The life of the Prophet Muhammad - Ibn Kathir - volume 2 of 4

240 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
be substituted. However, what could be meant here is that al-Wshayra was the
first expedition in which Zayd b. Arqam participated with the Messenger of
God (SAAS), and there could have been earlier ones which he did not witness.
This could reconcile between this hadith and that of Ibn Ishitq. But God knows
best.
Muhammad b. Ishitq stated, "It was on that occasion that the Messenger of
God (SAAS) made his comment to 'Ali. Yazid b. Muhammad b. Khaytham
related to me, from Muhammad h. Ka'b al-Qurqi, quoting Abii Yazid
Muhammad b. Khaytham, from 'Ammar h. Yasir, who said, "Ali b. Abii Titlib
and I were companions on the expedition to d-'Ushayra in the Yanbu' valley.
When the Messenger of God (SAAS) encamped there he remained for a month
and made peace with the Banii Mudlij and their allies of the Banii Damra. 'Ali
b. Abii Tdib said, "Abii al-Yaqzan, how would you like for us to go and watch
these men of the Bana Mudlij who are doing some work on a well of theirs?" So
we went to them and watched for a while, then were overcome by sleep. We
made our way over to a place where there were young date-palms growing and
the ground was soft and there we slept. And, by God, we were eventually woken
up by the Messenger of God (SAAS) moving us with his foot. We sat up, soiled
with the earth there and it was then that he said to 'Ali, 'What have you been up
to, Aba Turab?' (i.e. 'father of dirt') because of the soil that was upon him. We
told him what had happened to us and he said, 'Shall I tell you who are the two
most pitiable men?' We replied, 'Yes, do tell us.' He replied, 'They are Uhaymir
of the tribe of Thamiid who slaughtered the camel and the man who will strike
you on this' - and he placed his hand on 'Mi's head - 'so that this' - and he
touched 'Mi's beard - Lwill become wet from it.'"
This hadith is unique in this line given. From another line there is also testimony
to reference being made to 'Ali as 'Abii Tuflb'. Similarly, in the fahih of
d-Bukh%i it states that 'Air left his house angry at Fittima and went and slept in
the mosque. When the Messenger of God (SAAS) went to his house to ask after
him, Fittima told him he had left angry. So the Messenger of God (SAAS) went
to the mosque and woke hi up and, wiping the dirt from hi, told him, "Up
you get, Abii Turab! Up you get!"
THE FIRST EXPEDITION TO BADR.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Upon his return from al-Wshayra, the Messenger of God
(SAAS) had been in Medina only a few days, less than ten, when Kurz b. Jitbir
al-Fihri made a raid on the town. The Messenger of God (SAAS) went forth in
search of him and travelled as far as a valley called Safwm, near Badr. This, then
was the first expedition to Badr; Kurz evaded hi and was not captured."
Al-Waqidi stated, "His banner was entrusted to 'Ali b. Aba Talib."
Both Ibn Hisham and al-Waqidi related that he had left Zayd b. Hzritha in
command of Medina.