356 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
So do not rush to Abii Sufym and watch the linest of
horses come up from Ku&",
By God's assistance - with that of the Holy Spirit
(Gabriel) and Michael included - Oh, the best of the
notables!"Hassan b. Thsbit spoke the following verses, though Ibn Hishm said they are
also attributed to 'Abd AUsb b. al-Haith alSahmi:
"A man wearing a line, light chain-mail as an
undergarment led them, a man steady of temperament,
effective, no coward he.
I mean the Messenger of the God of creation, who
favoured him above all men in his piety and goodness,
You claimed you would protect your valuables and
insisted that Badr's waters could not be reached.
Then we did reach it, not heeding your words, and we
drank our fill, not stinting ourselves,
Gripping that unbreakable rope of God stretched out and
well-made,
With us was the Messenger of God, with us was the truth
we will follow until death, and unlimited help,
Trustworthy, effective, a light-giving star, a full
moon illuminating all men of valour."
Hassm b. Thabit also said,
"Would that the people of Mecca knew how we destroyed
the unbelievers in their hour of reckoning,
We killed their leaders on our battlefield and when
they retired their backs were broken,
We killed Abii Jahl and Wtba before him, along with
Shayha fallmg with hands outstretched for sacrifice.
We killed Suwayd, then Wtba after him, and Tu'ma too
as the dust flew,
How many men we killed of nobility, leadership, respect
and good repute among their people,
We left them for yelping animals to attend, later to
cook in the hot depths of hell-fire.
I swear, Malik's horsemen and their attendants were no
defence when we clashed at Badr."
Wbayda b. al-Hiwith b. 'Abd al-Mu~alib spoke the following verses about Badr,
concerning the loss of his leg in the competition that be, Hamza and 'Ali fought
with 'Utba, Shayba and al-Walid b. Wtba. Ibn Hishm considered these verses
inauthentic:
"A battle will tell the people of Mecca about us, one
in which even those far away embarked upon,