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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHiR 329
"(Abd Allah h. Rawaha spoke the following lines regarding this interruption
of theirs,
'We brought our horses forward from Mt. Aja' and Mt.
Far', their bellies distended with grass.
The shoes with which we shod them were of stones as
smooth as leather.
They remained for two nights at Ma% and after their
period of rest they were fully restored.
When we went ahead our horses had free rein, the veins
in their nostrils pulsing hard.
I swear by my father, we will go on to Ma'ab, even
though both Byzantines and Arabs are there.
We gripped their reins and they galloped ahead
vigorously, their dust swirling up,
Their noise loud and the points of their helmets
glinting like stars.
Many a contented woman our spears rendered divorced,
women who can remarry or stay widowed."'
Ibn Ishaq stated further, "'Abd Allah b. Ahii Bakr related to me that it was
related to him from Zayd h. Arqam, who said, 'I was an orphan living in the
care of 'Abd Allgh b. Raw*a. He took me forth on that journey, riding behind
him on his saddle bag. I swear that by night I heard him recite the following
lines,
"Since you (my mount) have brought me near and borne my
baggage for four nights' distance from the marshes,
Then you deserve pleasure and freedom from blame; and
I will not return hereafter to my people.
The Muslims having come will leave me in Syria where I
long to stay
And those with whom I am joined in relationship to the
Most Merciful, though not my brothers, will take you
back.
There 1 will not worry about plants sprouting, nor
about palm trees whose roots need water."
"'When I heard these words from him I cried and he rapped me with his whip
and said, "Why be sad, silly boy, if God grants me martyrdom and you ride
home on a saddle?" '
"(Abd All& h. Raw*a also spoke the following line of verse on one of his
journeys,
'Zayd, Zayd of the lean, fast camels, you have been led
forward throughout a long night, so dismount now."'