IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHiR 289Al-Waqidi stated, "IshXq b. Muhammad h. 'Abd al-Raban h. Muhammad
h. 'Abd Allah related to us, from 'Ahd All& h. Tha'laha h. Suqayr (who said), "I
heard Nawfal h. MuQwiya al-Dili say, 'We were defeated at Badr as we heard a
noise like that of pebbles dropping into a bowl, right inside us and behind us!
That had a terrifying impact on us."'
Al-Umawi stated, "My father related to us, quoting Ihn Abii Ish~q, quoting
al-Zuhri from 'Ahd Allsh b. Tha'laha b. Suqayr, that Aha Jahl said, when the
forces met, '0 God, in the morning destroy the one who introduced us to that
which was foreign to us and who ruined the family ties.' This was the 'judgement
sought'.
"While they were in this state, God had encouraged the Muslims in meeting
their enemy and had so diminished their enemy in their eyes that they were eager
to fight them. The Messenger of God (SAAS) took a nap in the shelter, then
woke up and said, 'Rejoice, Abii Bahr, Gabriel is here, wearing a turban and
holding the reins of his horse he is leading, with dust upon hi. God and His
forces have come to you.'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) issued orders picked up a handful of peb-
bles, went outside and faced the enemy and said, 'You are disgraced!' He then
cast the pebbles out over them and said to his men, 'Attack!"'
The defeat soon came. God killed some of their leaders and took some
prisoner. Ziyzd stated, quoting Ihn Ish2q, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) then
picked up a handful of pebbles, approached Quraysh carrying them and said,
'You are disgraced!' He cast the pebbles out over them and ordered his men,
'Attack them!' The defeat then occurred and God killed some of their chieftains
and captured others."
Al-Suddi al-Kabir stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) said to 'Ali at the
hattle of Badr, 'Give me some pebbles from the ground!' He handed him some
pebbles with dirt on them which he threw into the faces of the enemy. None of
the polytheists escaped having a little of that dirt enter their eyes. The Muslims
forced them hack, killing and capturing them. God revealed on that subject,
'You did not kill them; it is God who killed them. It was not you who threw
when you threw, hut God who threw'" (sii~at al-Anfzl; VIII, v.17).
Wrwa, 'Ikrima, Muj&id, Muhammad b. Ka'b, Muhammad h. Qays, Qatsda,
Ibn Zayd, and others all spoke similarly, agreeing that this verse came down
about the battle of Badr.
The Messenger of God (SAAS) did the same during the expedition of
Hunayn, as we will explain in the proper place, if God wills it, and in Him we
trust.
Ihn Ish~q reported that when the Messenger of God (SAAS) urged his men
on to battle, cast the dirt at the polytheists and God Almighty defeated them, he
went hack up into the shelter accompanied by Aho Bakr. Sacd b. Muc2dh, along
with some of the Helpers stood guard at its door, bearing swords, concerned that
some of the polytheists might attack the Prophet (SAAS).