Fath al-Rabbani

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, the sun was never stopped for any human being except for Yusha bin Nun. This was during the days when he was heading towards Bayt al-Maqdis. In another narration, it is mentioned: One of the Prophets from among the Prophets waged jihad. He said to his people: No man should come with me who has become the owner of a woman's private part (i.e., he has married) and wishes to consummate the marriage but has not yet done so. Nor should the man (join my army) who has started building a house but has not yet put a roof on it, and nor should the man who has bought goats or such pregnant animals whose offspring he is waiting for, he too should not come with us. (After making this announcement) he set out for the battle. When they reached near a village, the time for Asr prayer had come or was near. (And in another narration, it is mentioned that the confrontation with the enemy happened before sunset). At that time, that Prophet said to the sun: You are commanded (by Allah) and I am also commanded (by Him). O Allah! Hold back this sun for me for a little while. So it was held back. (They remained engaged in jihad until Allah granted victory and abundant spoils of war were obtained.) The people of that army collected the spoils of war (according to the law of that time), a fire came to consume it, but it refused to do so. Their principle was that when they obtained spoils of war, Allah would send a fire that would consume it. That Prophet (explaining the reason for the fire not consuming it) said: Someone among you has committed treachery, therefore, one man from each tribe should pledge allegiance to me. They pledged allegiance. During the pledge, one man's hand stuck to his hand. At that time, he said: There is treachery among you. Now every man from your tribe will pledge allegiance to me (so that the culprit can be identified). They began pledging allegiance, and eventually, the hands of two or three men stuck. The Prophet said: There is treachery among you, you have committed treachery. They said: Yes, we have committed treachery with a golden idol shaped like a cow's face. Then they brought the thing shaped like a cow's face and placed it among the spoils of war on the ground. Then the fire turned towards it and consumed the spoils of war. For no one before us (the Ummah of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) were the spoils of war made lawful. The reason for this is that when Allah saw that we were weak and helpless, He made the spoils of war lawful for us. And in another narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said at that time: Allah, out of mercy for us and due to our weakness, has granted us permission to consume the spoils of war.