The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHIR 225
"His flag was carried by Mistah b. Uthztha. He reached Thaniyyst al-Murra,
not far from al-Juhfa, in the company of 60 Emigrants, there being no Helpers
present. They met up with the polytheists at a well called AhyZ'. They shot
arrows at one another, but did not engage in sword play."
Al-Wzqidi stated, "The polytheists were 200 in number and were led by Abii
Sufyan Sakhr b. Harb. This is what we believed to he well established, though it
is also said that they were led by Mikraz b. Hafs.
Al-W~qidi stated, "In that same first year, in Dhii al-Qa'da, the Messenger of
God (SAAS) presented a white banner to Sa'd b. Abii Waqqa~ and sent him to
al-Kharrzr; the flag was carried by al-Miqd~d b. al-Aswad.
"Abo Bakr b. Ismncil related to me, from his father, from 'Amir b. Sa'd, from
his father, who said, 'I left with 20 men, by foot' -or he said 'with 21 men'. 'We
would hide by day and travel by night. We got to al-Kharra on the morning of
the fifth. The Messenger of God (SAAS) had instructed me to go no further
than al-Kharra. The caravan had preceded me there by a day."'
Al-Wxqidi stated, "The caravan consisted of 60; all those with Sa'd were
Emigrants."
Abii Jacfar b. Jarir stated, "It was the view of Ihn Ishaq that these three expeditions
mentioned by al-Wxqidi all occurred in the second year of the hegira."
I observe that the statements attributed to Ibn IshSq by Abii Jacfar are not seen
as authentic by any who contemplates them, as we will show early in our work
on the military expeditions in materials relating to the second year of the hegira.
That work will follow the present one, if God wills it.
It is likely that what he means is that these expeditions occurred in the first
year. We will give more details and comments on them when we get to them, if
God Almighty wills it.
Al-Wxqidi gives full information and a well-organized historical account. He
is one of the great Imams of this field of study. He is trustworthy and writes at
length. We commented on what is hoth reliable and unreliable from him in our
projected work al-Takmilfi Ma'nfat al-ThrqZt ma al-DuCaf2 wa al-Majiihil (Full
Informatron on those Authontces who are Trustworthy, Unrelrable or Ignorant). All
praise and credit are due to God.
Those born in that blessed year, the first of the hegira, included 'Abd Alkh b.
al-Zubayr. He was the first to be born in Islam following the emigration, as
al-Bukhai related from his mother AsmP and his aunt 'A'isha, mother of the
believers, both daughters of Abn Bakr, "the Trusting"; may God be pleased with
hoth women.