, that they were too confident of their power due to their extraordinary numbers and odds. They were now some twelve thousands of warriors and relatively well equipped:

      ``Verily Allah helped you in many battle- fields; and in the Day of Hunine, when your great number amazed you, but it availed you nothing....''

      The prophet's forces marched down the valley of Hunine first time of the day, after morning prayer was performed. The enemy had the advantage of knowing the ground there. They laid an ambush in which the vanguard of Muslim troops was trapped and routed. Then the enemy attacked boldly, and their archers who were concealed behind the rocks, caused a havoc and panic, and a sudden over powering fear and fright, though groundless, seized Muslims! Many were slain, and the rest of them turned their backs in confusion and retreat.

      Here again the incident of the battle of Ohud was repeated, and Hazrat imam Ali(AS) who was the flag- bearer stood firm and fighting with a group of less than ten warriors round him. He did manage to uphold the banner of Islam and MohammadS.A. The prophet too was at the heart of the army who were fleeing, and his uncle Abbas was besides him calling loudly the Muslims to stop fleeing and rejoin the prophet.

      The prophet as usual was calm and sure in his faith! With his unique patience, he managed to collect some of his forces once again, and reduce to order his confused troops. The enemy did a hard work to put out the light of God, but Allah's light shone brighter and more glorious than ever, God sent down invisible hosts, and the necessary tranquility to His Messenger, and to the true believers, and the prophet's confidence inspired all round him, and stopped the rout of those who fled.

      The infidels were severely punished, their camps, cattles and herds were all captured while hundreds of their men were killed in the fight:

      ``Then Allah sent down a tranquility upon His Messenger and the believers, and sent down hosts which you saw them not, and He punished the unbeleivers, and so was the recompense of the infidels.''

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