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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
أهم أحداث السنة السابعة للهجرةMost Important Events of the Seventh Year of Hijrah
بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي غَزْوَةِ ذِي قَرَدٍ وَتُسَمَّى غَزْوَةَ الْغَابَةِ أَيْضًاChapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding the Expedition of Dhu Qarad, Also Called the Expedition of al-Ghaba
Hadith 10810
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا إِيَاسُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْأَكْوَعِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ زَمَنَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَخَرَجْنَا أَنَا وَرَبَاحٌ غُلَامُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِظَهْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَخَرَجْتُ بِفَرَسٍ لِطَلْحَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ كُنْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُبْدِيَهُ مَعَ الْإِبِلِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِغَلَسٍ غَارَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَلَى إِبِلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَتَلَ رَاعِيهَا وَخَرَجَ يَطْرُدُهَا هُوَ وَأُنَاسٌ مَعَهُ فِي خَيْلٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَبَاحُ اقْعُدْ عَلَى هَذَا الْفَرَسِ فَأَلْحِقْهُ بِطَلْحَةَ وَأَخْبِرْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أُغِيرَ عَلَى سَرْحِهِ قَالَ وَقُمْتُ عَلَى تَلٍّ فَجَعَلْتُ وَجْهِي مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ نَادَيْتُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ يَا صَبَاحَاهْ ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُ الْقَوْمَ مَعِي سَيْفِي وَنَبْلِي فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمِيهِمْ وَأَعْقِرُ بِهِمْ وَذَلِكَ حَيْثُ يَكْثُرُ الشَّجَرُ فَإِذَا رَجَعَ إِلَيَّ فَارِسٌ جَلَسْتُ لَهُ فِي أَصْلِ الشَّجَرَةِ ثُمَّ رَمَيْتُ فَلَا يَقْبَلُ عَلَيَّ فَارِسٌ إِلَّا عَقَرْتُ بِهِ فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمِيهِمْ رَاحِلَتَهُ وَأَقُولُ أَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعِ فَأَلْحَقُ بِرَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ فَأَرْمِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ فَيَقَعُ سَهْمِي فِي الرَّجُلِ حَتَّى انْتَظَمْتُ كَتِفَهُ فَقُلْتُ خُذْهَا وَأَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعِ فَإِذَا كُنْتُ فِي الشَّجَرِ أَحْرَقْتُهُمْ بِالنَّبْلِ فَإِذَا تَضَايَقَتِ الثَّنَايَا عَلَوْتُ الْجَبَلَ فَرَدَّيْتُهُمْ بِالْحِجَارَةِ فَمَا ذَاكَ شَأْنِي وَشَأْنُهُمْ أَتْبَعُهُمْ فَأَرْتَجِزُ حَتَّى مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ شَيْئًا مِنْ ظَهْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَّا خَلَّفْتُهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي فَاسْتَنْقَذْتُهُ مِنْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَرْمِيهِمْ حَتَّى أَلْقَوْا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ رُمْحًا وَأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ بُرْدَةً يَسْتَخِفُّونَ مِنْهَا وَلَا يُلْقَوْنَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا إِلَّا جَعَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ حِجَارَةً وَجَمَعْتُ عَلَى طَرِيقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَدَّ الضُّحَى أَتَاهُمْ عُيَيْنَةُ بْنُ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ مَدَدًا لَهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي ثَنِيَّةٍ ضَيِّقَةٍ ثُمَّ عَلَوْتُ الْجَبَلَ فَأَنَا فَوْقَهُمْ فَقَالَ عُيَيْنَةُ مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَى قَالُوا لَقِينَا مِنْ هَذَا الْبَرْحَ مَا فَارَقَنَا بِسَحَرٍ حَتَّى الْآنَ وَأَخَذَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فِي أَيْدِينَا وَجَعَلَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ قَالَ عُيَيْنَةُ لَوْلَا أَنَّ هَذَا يَرَى أَنَّ وَرَاءَهُ طَلَبًا لَقَدْ تَرَكَكُمْ لِيَقُمْ إِلَيْهِ نَفَرٌ مِنْكُمْ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةٌ فَصَعِدُوا فِي الْجَبَلِ فَلَمَّا أَسْمَعْتُهُمْ الصَّوْتَ قُلْتُ أَتَعْرِفُونِي قَالُوا وَمَنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ أَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالَّذِي كَرَّمَ وَجْهَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَطْلُبُنِي مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ فَيُدْرِكُنِي وَلَا أَطْلُبُهُ فَيَفُوتُنِي قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ أَظُنُّ قَالَ فَمَا بَرِحْتُ مَقْعَدِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى نَظَرْتُ إِلَى فَوَارِسِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَخَلَّلُونَ الشَّجَرَ وَإِذَا أَوَّلُهُمْ الْأَخْرَمُ الْأَسَدِيُّ وَعَلَى أَثَرِهِ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعَلَى أَثَرِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الْمِقْدَادُ الْكِنْدِيُّ فَوَلَّى الْمُشْرِكُونَ مُدْبِرِينَ وَأَنْزِلُ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ فَأَعْرِضُ لِلْأَخْرَمِ فَآخُذُ بِعِنَانِ فَرَسِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَخْرَمُ ائْذَنِ الْقَوْمَ يَعْنِي احْذَرْهُمْ فَإِنِّي لَا آمَنُ أَنْ يَقْطَعُوكَ فَاتَّئِدْ حَتَّى يَلْحَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ قَالَ يَا سَلَمَةُ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَتَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارَ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَحُلْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ الشَّهَادَةِ قَالَ فَخَلَّيْتُ عِنَانَ فَرَسِهِ فَيَلْحَقُ بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ وَيَعْطِفُ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَاخْتَلَفَا طَعْنَتَيْنِ فَعَقَرَ الْأَخْرَمُ بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَطَعَنَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَتَحَوَّلَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ فَرَسِ الْأَخْرَمِ فَيَلْحَقُ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَاخْتَلَفَا طَعْنَتَيْنِ فَعَقَرَ بِأَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَقَتَلَهُ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ وَتَحَوَّلَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ عَلَى فَرَسِ الْأَخْرَمِ ثُمَّ إِنِّي خَرَجْتُ أَعْدُو فِي أَثَرِ الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى مَا أَرَى مِنْ غُبَارِ صَحَابَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَيْئًا وَيُعْرِضُونَ قَبْلَ غَيْبُوبَةِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى شِعْبٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ ذُو قَرَدٍ فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يَشْرَبُوا مِنْهُ فَأَبْصَرُونِي أَعْدُو وَرَاءَهُمْ فَعَطَفُوا عَنْهُ وَاشْتَدُّوا فِي الثَّنِيَّةِ ثَنِيَّةِ ذِي بِئْرٍ وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَلْحَقُ رَجُلًا فَأَرْمِيهِ فَقُلْتُ خُذْهَا وَأَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا ثُكْلَ أُمِّ أَكْوَعَ بَكْرَةً قُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَيْ عَدُوَّ نَفْسِهِ وَكَانَ الَّذِي رَمَيْتُهُ بَكْرَةً فَأَتْبَعْتُهُ سَهْمًا آخَرَ فَعَلِقَ بِهِ سَهْمَانِ وَيَخْلُفُونَ فَرَسَيْنِ فَجِئْتُ بِهِمَا أَسُوقُهُمَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمَاءِ الَّذِي جَلَّيْتُهُمْ عَنْهُ ذُو قَرَدٍ فَإِذَا بِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي خَمْسِ مِائَةٍ وَإِذَا بِلَالٌ قَدْ نَحَرَ جَزُورًا مِمَّا خَلَّفْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْوِي لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ كَبِدِهَا وَسَنَامِهَا فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ خَلِّنِي فَأَنْتَخِبَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ مِائَةً فَآخُذَ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ عَشْوَةً فَلَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُمْ مُخْبِرٌ إِلَّا قَتَلْتُهُ قَالَ أَكُنْتَ فَاعِلًا ذَلِكَ يَا سَلَمَةُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَالَّذِي أَكْرَمَكَ فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ نَوَاجِذَهُ فِي ضَوْءِ النَّارِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُمْ يُقْرَوْنَ الْآنَ بِأَرْضِ غَطَفَانَ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ غَطَفَانَ فَقَالَ مَرُّوا عَلَى فُلَانٍ الْغَطَفَانِيِّ فَنَحَرَ لَهُمْ جَزُورًا قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَخَذُوا يَكْشِطُونَ جِلْدَهَا رَأَوْا غَبَرَةً فَتَرَكُوهَا وَخَرَجُوا هَرَبًا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْنَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُ فُرْسَانِنَا الْيَوْمَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ وَخَيْرُ رَجَّالَتِنَا سَلَمَةُ فَأَعْطَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَهْمَ الرَّاجِلِ وَالْفَارِسِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ أَرْدَفَنِي وَرَاءَهُ عَلَى الْعَضْبَاءِ رَاجِعِينَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهَا قَرِيبًا مِنْ ضَحْوَةٍ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ كَانَ لَا يُسْبَقُ جَعَلَ يُنَادِي هَلْ مِنْ مُسَابِقٍ أَلَا رَجُلٌ يُسَابِقُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَعَادَ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا وَأَنَا وَرَاءَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُرْدِفِي قُلْتُ لَهُ أَمَا تُكْرِمُ كَرِيمًا وَلَا تَهَابُ شَرِيفًا قَالَ لَا إِلَّا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي خَلِّنِي فَلَأُسَابِقَ الرَّجُلَ قَالَ إِنْ شِئْتَ قُلْتُ أَذْهَبُ إِلَيْكَ فَطَفَرَ عَنْ رَاحِلَتِهِ وَثَنَيْتُ رِجْلَيَّ فَطَفَرْتُ عَنِ النَّاقَةِ ثُمَّ إِنِّي رَبَطْتُ عَلَيْهَا شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ يَعْنِي اسْتَبْقَيْتُ نَفْسِي ثُمَّ إِنِّي عَدَوْتُ حَتَّى أَلْحَقَهُ فَأَصُكَّ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ بِيَدَيَّ قُلْتُ سَبَقْتُكَ وَاللَّهِ أَوْ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَهَا قَالَ فَضَحِكَ وَقَالَ إِنْ أَظُنُّ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ
Iyas bin Salamah bin Akwa narrates from his father Salamah bin Akwa, who said: During the time of Hudaybiyyah, we came to Madinah Munawwarah with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings be upon him) slave, Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him), and I set out with his camel. I wanted to race Talhah bin Ubaidullah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse alongside the camel. In the early morning darkness, Abdur Rahman bin Uyainah Fazari attacked the camels of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He killed their shepherd. He and his companions, who were mounted on horses, drove the camels away. I said, “O Rabah! Mount this horse and take it to Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) and go inform the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that his animals have been looted.” I myself stood on a hillock, faced Madinah, and called out “Ya Sabahah!” three times. Taking my bow and sword, I began to pursue them. I kept shooting arrows at them, wounding them wherever the trees were dense, and whenever a horseman turned towards me, I would sit behind a tree and start shooting arrows again. Whenever any horseman turned towards me, I would wound his horse. I kept showering arrows upon them and recited this rajaz (poetic chant):
ANA IBNUL AKWA‘ WAL-YAWMU YAWMUR-RUDDA‘ (I am the son of Akwa‘, and today is the day of the destruction of the cowards.)
