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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHiR 477
We paraded before them to bring them out, but they
fortified against us behind a closed gate.
Our men without annour withdrew to a great force, a
squadron whose armour shone with death.
Close-ranked, and green-hued; if sent charging against
a fortress, it would be as though never constructed.
They walk like hounds on tree-shed thorns, like horses
led separately then brought together again,
Each wearing armour that once firmly set looks like a
pool shimmering under a breeze,
Over coats of armour, the hems of which brushed our
shoes, finely woven by Ds'ad and Muhaniq's family."'
Aba Dx'od stated that it was related to him by Wmar b. al-Khaffzb Aba Haf~,
quoting al-Firyxhi, quoting Abm, quoting 'Amr - he being Ihn 'Ahd Allah
h. Aba H%im - quoting Wthmm b. Aha Haim, from his father, from his
grandfather Sakhr -he being Aba al-'Ayla &&mas1 - who said that when he,
Sakhr, heard that the Messenger of God (SAAS) was attacking Thaqif, he set off
with his cavalry to assist him. When he arrived at al-Tz'if, however, he found
him already gone. He then made a vow that he would not leave the fortress
before they emerged to accept the authority of the Messenger of God (SAAS).
And he did not leave them until they had done so. Sakhr then wrote to him as
follows, "Messenger of God, Thaqif have now accepted your authority. I am
accompanying them to you, along with my cavalry."
(The account continues) "The Messenger of God (SAAS) ordered that there
be a general assembly for prayer and he spoke ten prayers for Banii al-Ahmas,
saying, '0 God, bless d-Ahmas for both their cavalry and their foot soldiers.'
"When they arrived al-Mughira b. Shu'ba spoke, '0 Messenger of God, Sakhr
took my aunt and she adopted that which Muslims embrace.' The Messenger of
God (SAAS) then called for Sakhr and said, 'Sakhr, when people accept Islam,
their blood and possessions are spared; return al-Mughira's aunt to hi.' And
he did return her.
"He then asked the Messenger of God (SAAS) for that water supply belonging
to Bana Salim; they had fled from Islam and abandoned that water. He asked,
'Messenger of God, settle me and my people there.' 'Yes,' he agreed and he
agreed to settle hi
and Aslam - the tribesmen of Aslam, that is - there. They
then went to Sakhr and asked him to give the water supply to themselves, but he
refused. And so they went again to the Messenger of God (SAAS) and said,
'Messenger of God, we have accepted Islam and went to Sakhr to have hi give
us our water supply, hut he refused. The Messenger of God (SAAS) then said,
'Sakhr, when people accept Islam their blood and possessions are spared. Deliver
their water supply over to them.' He replied, 'Yes, 0 Prophet of God.'
"I then saw the face of the Messenger of God (SAAS) turn red with embarrassment
at his (Sakhr's) having taken the women and also the water!"