abu jahl’s threats and insistence notwithstanding, banu zahrah, acting on the advice of al-akhnas bin shuraiq, broke away and returned to makkah. thenceforth al-akhnas remained ‘the well-rubbed palm tree’ for bani zahrah and was blindly obeyed in all relevant matters.

banu hashim were also inclined to break away, but abu jahl’s threats made them desist from that idea.

the rest of the army, now 1000 soldiers, approached badr and encamped themselves beyond a sand dune at al-‘udwat al-quswa.