Whenever I encountered any of them, I would shoot an arrow at him, and my arrow would strike him, embedding itself in his shoulder, and I would say:
ANA IBNUL AKWA‘ WAL-YAWMU YAWMUR-RUDDA‘ (I am the son of Akwa‘, and today is the day of the destruction of the cowards.)
Whenever I was in a cluster of trees, I would shower them with arrows, and when narrow paths came, I would climb up the mountain and start rolling stones down upon them. This continued between them and me. I kept pursuing them and reciting rajaz until Allah, the Exalted, enabled me to recover all the camels that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had, and I left them behind the enemy. I kept showering arrows upon them until, to lighten their load, they threw away more than thirty spears and more than thirty cloaks. Whatever they threw away, I would place a stone on it as a marker and gather those items on the path of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When the day had fully risen, Uyainah bin Badr Fazari came to their aid. At that time, they were passing through a narrow path. I climbed up the mountain. Uyainah said to them, “I see you in a bad state.” They replied, “All this trouble is because of him. He has been pursuing us since morning. He has taken all our belongings from us and left them behind.” Uyainah said, “He surely knows that his companions are coming from behind. If it were not so, he would have left you. Let some of you go towards him.” So, four men among them got up to go towards him and climbed the mountain. I called out to them in a loud voice, “Do you know who I am?” They said, “Tell us, who are you?” I said, “I am the son of Akwa‘. By the One who has honored Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) immensely, none of you can catch me, and whoever among you I wish to catch cannot escape from my hands.” One of them said, “That is indeed the case.” Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “I sat calmly in my place until I saw the horsemen of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) coming through the trees. Akhram Asadi (may Allah be pleased with him) was at the front, and the horseman of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), was behind him, and behind him was Miqdad Kindi (may Allah be pleased with him). Seeing this, the polytheists fled in panic, and I descended from the mountain and came before Akhram (may Allah be pleased with him) and, holding the reins of his horse, said, ‘Akhram! Be cautious of these people. I fear they may snatch you away. Wait until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions arrive.’ Akhram (may Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘O Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him)! If you believe in Allah and the Hereafter and are certain that Paradise and Hell are true, then do not stand between me and martyrdom.’ Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, ‘Hearing this, I let go of his horse’s reins. He clashed with Abdur Rahman bin Uyainah, who kept attacking him repeatedly. They exchanged two spear thrusts each. Akhram (may Allah be pleased with him) wounded Abdur Rahman’s horse’s legs, and Abdur Rahman killed him with a spear thrust. After that, Abdur Rahman mounted Akhram’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse. Then Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) encountered him. They also exchanged spear thrusts. Abu Qatadah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse was wounded, but he killed Abdur Rahman. Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) then mounted Akhram’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse. I again started pursuing the enemy and went so far ahead that I could not even see the dust of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the enemy, just before sunset, reached a valley called Qard, where there was some water. They intended to drink water there. Meanwhile, they saw me running after them. They left from there and hurriedly took the narrow mountain path. The name of this mountain path is Thaniyyah Dhi Bi’r. The sun had set. I encountered one of the polytheists and, shooting an arrow at him, said:
ANA IBNUL AKWA‘ WAL-YAWMU YAWMUR-RUDDA‘ (I am the son of Akwa‘, and today is the day of the destruction of the cowards.)
He said, “May Akwa‘’s mother lose him (i.e., may he die)! Have you been pursuing us since morning?” I said, “Enemy of Allah! Yes, I have been showering arrows upon you since morning.” And with that, I shot another arrow at him. Both arrows struck him, and they left behind two more horses. I took those two horses and headed towards the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) was at the spring of Dhi Qard, where I had driven away the enemy. I saw that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was there with his five hundred devoted companions. And the camel I had left behind, Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) had slaughtered one of them and was roasting its liver and hump for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I reached the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), if you permit, I will take a hundred of your companions and attack the disbelievers in the darkness and kill them all.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him), are you ready to do this?” He said, “By the One who has honored you (peace and blessings be upon him), I am ready for this task.” Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled so much that I saw his blessed molar teeth in the light of the fire. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “At this time, they are being entertained in the region of Ghatafan.” Later, a man from Banu Ghatafan came and informed that those people passed by a certain Ghatafani, who slaughtered a camel for them. While they were skinning it, they saw dust rising in the distance, so they left the camel and fled. When morning came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Today, the best among our horsemen is Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), and the best among the foot soldiers is Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him).” So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave me a share with both the foot soldiers and the horsemen. Then, when returning to Madinah Munawwarah, he had me ride behind him on his camel, Adhba’. When there was still time left before we reached Madinah Munawwarah at forenoon, there was an Ansari among the people who was very swift; no one could outpace him in a race. He started calling out, “Is there anyone who will race me to Madinah Munawwarah? Is there anyone who will compete with me?” He repeated this several times. I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), riding behind him on his mount. I said to him, “Can you not respect an honorable person, nor fear a person of dignity?” He said, “I am inviting everyone except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to this race.” So I said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), may my parents be sacrificed for you, allow me to race him.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “As you wish.” I said, “I will compete with him.” The man jumped down from his mount, and I also moved my legs and jumped down from the camel. Then, for a stage or two, I deliberately ran slowly to save my breath and not get winded. After that, I ran and caught up with him, and, striking him between his shoulders from behind, said, “By Allah, I have outpaced you.” I said these words or something similar. Hearing this, he laughed and said, “I thought so too,” until we reached Madinah Munawwarah.
