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

280 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
"Anas went on, 'Thereupon the Messenger of God (SAAS) went out and
made an address, saying, "We have a request to make: whoever presently has a
camel may ride with us." Some men there sought permission to fetch their
camels from the upper pans of the town but he replied, "No; only those who
have their camels present."
"'The Messenger of God (SAAS) and his men then set off and arrived at
Badr before the polytheists. When the latter did arrive, the Messenger of God
(SAAS) said, "None of you may advance for any purpose unless I am right
behind."
"'When the polytheists advanced, the Messenger of God (SAAS) said, "Go
forth towards a garden the size of the heavens and the earth combined."'
"Anas continued, 'At this Wmayr b. al-Hamman al-Ansm asked, "0
Messenger of God, could a garden really be the size of the heavens and earth
combined?" "Yes," he replied. Wmayr then said, "Fine! Fine!" The Messenger
of God (SAAS) asked him, "What makes you say 'fine'?" Wmayr replied, "0
Messenger of God, by God, it is only because of my hope of being one of its
people." "You certainly will be," responded the Messenger of God (SAAS).
'"Wmayr then took some dates out of his quiver and began eating them. He
then said, "If I were to live long enough to eat these dates, it would be a long
life!" He then threw away all the dates he had and engaged them in battle until
he was killed, God bless him."'
Muslim related this anecdote from Abn Bakr b. Abn Shayba and a group of
authorities, from Abn al-Nadr Hashim b. al-@sim, from Sulayman b.
al-Mughira.
Ibn Jarir recounted that while Wmayr fought he spoke the verses,
"Racing on to God, my only provision is my piety and
action for the life to come,
And my persistence in fighting for God; for all other
provisions soon become exhausted,
Except for piety, goodness and right-guidedness."
Imw Ahmad stated, "Hajjaj related to us, quoting Isrs'il, from Abii Ishsq, from
Haitha h. Midrab, from 'Ali, who said, 'When we got to Medina we fell sick
from its fruits and the marshes there. The Messenger of God (SAAS) was preparing
for Badr. When we received news that the polytheists were advancing, the
Messenger of God (SAAS) moved out to Badr, it being the site of a well. We
arrived there ahead of the polytheists but we did discover two men there. One
was of Quraysh, the other a freed-man of Wqba b. Aha Mu'it. The man of
Quraysh escaped, but we twk the freed-man and asked him how large was their
force. He replied, "I swear, their numbers are great and their morale is very
high." When he said this, the Muslims would beat hi.
"'Eventually they took him to the Messenger of God (SAAS) who asked him
how many they were, and the freed-man replied as before. The Prophet (SAAS)