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Damdam did not spare his camel as he sped onto Mecca at a breakneck pace. In
order to attract immediate attention, as soon as he reached the valley of Mecca,
he mutilated his poor camel by slitting its ears and cutting off its nose, then, he
turned his saddle backwards, tore his shirt and screamed the news at the top of
his voice as he entered the City.

It wasn't long before the alarm had reached each sector of Mecca. The Meccans
knew that the caravan was richly laden and that each of the Koraysh tribes had
one of their own accompanying it.

Immediately, Abu Jahl, one of the foremost persecutors of the Muslims, called
the Koraysh chieftains, its warriors, and in fact all able men to prepare
themselves and meet him in the precincts of Ka'ba. Utba, the son of Rab'ia was
appointed as Commander in Chief, and the combined Koraysh army looked
formidable; there were no less than 950 armed soldiers, 700 camels and 3
horses with more than adequate provisions.

The tribe of Adi, however, decided not to partake in the impending battle and
remained behind. Two other people also decided to do likewise, namely Abu