IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'EL IBN KATHFR 261been from what was reported of him. He went to the Prophet (SAAS) while he
was praying against the polytheists. Al-Miqdzd said, "We will not say as Miisa's
people did to him, 'Yon go off with your Lord and fight along with Him; we're
staying here!' Instead, we will fight on your right and your left, and in front of
you and behind you!"'
"(Ibn MasLiid went on) 'At that I saw the face of the Prophet (SAAS) light up
in delight.'"
Al-Bukh- alone gave this; Muslim did not. The former related it several
places in the ~ahih collection, from a hadith of Mukhzriq. Al-Nass1i also
recounted it from his hadirh; his version states, "At the battle of Badr, Miqdad
rode a horse." He then related it.
Imm Ahmad stated, "Wbayda related it to us, he being the son of Humayd,
from Humayd al-Tawil, from Anas, who said, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS)
sought advice concerning going to battle at Badr. First Abii Bakr gave him advice
and again he sought it from all. Then Wmar gave him advice and again he sought
it. One of the Helpers observed, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS) wants your
advice, 0 Helpers.'
"One of them said, 'Well, 0 Messenger of God, we'll not speak as the people
of Israel did to Moses, that is, "Go off with your Lord and fight; we're staying
here!" If yon were to race all the way to Bark al-Ghimad, we'd follow yon!"'
Twwthids of this chain of authorities meets the conditions for being con-
sidered ~ahih, "authentic".
Abad also stated, "'Affan related to us, quoting Hammiid, from Thiibit,
from Anas b. Mdik, that the Messenger of God (SAAS) sought advice when he
learned of the approach of Abii Sufyan. Abii Bakr spoke, and he turned away
from him. Then Wmar spoke, and he turned away from him. Sa'd b. Wbada
then said, 'It's to us the Messenger of God (SAAS) is wanting to respond. By
Hi in whose hand is my soul, if you were to order us to plunge into the sea we
would do so. And if you told us to race all the way to Bark al-Ghimad we would
do so.'
"And so the Messenger of God (SAAS) urged his men forward.
"They set off and reached Badr. People came to them with reports of
Quraysh, and one of these was a black youth of the Banii al-Hajjiij whom they
captured. The Companions of the Messenger of God (SAAS) asked him about
Abii Sufyan and those men with him. He would respond, 'I have no knowledge
of Abii Snfym. But it was Abii Jahl b. Hisham, 'Utba b. Rabica and Umayya b,
Khalaf.' When he said this they beat him. When they did so, he would then say,
'Yes, I will tell you! It was Abn Sufyan.' When they let him go and asked him,
he said, 'I have no knowledge ofAbii Sufyan. But it was Abii Jahl, Wtba, Shayba
and Umayya.' When he said this too, they would beat him.
"Meanwhile the Messenger of God (SAAS) was standing there praying. When
he saw this scene, he left, saying, 'By Him who holds my soul in His hands, you
beat him when he speaks the truth, and you leave him alone if he lies!"