IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA~~L IBN KATHiR 287God Almighty stated, "If you sought judgement, it has come to you. If you
desist, it will he better for you. If you go back, so will we. Your forces will serve
you nothing, no matter how numerous they are. God is with the believers" (sayat
al-Anf~l; VIII, v.19).
Imzm &mad stated, quoting Yazid b. Hariin and Muhammad b. Ishaq
al-Zuhri from 'Abd All& h. Thaqaha that Abii Jahl said, when the two sides met
in battle, '0 God, he (Muhammed) was willing to destroy the ties of kinship,
and the one to introduce us to that which was foreign to us, so destroy him this
morning.' It was Abn Jahl who 'sought judgement'."
Ibn Ishaq related it thus in his biography. Al-Nasz'i related it through Szlih
b. Kaysm, from al-Zuhri. And al-H&ii related it also from a hadiih of al-Zuhri.
He then said, "It is authentic and in accordance with the criteria of both scholars
(al-Bukhari and Muslim); though neither one of them mentioned it."
Al-Umawi stated, "Asbat b. Muhammad al-Qurashi related to us, from
'Ayiyya, from Mufrif, concerning God's words, LIf you sought judgement, it has
come to you' that Abii Jahl said, '0 God, assist the better of the parties, the more
noble of the tribes, and the more numerous of the forces.'" And the words came
down, "If you sought judgement, it has come to you."
'Ali b. Abn Talha quoted Ibn 'Ahbs as saying, regarding the words, "And
when God promises you that one of the two parties is yours" (siirai al-AnfZl;
VIII, v.7). "The caravan belonging to the people of Mecca approached on its way
to Syria. Those in Medina got news of this and they went forth, accompanied by
the Messenger of God (SAAS) to attack the caravan.
"News of this reached the Meccans and they hurried out to the caravan to pre-
vent the Prophet (SAAS) and his force from seizing it. The caravan outstripped
the Messenger of God (SAAS); God had promised them one of the two parties,
and they had wanted to meet up with the caravan.
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) did set forth with the Muslims heading for
the enemy force, but they were reluctant to leave, being aware of the strength
of their opponents. The Prophet (SAAS) made a halt with his Muslims at a
place where there was a large sandhill between them and the wells. The
Muslims were extremely tired, and Satan made them discontented by whisper-
ing to them, 'You claim to he partisans of God and to have His Messenger
among you, yet it was the polytheists who reached the wells before you did,
leaving you like this.'
"Then God sent down upon them a heavy rain. The Muslims drank and
cleaned themselves and God withdrew Satan's evil from them. The sand became
packed down and so both men and their animals could walk easily upon it. They
then went out to fight the enemy force, and God aided his Messenger and the
believers with 1,000 angels. Gabriel was there with 500 angels on one flank, and
Michael was on the other with another 500 angels.
"Satan also brought a force of devils, including some of his own progeny,
these being in the guise of men of the Banii Mudlij. Satan himself was in the