IMAM ABO AL-FIDA' ISMA~L IBN KATHiR 235Muhammad b. Ishaq gave further information concerning the military expedi-
tions after having given that we have quoted above. In this he named the chief
unbelievers from among the Jews and the hypocrites, God damn them all and
gather them in the depths of hell.
He stated, "Then the Messenger of God (SAAS) prepared to do battle against
them, to wage war and fight against his enemies and their allies as God had
ordered him.
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) had arrived in Medina on a Monday when
it was very hot, and the sun was near its zenith; it was the 12th of Rahic al-Awwal.
At that time he was 53 years old, and God had given him his mission 13 years
before. He stayed there for the remainder of Rabi' al-Awwal and for Rabi'
al-Akhir, for both Jumadas, Rajab, Sha'bm, Ramadm, Shawwd, Dhii al-Q'da,
Dhn al-Hijja, the polytheists being in charge of the pilgrimage that month, and
al-Muharram. He then, in Safar, at the start of the 12th month after his arrival
there, went forth to do battle."
Ibn Hishxm stated, "He left Sa'd h. Wbada in charge of Medina."
Ibn Ishaq went on, "He continued as far as Waddan; this was the expedition to
al-Abw2." Ibn Jarir commented, "It is also known as the Waddm expedition."
Ibn Ishaq continued, "He was heading for Quraysh and the Banii Damra b.
Bakr b. 'Abd Manat b. Kinma. The Bann Damra made peace with him there;
the one who actually did this was Makhshi b. 'Amr al-Damri, who was their
leader at that time.
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) then returned to Medina without having
engaged in battle, remaining there for the rest of Safar and the early part of Rabic
al-Awwal."
Ibn Hishb added, "This was the &st expedition made by the Messenger of
God (SAAS)."
Al-Waqidi commented, "His banner was entrusted to his uncle Hamza; it was
white."
Ibn Ishaq went on, "While resident then at Medina, the Messenger of God
(SAAS) dispatched Wbayda b. al-Haith b. al-Mucmlib b. 'Abd Manaf b.
Qu~ayy along with 60 - or 80 -men, mounted and of the Emigrants; not one of
them was a Helper. The party went as far as a well in Hijaz below Thaniyyat
al-Murra, where he met a large contingent of Quraysh. There was no engage-
ment with them, however, except that Sa'd b. Aha Waqqas did that day cast one
arrow. That was the first arrow shot for God's cause after the coming of Islam.
"The two forces separated thereafter, the Muslims positioning a rear-guard.
Miqdad b. 'Amr al-Bahrmi, an ally of the Bann Zuhra, fled from the polytheists
to the Muslims, along with Wtba b. Ghazwm b. Jahir al-Mzzini, an ally of the
Banii Nawfal b. 'Ahd Manaf. These were really Muslims, but they had gone
forth to have contact with the unbelievers."
Ihn Ishaq continued, '"Ikrima b. Aha Jahl was leader of the polytheists on that
occasion."