ANA IBNUL AKWA‘ WAL-YAWMU YAWMUR-RUDDA‘ (I am the son of Akwa‘, and today is the day of the destruction of the cowards.)
Whenever I encountered any of them, I would shoot an arrow at him, and my arrow would strike him, embedding itself in his shoulder, and I would say:
ANA IBNUL AKWA‘ WAL-YAWMU YAWMUR-RUDDA‘ (I am the son of Akwa‘, and today is the day of the destruction of the cowards.)
Whenever I was in a cluster of trees, I would shower them with arrows, and when narrow paths came, I would climb up the mountain and start rolling stones down upon them. This continued between them and me. I kept pursuing them and reciting rajaz until Allah, the Exalted, enabled me to recover all the camels that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had, and I left them behind the enemy. I kept showering arrows upon them until, to lighten their load, they threw away more than thirty spears and more than thirty cloaks. Whatever they threw away, I would place a stone on it as a marker and gather those items on the path of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When the day had fully risen, Uyainah bin Badr Fazari came to their aid. At that time, they were passing through a narrow path. I climbed up the mountain. Uyainah said to them, “I see you in a bad state.” They replied, “All this trouble is because of him. He has been pursuing us since morning. He has taken all our belongings from us and left them behind.” Uyainah said, “He surely knows that his companions are coming from behind. If it were not so, he would have left you. Let some of you go towards him.” So, four men among them got up to go towards him and climbed the mountain. I called out to them in a loud voice, “Do you know who I am?” They said, “Tell us, who are you?” I said, “I am the son of Akwa‘. By the One who has honored Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) immensely, none of you can catch me, and whoever among you I wish to catch cannot escape from my hands.” One of them said, “That is indeed the case.” Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “I sat calmly in my place until I saw the horsemen of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) coming through the trees. Akhram Asadi (may Allah be pleased with him) was at the front, and the horseman of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), was behind him, and behind him was Miqdad Kindi (may Allah be pleased with him). Seeing this, the polytheists fled in panic, and I descended from the mountain and came before Akhram (may Allah be pleased with him) and, holding the reins of his horse, said, ‘Akhram! Be cautious of these people. I fear they may snatch you away. Wait until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions arrive.’ Akhram (may Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘O Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him)! If you believe in Allah and the Hereafter and are certain that Paradise and Hell are true, then do not stand between me and martyrdom.’ Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, ‘Hearing this, I let go of his horse’s reins. He clashed with Abdur Rahman bin Uyainah, who kept attacking him repeatedly. They exchanged two spear thrusts each. Akhram (may Allah be pleased with him) wounded Abdur Rahman’s horse’s legs, and Abdur Rahman killed him with a spear thrust. After that, Abdur Rahman mounted Akhram’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse. Then Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) encountered him. They also exchanged spear thrusts. Abu Qatadah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse was wounded, but he killed Abdur Rahman. Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) then mounted Akhram’s (may Allah be pleased with him) horse. I again started pursuing the enemy and went so far ahead that I could not even see the dust of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the enemy, just before sunset, reached a valley called Qard, where there was some water. They intended to drink water there. Meanwhile, they saw me running after them. They left from there and hurriedly took the narrow mountain path. The name of this mountain path is Thaniyyah Dhi Bi’r. The sun had set. I encountered one of the polytheists and, shooting an arrow at him, said:
ANA IBNUL AKWA‘ WAL-YAWMU YAWMUR-RUDDA‘ (I am the son of Akwa‘, and today is the day of the destruction of the cowards.)
He said, “May Akwa‘’s mother lose him (i.e., may he die)! Have you been pursuing us since morning?” I said, “Enemy of Allah! Yes, I have been showering arrows upon you since morning.” And with that, I shot another arrow at him. Both arrows struck him, and they left behind two more horses. I took those two horses and headed towards the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) was at the spring of Dhi Qard, where I had driven away the enemy. I saw that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was there with his five hundred devoted companions. And the camel I had left behind, Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) had slaughtered one of them and was roasting its liver and hump for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I reached the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), if you permit, I will take a hundred of your companions and attack the disbelievers in the darkness and kill them all.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him), are you ready to do this?” He said, “By the One who has honored you (peace and blessings be upon him), I am ready for this task.” Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled so much that I saw his blessed molar teeth in the light of the fire. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “At this time, they are being entertained in the region of Ghatafan.” Later, a man from Banu Ghatafan came and informed that those people passed by a certain Ghatafani, who slaughtered a camel for them. While they were skinning it, they saw dust rising in the distance, so they left the camel and fled. When morning came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Today, the best among our horsemen is Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), and the best among the foot soldiers is Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him).” So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave me a share with both the foot soldiers and the horsemen. Then, when returning to Madinah Munawwarah, he had me ride behind him on his camel, Adhba’. When there was still time left before we reached Madinah Munawwarah at forenoon, there was an Ansari among the people who was very swift; no one could outpace him in a race. He started calling out, “Is there anyone who will race me to Madinah Munawwarah? Is there anyone who will compete with me?” He repeated this several times. I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), riding behind him on his mount. I said to him, “Can you not respect an honorable person, nor fear a person of dignity?” He said, “I am inviting everyone except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to this race.” So I said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), may my parents be sacrificed for you, allow me to race him.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “As you wish.” I said, “I will compete with him.” The man jumped down from his mount, and I also moved my legs and jumped down from the camel. Then, for a stage or two, I deliberately ran slowly to save my breath and not get winded. After that, I ran and caught up with him, and, striking him between his shoulders from behind, said, “By Allah, I have outpaced you.” I said these words or something similar. Hearing this, he laughed and said, “I thought so too,” until we reached Madinah Munawwarah.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … The following is the complete context of this hadith; we present only the translation:
Iyas bin Salamah narrates from his father, Sayyiduna Salamah radi Allahu anhu, that:
(1) We, fourteen hundred people, came with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to the place of Hudaybiyyah. There was a well there, from which (due to the scarcity of water) even fifty goats could not be watered. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sat at the edge of the well, supplicated, and spat into it. Water gushed forth and began to flow abundantly, so we drank and gave others to drink.
