Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
لَوْ أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نُخِيضَهَا الْبَحْرَ:
If you command us to drive our horses into the sea,
that is, if you order us to plunge into the sea, we are ready for it.

(2)
لَوْ أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نَضْرِبَ أَكْبَادَهَا إِلَى بَرْكِ الْغِمَادِ:
If you, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, command us to drive them (the horses) far away,
(because Bark al-Ghimad is located at a great distance from Madinah, far beyond Makkah),
then we are ready to do this task,
meaning we will submit to every command of yours, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam,
so you may be free of any fear regarding us that we would not support you.

(3)
رَوَايَا:
Plural of rawiyah,
refers to those camels on which water is carried for drinking.

(4)
فَمَا مَاطَ:
Did not move away,
the place where you, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, marked, there it settled, and your, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, prophecy came true.

Benefits and Issues:
Under the leadership of Abu Sufyan, the people of Makkah sent a trade caravan to Syria,
which had one thousand camels and merchandise worth fifty thousand dinars.
This caravan had already departed,
and on its return, it was a golden opportunity for the people of Madinah to deprive the people of Makkah of this abundant wealth and inflict a severe military, political, and economic blow.
Therefore, among the Muslims,
the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, announced that the caravan of Quraysh, laden with wealth and riches, is approaching,
so set out for it,
perhaps Allah, the Exalted, will grant it to you as booty.
Since at the time of departure from Madinah, it was not thought that instead of the caravan, there would be a confrontation with the army of Quraysh,
the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, did not make it obligatory for all the Companions to set out, and at the time of departure, people did not make any special arrangements nor complete preparations.
The number of the Muslim army was only three hundred and thirteen (313),
or three hundred and fourteen (314),
or three hundred and seventeen (317).
There were only two horses and seventy (70) camels.
Abu Sufyan also came to know that the Muslims intended to attack his caravan, so he immediately hired Dhamdham bin Amr al-Ghifari and sent him to Makkah to give a general call to the Quraysh for the protection of the caravan, and Abu Sufyan himself, acting with strategy, saved the caravan and sent a message to the people of Makkah to return.
But Abu Jahl was not willing to return,
and the army of Makkah continued its march.
Upon reaching the valley of Dhafran, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, learned of the arrival of the Makkan army and realized that a bloody battle was now certain.
In view of this sudden and dangerous change in circumstances, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, consulted his companions.
Since the number of the Muhajirun was small,
the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, wanted to know the opinion of the Ansar rather than the commanders of the Muhajirun,
because their number was greater and, according to the pledge of Aqabah, it was not obligatory for them to fight outside Madinah.
The intention of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was understood by Sa'd bin Mu'adh, radi Allahu anhu, who delivered a forceful speech.
In Sahih Muslim, the speech is attributed to Sa'd bin Ubadah, radi Allahu anhu;
this is a mistake of the narrator, and the consultation did not take place in Madinah,
because there they had only set out for the caravan,
the total number of which was forty (40) individuals.
For details, read about the Battle of Badr al-Kubra in "Al-Raheeq al-Makhtum."