Mutilation of the Muslim Dead

quraysh was intoxicated with her victory and deemed her vengeance for badr fully taken. the occasion gave abu sufyan such cause for pride that he said, "a great day was won against the day of badr. next year will see the same." his wife hind, daughter of `utbah, was not satisfied with this victory. nor was she satisfied with the death of hamzah ibn `abd al muttalib. with her women companions she ~ ran toward the battlefield and began the mutilation of the muslim dead. she cut off a number of noses and ears in order to make a string and a necklace of them. she then cut the body of hamzah open and pulled out his liver which she began to chew. these ugly deeds of hers and of her women companions were so unbecoming that even abu sufyan, her husband, denounced her. he said to one of the muslims: "your dead were indeed mutilated; but i swear by god that i have never approved of such deeds. how can i be accused of commanding them?"