(2) Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam called us to pledge allegiance at the trunk of a tree. I was the first to pledge allegiance, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam continued to take pledges. When half the people had finished pledging, he said to me: “Salamah! Pledge allegiance.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have already pledged allegiance first.” He said: “Do it once more.”
(3) When the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saw me without a weapon, he gave me a shield, then began to take pledges again until the people reached the end. He said to me: “Salamah! Will you not pledge allegiance?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have already pledged allegiance first and then again in the middle (twice).” He said: “Do it once more.” So I pledged allegiance a third time.
(4) Then he said to me: “Salamah! Where is the shield I gave you?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! My uncle met me, and he had no weapon, so I gave it to him.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam laughed and said: “You are like the man who said: ‘O Allah! Grant me a beloved one who is dearer to me than myself.’”
(5) Then the polytheists began correspondence with us regarding a truce, until we started visiting each other and the truce was established. I was a follower of Sayyiduna Talhah bin Ubaydullah radi Allahu anhu; I would water his horse, clean its back with a currycomb, and serve him. I would eat his food, and when I migrated to Allah and His Messenger, I left my family and wealth behind. When the truce between us and the people of Makkah was established and we began to visit each other, I came under a tree, cleared its thorns, and lay down there. Four polytheists from Makkah came to me and began to speak ill of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. I was greatly repulsed by them, so I moved to another tree. They hung their weapons and lay down. While they were in this state, a voice was heard from the lower valley: “O Muhajir! Ibn Zunaim has been killed.” I drew my sword and rushed towards those four; they were sleeping. I seized their weapons and, holding them in my hand, said: “By the One Who has honored the face of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)! Whoever among you raises his head, I will strike him.” Then I drove them to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(6) My uncle ‘Amir brought a man named Mikraz from ‘Ablaat, mounted on a weak horse, to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. They were seventy polytheists in total. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam looked at them and said: “Let them go; the beginning and end of evil and immorality will be with them.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forgave them. At that time, Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: {وہی ہے جس نے خاص مکہ میں کافروں کے ہاتھوں کو تم سے اور تمھارے ہاتھوں کو ان سے روک دیا، اس کے بعد کہ اس نے تمھیں ان پر غلبہ دے دیا تھا اور تم جو کچھ کر رہے ہو، اللہ تعالیٰ اسے خوب دیکھ رہا ہے۔} (Surah al-Fath: 24).
(7) Then we returned towards Madinah and camped at a place. Between us and Banu Lihyan, who were polytheists, there was a mountain. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam supplicated for forgiveness for the one who would climb that mountain that night, as if he was at the forefront of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the noble Companions. Sayyiduna Salamah radi Allahu anhu said: “I climbed that mountain two or three times that night.”
(8) Then we reached Madinah. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent his mount with his slave Rabah, and I also set out with him on the horse of Sayyiduna Talhah radi Allahu anhu. I spurred the horse so much that it was drenched in sweat. In the morning, it became known that ‘Abdur Rahman Fazzari had deceived us; he had killed your (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam’s) shepherd and driven away the mounts. I said: “Rabah! Take this horse to Sayyiduna Talhah bin Ubaydullah and convey to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that the polytheists have plundered his livestock.” I myself stood on a hillock, faced Madinah, and called out three times: “Ya Sabahah!” (a call to arms). Then I set out in pursuit of those people, shooting arrows at them and reciting rajaz poetry:
I am the son of Akwa‘
Today is the day of the destruction of the vile ones
I would catch up to a man and shoot an arrow into his bag so forcefully that it would reach his shoulder. Then I would say: “Take this! And I am the son of Akwa‘. Today is the day of the destruction of the vile ones.” By Allah! I kept shooting arrows at them, bewildering and confounding them. If any horseman turned towards me, I would sit by the trunk of a tree and shoot arrows, astonishing him. (As I continued) the mountain became narrow, and they entered that narrow place. I climbed the mountain and began rolling stones down. I kept pursuing them until I had left all the mounts of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam behind me, yet I continued to chase and shoot arrows at them, until they threw away thirty cloaks and thirty spears to lighten themselves (and reduce their load). Whatever they threw, I would place a marker stone on it so that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his Companions would recognize it. They kept going until they reached a narrow pass, where the son of Badr Fazzari also joined them. They began to eat their midday meal, and I sat on the top of a mountain or hillock. Fazzari asked: “Who is that whom I see?” They said: “He has caused us great trouble; by Allah! He has been pursuing us since morning and shooting arrows at us, until he has taken everything from us.” He said: “Let four of you go towards him.” So they climbed the mountain towards me. When it was possible to speak to them, I said: “Do you know me?” They said: “No, who are you?” I said: “I am Salamah bin Akwa‘. By the One Who has honored the face of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! I can catch whomever I wish among you, and none of you can catch me.” One of them said: “That is what I thought.”
