meanwhile al-‘abbas bin ‘abdul muttalib, was closely watching the military movements and preparations for war, and these were all included in an urgent message sent by him to prophet [pbuh] who received it while he was in qubâ’ mosque. ubai bin ka‘b read the letter to the prophet [pbuh], who asked him to be reticent with respect to its serious contents. he hurried back to madinah, convened a meeting with the helpers and emigrants and conducted with them serious consultations as regards the measures to be taken.