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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHiR 351
thousand Christian Arabs, could battle together with the resulting deaths of
only twelve Muslims is truly wonderful! And a large number of unbelievers
were killed.
Kh&d alone stated, "Nine swords were broken in my hand; I finally held only
a Yemeni broad-sword." How many must he have killed with all those swords,
not to mention all the other brave bearers of the Qur'm like him, who sentenced
to death those crucifm worshippers, upon whom be the curses of the Most
Merciful at that time and for ever!
This relates to the words of the Almighty, "There was a sign for you in the
two sides that clashed. One side fought for God's cause, while the others were
unbelievers whom they saw to be twice as numerous as themselves. Yet God
assists with victory whomever He pleases. There is surely a lesson in this for
those who have sight" (szzrat Al 'Irnrzn; XIII, v.12).
A HADTTH THATACCORDS GREAT MERIT TO THE COMMANDERS
OF THIS EXPEDITION.
These were Zayd b. Hsritha, Jacfar b. Abii Talib and 'Abd Allah b. Rawaha, may
God be pleased with them all!
The srnrhl, scholar and Ed.& Abn Zur'a 'Abd All?ih b. 'Abd al-Karim al-hi,
may God make his visage glow, stated in his fine book Dalz'il al-Nubuwwa as
follows, "Both Safwm b. Salih al-Dimasbqi, quoting al-Walid, quoting Ibn
Jarir, and 'Abd al-lblpnm b. Ibrahim al-Dimashqi, quoting al-Walid and 'Arnr,
that is, Ibn 'Abd al-W?&id, related to him that Ibn Jarir stated that he heard
Salim b. 'Amir al-Khaba'iri say, 'Abo Umba al-Bahili informed me, "I heard
the Messenger of God (SAAS) say, 'While I was sleeping two men came to
me, gripped me by the arm and took me to a desolate mountain. They told me,
"Climb!" "I can't," I replied. "We'll make it easy for you," they said. I then
climbed on up until I was at its centre and there I heard loud noises. "What
are those noises?" I asked. "That is the groaning of those in hell," they replied.
Then they took me on to where there were people suspended by their tendons,
their mouths split open and streaming blood. "Who are these?" I asked.
"These", they replied, "are those who eat before their fast has ended." Then he
said, "The Jews and Christians will fail."'"'
Salim (b. 'Amir) asked, "Did he hear it from the Messenger of God (SAAS),
or was this his opinion?""
"'The two men then took me on to where there were people exceedingly
distended and exuding a foul odour like that of a toilet. "Who are these?" I asked.
They replied, "These are unbelievers who have been killed." They then took me
further where there were others even more distended and even more foul in
smell, their odour also toilet-like. "Who are these?" I asked. "These are men and
women who engage in prostitution," they replied. They then took me further
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