(9) They went back, and I remained in my place until I saw the horsemen of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam coming up through the trees. The first among them was Akhram Asadi radi Allahu anhu, behind him was Abu Qatadah Ansari radi Allahu anhu, and behind him Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi radi Allahu anhu. I grabbed the reins of Akhram’s horse. They all turned their backs and fled. I said: “Akhram! Be cautious until you meet the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the Companions, lest they intercept you.” He said: “Salamah! If you believe in Allah and the Last Day and know that Paradise and Hell are true, then nothing can stand between me and my martyrdom.” I let him go. He confronted ‘Abdur Rahman, they cut the hamstrings of his horse, and ‘Abdur Rahman struck Akhram with a spear and martyred him, then mounted his horse. Meanwhile, the horseman of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Abu Qatadah radi Allahu anhu, attacked ‘Abdur Rahman and killed him with a spear. By the One Who has honored the face of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! I kept running after them (and went so far ahead that) the Companions and their dust disappeared from sight. When these polytheists reached a valley called Dhu Qarad before sunset, there was water there, and they were thirsty. They wanted to drink, but when they looked back, they saw me running after them. Out of fear and terror, they left without drinking a single drop. They began to run along the mountain path, and I kept running after them and shot an arrow into the shoulder of one of their men and said:
Take this! And I am the son of Akwa‘
Today is the day of the destruction of the vile ones
He said: “May your mother lose you! Are you the Akwa‘ of the morning?” I said: “Indeed, O enemy of your own soul! I am the Akwa‘ of the morning.” They left two horses on that path. I brought both of them to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(10) I met ‘Amir, who had a water skin with a little milk and another with water. I performed ablution (wudu) and drank water, then came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, who was at the water from which I had driven away the enemies. I saw that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had taken possession of all the camels and spears and all the other items like cloaks that I had seized from the polytheists. Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu slaughtered one of the seized camels and roasted its liver and hump meat for the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. I said: “O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to go, I will select one hundred men, and then we will all pursue the polytheists and kill any informant we find among them.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam laughed until his molar teeth became visible in the light of the fire. He said: “Salamah! Will you really do that?” I said: “Yes, by the One Who has honored you!” He said: “They will be hosted in Ghatafan.” Later, a man came from Ghatafan and said: “So-and-so slaughtered camels for them, and when they had skinned them, they saw a rising cloud of dust. They said: ‘(Those pursuing us) have reached us,’ so they fled.”
(11) When morning came, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The best horseman today is Abu Qatadah, and the best on foot is Salamah.” Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave me two shares, one share for a horseman and one for a foot soldier, and combined both shares for me. Then he made me ride on his she-camel ‘Adhba’ and set out towards Madinah.
(12) As we were traveling, an Ansari, who would not let anyone surpass him in running, began to say: “Is there anyone to race me to Madinah? Is there anyone to compete?” He kept challenging repeatedly. When I heard this, I said: “Do you not respect the honor of the honorable? Do you not acknowledge the awe of a person of dignity?” He said: “No, except if he is the Messenger of Allah.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, allow me to compete with this man.” He said: “As you wish.” I said: “I am coming towards you.” I twisted my legs, leapt, and started running. I crossed one or two hillocks while running, then chased after him, ran over one or two hillocks, then sped up and caught up with him. I struck his back with my hand and said: “By Allah! You have lost.” He said: “I still have hope.” Then I surpassed him all the way to Madinah.
(13) By Allah! We stayed only three nights, then we set out towards Khaybar. My uncle ‘Amir began to recite these rajaz verses:
By Allah! If it were not for Allah, we would not have been guided
Nor given charity, nor prayed
And we cannot be enriched except by Your grace
If we encounter the enemy, keep us steadfast
And send tranquility upon us
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked: “Who is this?” They said: “I am ‘Amir.” He said: “May your Lord forgive you.” He said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam specifically supplicated for forgiveness for someone, he was martyred.” Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattab radi Allahu anhu, while on his camel, called out: “O Prophet of Allah! Why did you not let us benefit from ‘Amir (i.e., why did you not include us in the supplication)?”
(14) When we reached Khaybar, their king Marhab came out, brandishing his sword, and said:
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab
Armed, valiant, and experienced
When battles flare up, I turn towards them
My uncle, Sayyiduna ‘Amir radi Allahu anhu, came out to face him and said:
Khaybar knows well that I am ‘Amir
Fully prepared, brave, and one who risks his life
The exchange of sword blows began. Marhab’s sword struck the shield of ‘Amir radi Allahu anhu, ‘Amir bent down, and his own sword cut the vein of his arm, and thus he was martyred.
(15) Salamah said: “I came out and heard the Companions of the Messenger saying: ‘Amir’s deeds have been wasted; he has committed suicide.’ I came weeping to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Have ‘Amir’s deeds been wasted?’ The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked: ‘Who is saying such a thing?’ I said: ‘Your Companions.’ He said: ‘Whoever said this has spoken falsely; ‘Amir will have a double reward.’ Then he sent me to call Sayyiduna ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu, who was suffering from an eye ailment at that time. He said: ‘I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.’ I went to ‘Ali, and despite his eye pain, I brought him to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He applied his saliva to his eyes, and he was cured. Then he gave him the banner. This time Marhab came out and said:
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab
Armed, valiant, and experienced
When battles flare up, I turn towards them
Sayyiduna ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu said:
I am the one whom my mother named Haydar
A lion of the forests, with a terrifying appearance
I will measure him with the spear in exchange for Sa‘
Sayyiduna ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu struck Marhab on the head, and victory (of Khaybar) was achieved at his hands. (Sahih Muslim: 5/190)
Iyas bin Salamah narrates from his father, Sayyiduna Salamah radi Allahu anhu, that:
(1) We, fourteen hundred people, came with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to the place of Hudaybiyyah. There was a well there, from which (due to the scarcity of water) even fifty goats could not be watered. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sat at the edge of the well, supplicated, and spat into it. Water gushed forth and began to flow abundantly, so we drank and gave others to drink.
