The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-EIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 241
Al-Bukhzri gave it at the beginning of his work, Kitdb al-Shu* from Yahya
b. Bukayr, from al-Layth h. Sacd, from Wqayl, from al-Zuhri, from Wrwa, from
Marwm b. al-Hakam and al-Miswar b. Makhrama, from Companions of the
Messenger of God (SAAS), in relating the narrative.
This is the best chain of authority. For Marwxn and d-Miswar were young
at the time of al-Hudaybiyya. It is obvious that they acquired it from the
Companions, may God be pleased with them, in relating the narrative.
Al-Bukhzri stated, "Al-Hasan b. Ish~q related to us, quoting Muhammad b.
Sabiq, quoting Mzlik b. Mighwal, who said, 'I heard Aba Husayn state, "Aba
W?il said, 'When Suhayl h. Hunayf arrived from Siffin, we went to him asking
for news. He replied, "Be sceptical. At the battle of Aha Jandal, if I could have
reversed the orders of the Messenger of God (SAAS) I would have done so. And
God and His messenger know best. And we never took down our swords from
our shoulders for any problem that troubled us without them providing us some
solution we could appreciate. Before this affair, that is. Now, we no sooner deal
with one contendeP1 than another arises before us that we don't know how to
deal wi*.>"" "'
Al-Bukhai also stated that it was related to him by 'Abd Allxh h. Yasuf,
quoting Malik, from Zayd h. Aslam, from his father, that the Messenger of God
(SAAS) was travelling one night in the company of Wmar b. d-KhatGh. Wmar
asked him a question on some matter, but the Messenger of God (SAAS) made
hi no reply. Wmar asked him again and yet again, receiving no reply from
hi. Wmar b. al-Khagxb then exclaimed, "Wmar, your mother is as good as
bereaved of you! You persisted three times in asking the Messenger of God
(SAAS), and despite that he would not respond to you."
Wmar related, "So I moved my mount away and advanced to the front of
the Muslims, fearing that there was going to be a revelation about me. But
immediately I heard someone shouting at me. I responded, LI was afraid there
was about tn be a revelation about me.'
"Then I went to the Messenger of God (SAAS) and greeted hi. He
said, 'Tonight a siira has been revealed to me that is more pleasing to me than
anything over which the sun rises.' He then recited, 'We have made for you
a clear victory!"' (siirat al-Fath; XLVIII, v.1).
I note that I wrote about the siirat al-Fath fully and sufficiently in my Tafsir
(Exegesis), to God being due all praise and credit. Those wishing to insert that
material here should do so.
Chapter: On the Expedition and missions that took place in 6 AH.
The hhf;? al-Bayhaqi, quoting d-Waqidi, gives a summary of these.
61. The footnote of the Arabic printed ten reminds us that the statement comes in the context
of the conflict between 'Mi and Muswiya over succession to the Caliphate.