242 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADof these was entrusted to Wbayda b. al-Haith h. al-Mutcalib. It also contradicts
al-Waqidi, who maintained that the first of the raids was entrusted to Hamza b.
'Abd d-Mutcdib. But God knows best.Chapter: On the expedition of'Abd Allah b. Jahsh that mas the cause for the great
engagement at Badr.This was the day of the Furqan (the line distinguishing good from evil) when the
two forces met in battle. And God has power over all things.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "In Rajab, following his return from the first expedition to
Badr, the Messenger of God (SAAS) sent forth 'Abd All& b. Jahsh b. Ri'ab
al-Asadi along with eight Emigrants; their number included none of the Helpers.
The names of these men were as follows: Aba Hudhayfa b. Wtba, Wkkzsha b.
Mihsan b. Hurthan, an ally of the Bann Asad b. Khuzayma, Wtba h. Ghazwm,
an ally of the Bano Nawfal, Sa'd b. Abii Waqqas al-Zuhri, 'Amir b. Rabih
al-Wz'ili, an ally of the Bana 'Adi, Waqid b. 'Ahd Allah b. 'Abd Manaf b. 'Arfn
b. Tha'laba b. Yarba' al-Tamimi, also an ally of the Bana 'Adi, KhAid h.
al-Bukayr, one of the Bana Sa'd b. Layth, also an ally of the Bana 'Adi, and Sahl
b. Bay@ al-Fihri. These seven men were led by their commander 'Abd Allah b.
J&sh, God be pleased with him."
Yiinus quoted ibn Ishaq as stating that there were eight men and their com-
mander was their ninth. But God knows best.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "He wrote a letter for 'Abd All& b. Jahsh which he told him
not to open until he had travelled for two days. After opening it he was to do as
it ordered him, but not to force any of his companions to do so too.
"Having travelled for two days, he opened the letter. It stated, 'Having read
this letter, proceed to Nakhla, between Mecca and Ta'if. Stay there and observe
Quraysh and report hack to us news of them.' Having read the letter, he said, 'To
hear is to obey!' And he told his men what was in the letter. He said, 'It forbids
me from forcing any of you to comply with this. Those of you seeking martyr-
dom should go forward. Those reluctant to do this should return. As for myself,
I shall proceed to fulfil the order of the Messenger of God (SAAS).'
"He then proceeded forward accompanied by his men, none of whom stayed
behind. He travelled through Hija until he reached a mine above al-Furc known
as B&m. There Sa'd b. Abii Waqqe and Wtba b. Ghazwzn lost a camel they
had that they had been riding, so they remained behind to look for it. 'Abd All&
b. Jahsh continued ahead with the rest of the party and made camp at Nakhla.
"There a Quraysh caravan in which was 'Amr b. at-Hadrami - Ihn Hisbm
commented that his full name was 'Abd Allah b. 'Abbad, one of the Sadif - along
with 'Uthman b. 'Abd Allah b. al-Mughira al-Makhziimi, and his brother
Nawfal, along with al-Hakam b. Kayszn, the freed-man of Hishk b. al-Mughira.
"When the caravan party saw them they were concerned because the Muslims
had encamped near themselves. But Wksha h. Mihsan appeared before them,