(2) Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam called us to pledge allegiance at the trunk of a tree. I was the first to pledge allegiance, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam continued to take pledges. When half the people had finished pledging, he said to me: “Salamah! Pledge allegiance.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have already pledged allegiance first.” He said: “Do it once more.”
(3) When the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saw me without a weapon, he gave me a shield, then began to take pledges again until the people reached the end. He said to me: “Salamah! Will you not pledge allegiance?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have already pledged allegiance first and then again in the middle (twice).” He said: “Do it once more.” So I pledged allegiance a third time.
(4) Then he said to me: “Salamah! Where is the shield I gave you?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! My uncle met me, and he had no weapon, so I gave it to him.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam laughed and said: “You are like the man who said: ‘O Allah! Grant me a beloved one who is dearer to me than myself.’”
(5) Then the polytheists began correspondence with us regarding a truce, until we started visiting each other and the truce was established. I was a follower of Sayyiduna Talhah bin Ubaydullah radi Allahu anhu; I would water his horse, clean its back with a currycomb, and serve him. I would eat his food, and when I migrated to Allah and His Messenger, I left my family and wealth behind. When the truce between us and the people of Makkah was established and we began to visit each other, I came under a tree, cleared its thorns, and lay down there. Four polytheists from Makkah came to me and began to speak ill of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. I was greatly repulsed by them, so I moved to another tree. They hung their weapons and lay down. While they were in this state, a voice was heard from the lower valley: “O Muhajir! Ibn Zunaim has been killed.” I drew my sword and rushed towards those four; they were sleeping. I seized their weapons and, holding them in my hand, said: “By the One Who has honored the face of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)! Whoever among you raises his head, I will strike him.” Then I drove them to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(6) My uncle ‘Amir brought a man named Mikraz from ‘Ablaat, mounted on a weak horse, to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. They were seventy polytheists in total. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam looked at them and said: “Let them go; the beginning and end of evil and immorality will be with them.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forgave them. At that time, Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: {وہی ہے جس نے خاص مکہ میں کافروں کے ہاتھوں کو تم سے اور تمھارے ہاتھوں کو ان سے روک دیا، اس کے بعد کہ اس نے تمھیں ان پر غلبہ دے دیا تھا اور تم جو کچھ کر رہے ہو، اللہ تعالیٰ اسے خوب دیکھ رہا ہے۔} (Surah al-Fath: 24).
(7) Then we returned towards Madinah and camped at a place. Between us and Banu Lihyan, who were polytheists, there was a mountain. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam supplicated for forgiveness for the one who would climb that mountain that night, as if he was at the forefront of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the noble Companions. Sayyiduna Salamah radi Allahu anhu said: “I climbed that mountain two or three times that night.”
(8) Then we reached Madinah. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent his mount with his slave Rabah, and I also set out with him on the horse of Sayyiduna Talhah radi Allahu anhu. I spurred the horse so much that it was drenched in sweat. In the morning, it became known that ‘Abdur Rahman Fazzari had deceived us; he had killed your (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam’s) shepherd and driven away the mounts. I said: “Rabah! Take this horse to Sayyiduna Talhah bin Ubaydullah and convey to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that the polytheists have plundered his livestock.” I myself stood on a hillock, faced Madinah, and called out three times: “Ya Sabahah!” (a call to arms). Then I set out in pursuit of those people, shooting arrows at them and reciting rajaz poetry:
I am the son of Akwa‘
Today is the day of the destruction of the vile ones
I would catch up to a man and shoot an arrow into his bag so forcefully that it would reach his shoulder. Then I would say: “Take this! And I am the son of Akwa‘. Today is the day of the destruction of the vile ones.” By Allah! I kept shooting arrows at them, bewildering and confounding them. If any horseman turned towards me, I would sit by the trunk of a tree and shoot arrows, astonishing him. (As I continued) the mountain became narrow, and they entered that narrow place. I climbed the mountain and began rolling stones down. I kept pursuing them until I had left all the mounts of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam behind me, yet I continued to chase and shoot arrows at them, until they threw away thirty cloaks and thirty spears to lighten themselves (and reduce their load). Whatever they threw, I would place a marker stone on it so that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his Companions would recognize it. They kept going until they reached a narrow pass, where the son of Badr Fazzari also joined them. They began to eat their midday meal, and I sat on the top of a mountain or hillock. Fazzari asked: “Who is that whom I see?” They said: “He has caused us great trouble; by Allah! He has been pursuing us since morning and shooting arrows at us, until he has taken everything from us.” He said: “Let four of you go towards him.” So they climbed the mountain towards me. When it was possible to speak to them, I said: “Do you know me?” They said: “No, who are you?” I said: “I am Salamah bin Akwa‘. By the One Who has honored the face of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! I can catch whomever I wish among you, and none of you can catch me.” One of them said: “That is what I thought.”
