Note 16 — Chapter III · MEDINA THREATENED. A.H. XI. June and July, A.H. 632.
Reading edition
Ibid. chapter xxx. Amru hastened home through Bahrein immediately on hearing of Mahomet’s death. Corra ibn Hobeira, Chief of the Beni Amir, took him aside, after a hospitable entertainment, and advised, as the only way to avoid revolt, that the tithe upon the Bedouins should be foregone. Amru stormed at him for this; and subsequently, on Corra being brought in a prisoner, advised his execution as an apostate.
On reaching Medîna, Amru made known the disheartening news to his friends, who crowded round him. Omar coming up, all were silent, but he divined what the subject of their converse was: ‘I think,’ he said, ‘that ye were speaking of what we have to fear from the Arab tribes?’ On their confessing, he made them swear that they would not discourage the people by letting the matter spread, and added: ‘Fear ye not this thing; verily I fear far more what the Arabs will suffer from you, than what ye will suffer from them. Verily if a company of the Coreish were to enter into a cave alone, the Bedouins would follow you into the same. They are a servile crew: wherefore, fear the Lord, and fear not them.’