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

462 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUWAMMAD
the commander of the expedition to Awps. These total four men; may God be
pleased with them.
Chapter: On the Poety spoken ar the Expedition against HawZzin.
Among these verses are those of Bujayr b. Zuhayr h. Ahii Salma,
"Had it not been for God and His servant, you would
have retreated when terror overcame every coward
At the winding valley that day our enemies faced us,
the swift horses stumbled on to their chins.
Some men went running, their garments held up in their
hands, others were knocked to the side by hooves and
flanks.
God honoured us and gave victory to our faith,
dignifying us through worship of the Most Merciful.
And God destroyed them, dispersing and humiliating them
for worshipping Satan."
Ibn Hishim stated that some transmitters of the poetry include the verses,
"When Your Prophet's uncle and his ally arose, calling,
0 squadron of the faith!
Where are they who responded to their Lord, at the
battle of &'And and at the 'willing allegiance"""
(Ihn Ishnq stated) '''Abbns
h. Mirdns al-Sulami spoke the following,
'By the swift horses on assembly day and by the Book
that the Messenger recited,
I was pleased at Thaqif s painful fate yesterday beside
the defile
They are the enemy's leaders from Najd, and killing
them is sweeter than drinking.
We defeated their group, that group of Banti Qpi, and
fierce was the fighting for Banii Ri'sb.
The tents of Banii Hild were left at Awps begrimed
with dust.
If (our forces) had clashed with Banii Kilsb, their
women would have risen with dust'" upon them.
We raced our horses among them between Buss and
d-Awrsl,"l breathing hard in pursuit of the booty
Amidst a clamorous anny that included the squadron of
the Messenger of God that charged into the battle.'
"cAbh~ b. Mirda also spoke the following,
141. See above, Vol. 11 p.341, footnote 74.
142. That is, in mourning.
143. Buss is a mountain near Dhat 'Araq. Al-Awal are three black mountains in the desert.