(9) They went back, and I remained in my place until I saw the horsemen of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam coming up through the trees. The first among them was Akhram Asadi radi Allahu anhu, behind him was Abu Qatadah Ansari radi Allahu anhu, and behind him Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi radi Allahu anhu. I grabbed the reins of Akhram’s horse. They all turned their backs and fled. I said: “Akhram! Be cautious until you meet the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the Companions, lest they intercept you.” He said: “Salamah! If you believe in Allah and the Last Day and know that Paradise and Hell are true, then nothing can stand between me and my martyrdom.” I let him go. He confronted ‘Abdur Rahman, they cut the hamstrings of his horse, and ‘Abdur Rahman struck Akhram with a spear and martyred him, then mounted his horse. Meanwhile, the horseman of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Abu Qatadah radi Allahu anhu, attacked ‘Abdur Rahman and killed him with a spear. By the One Who has honored the face of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! I kept running after them (and went so far ahead that) the Companions and their dust disappeared from sight. When these polytheists reached a valley called Dhu Qarad before sunset, there was water there, and they were thirsty. They wanted to drink, but when they looked back, they saw me running after them. Out of fear and terror, they left without drinking a single drop. They began to run along the mountain path, and I kept running after them and shot an arrow into the shoulder of one of their men and said:
Take this! And I am the son of Akwa‘
Today is the day of the destruction of the vile ones
He said: “May your mother lose you! Are you the Akwa‘ of the morning?” I said: “Indeed, O enemy of your own soul! I am the Akwa‘ of the morning.” They left two horses on that path. I brought both of them to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(10) I met ‘Amir, who had a water skin with a little milk and another with water. I performed ablution (wudu) and drank water, then came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, who was at the water from which I had driven away the enemies. I saw that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had taken possession of all the camels and spears and all the other items like cloaks that I had seized from the polytheists. Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu slaughtered one of the seized camels and roasted its liver and hump meat for the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. I said: “O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to go, I will select one hundred men, and then we will all pursue the polytheists and kill any informant we find among them.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam laughed until his molar teeth became visible in the light of the fire. He said: “Salamah! Will you really do that?” I said: “Yes, by the One Who has honored you!” He said: “They will be hosted in Ghatafan.” Later, a man came from Ghatafan and said: “So-and-so slaughtered camels for them, and when they had skinned them, they saw a rising cloud of dust. They said: ‘(Those pursuing us) have reached us,’ so they fled.”
(11) When morning came, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The best horseman today is Abu Qatadah, and the best on foot is Salamah.” Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave me two shares, one share for a horseman and one for a foot soldier, and combined both shares for me. Then he made me ride on his she-camel ‘Adhba’ and set out towards Madinah.
(12) As we were traveling, an Ansari, who would not let anyone surpass him in running, began to say: “Is there anyone to race me to Madinah? Is there anyone to compete?” He kept challenging repeatedly. When I heard this, I said: “Do you not respect the honor of the honorable? Do you not acknowledge the awe of a person of dignity?” He said: “No, except if he is the Messenger of Allah.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, allow me to compete with this man.” He said: “As you wish.” I said: “I am coming towards you.” I twisted my legs, leapt, and started running. I crossed one or two hillocks while running, then chased after him, ran over one or two hillocks, then sped up and caught up with him. I struck his back with my hand and said: “By Allah! You have lost.” He said: “I still have hope.” Then I surpassed him all the way to Madinah.
(13) By Allah! We stayed only three nights, then we set out towards Khaybar. My uncle ‘Amir began to recite these rajaz verses:
By Allah! If it were not for Allah, we would not have been guided
Nor given charity, nor prayed
And we cannot be enriched except by Your grace
If we encounter the enemy, keep us steadfast
And send tranquility upon us
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked: “Who is this?” They said: “I am ‘Amir.” He said: “May your Lord forgive you.” He said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam specifically supplicated for forgiveness for someone, he was martyred.” Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattab radi Allahu anhu, while on his camel, called out: “O Prophet of Allah! Why did you not let us benefit from ‘Amir (i.e., why did you not include us in the supplication)?”
(14) When we reached Khaybar, their king Marhab came out, brandishing his sword, and said:
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab
Armed, valiant, and experienced
When battles flare up, I turn towards them
My uncle, Sayyiduna ‘Amir radi Allahu anhu, came out to face him and said:
Khaybar knows well that I am ‘Amir
Fully prepared, brave, and one who risks his life
The exchange of sword blows began. Marhab’s sword struck the shield of ‘Amir radi Allahu anhu, ‘Amir bent down, and his own sword cut the vein of his arm, and thus he was martyred.
(15) Salamah said: “I came out and heard the Companions of the Messenger saying: ‘Amir’s deeds have been wasted; he has committed suicide.’ I came weeping to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Have ‘Amir’s deeds been wasted?’ The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked: ‘Who is saying such a thing?’ I said: ‘Your Companions.’ He said: ‘Whoever said this has spoken falsely; ‘Amir will have a double reward.’ Then he sent me to call Sayyiduna ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu, who was suffering from an eye ailment at that time. He said: ‘I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.’ I went to ‘Ali, and despite his eye pain, I brought him to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He applied his saliva to his eyes, and he was cured. Then he gave him the banner. This time Marhab came out and said:
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab
Armed, valiant, and experienced
When battles flare up, I turn towards them
Sayyiduna ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu said:
I am the one whom my mother named Haydar
A lion of the forests, with a terrifying appearance
I will measure him with the spear in exchange for Sa‘
Sayyiduna ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu struck Marhab on the head, and victory (of Khaybar) was achieved at his hands. (Sahih Muslim: 5/190)
