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

360 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
I swear by my father, the day of the rendezvous with
Muhammad, when with the help of wars-the upper flanks were
bitten,
Your souls were drawn forth with whetted swords in
fighting as the South winds draw the clouds along.
Many were the covetous who were chilled by his swords,
while stable watering-holes were made to shake.
What does it mean for those slain to be in the pit and for
their like to he kept captive by my cousin and not to fight,
They being like women? Or did God bring some end to their
spirits that took effect, for an end does come.
How did Muhammad's cousins feel when they met in battle?
Warfare certainly brings its trials.
Did he not surprise you with blows that would shock even a
coward, making stars appear in full day?
I sweir that if they repeat this we will overwhelm them
with oceans of death through which the horsemen will race,
As though the light of the sun is the reflection of the edges
of their swords, emitting light in conjunction and as a covering."'"
'Atika also spoke the following, according to al-Umawi's account,
"Why could you not persevere against the Prophet
Muhammad at Badr?
Who is able to overcome, with true perseverence, the tumult
(of war)?
You did not respond to the thin sword blades sharp in the
hands of the believers,
You failed to stand firm against the swords, until you
suffered but little at the hands of the Believers.
You fled in haste, yet heroes do not flee from the weapons'
impact when they do battle.
He hrought you what the prophets before him also hrought.
And my nephew, that good and mthful man, is certainly not a
poet.
Let it be enough what you have lost from your prophet;
instead, the two tribes of 'Amr and 'Amir are helping him to
victory."
Tdib b. Aha Tdib spoke the following verses in praise of the Messenger of God
(SAAS), and in mourning for those of his tribe of Quraysh who were dropped
into the pit. He was still following his people's old religion at that time:
"My eyes send forth floods of tears, weeping for Ka'b though
seeing them not.
In the battles Ka'b betrayed one another and fate
overwhelmed them, for they had sinned,