It is recorded in the Kashafu-l-ghummah that a man came
to the apostle of God after the Ghazwah of Tabuk, and
reported that an Arab tribe had assembled in the Wâdy-urraml,
with the intention of making a night attack on
Madinah. The prophet hereon immediately ordered the
companions to assemble, informed them of the case, and
asked: ‘Who of you will ward off this wicked attempt?’
Then a number of the illustrious companions, as well as
others, immediately expressed their pleasure at the news,
and his lordship the best of men gave the flag to Ssiddyq,
appointing him commander of the expedition which was to
march against the enemy, who was in a low country, full of
stones and trees, difficult of access. In short, Ssiddyq
marched against the enemy according to the orders he had
received, and reached the Wâdy after duly traversing the
distance, but when he was entering it the hypocrites rushed
out, armed with swords and lances, attacked the Musalmâns,
some of whom attained the honour of martyrdom,
and the rest fled back to Madinah. When the apostle of
God was informed [of this defeat] he made a banner, gave
it to Fârûq, and appointed him over a number of Musalmâns,
whom he sent to avenge themselves on the professors
of opposition and heresy. O’mar then hastened to
his destination, and on his attempting to penetrate into
the valley, the idolaters rushed out from among the rocks
and trees, where they had lain in ambush, and attacked
the Musalmâns, who fled after some resistance [again] to
Madinah. After this event A’mru B. Ala’ass, who was
distinguished for cunning and deceit, spoke as follows: ‘O
apostle of God, send me against them, that I may deal
with them according to the proverb, “Stratagem is necessary
in war,” and that I may deceive the enemies.’ His
holy and prophetic lordship—u. w. b.—complied with his
request, appointed him over a company of Musalmâns, and
sent him against the opponents; but, on coming in contact
with them, some Musalmâns attained martyrdom, and
the rest were [again] put to flight. Several days after the
return of A’mru B. Ala’ass, his lordship prepared a standard
for A’li the Commander of the Faithful, lifted up his hands
to heaven, and poured forth his orisons for A’li with his
wonderfully eloquent tongue. He also condescended to
accompany A’li—u. w. b.—as far as the mosque Ahzâb,
ordering Ssiddyq, Fârûq, and A’mru B. Ala’ass to follow
and to obey him. Ali Murtadza—u. w. b.—feigned
to march towards Arabian E’râq, and passed by the
Wâdy-urraml; but after he had marched several stages he
determined to attack the enemy, and hastened to his destination
by a route which debouched into the Wâdy. He
marched during the night, and rested his men in the day
aside from the road. When he had reached the neighbourhood
of the habitations of the opponents, he ordered his
forces to advance slowly, taking himself the lead in front.
When A’mru B. Ala’ass perceived that the stratagems of
A’li the Commander of the Faithful—u. w. b.—were likely
to be crowned with success and victory, he intended to discomfit
the expedition by speaking as follows to Fârûq and
to Ssiddyq: ‘In this route there are dangers to be apprehended
from wild animals and rapacious beasts, wherefore
it will be proper for us to make a night-attack upon the
enemy from the upper part of the Wâdy.’ The two old
men communicated this proposal to A’li Murtadza—u. w. b.
—but he rejected it. A’mru B. Ala’ass therefore said: ‘O
Musalmâns, we cannot jeopardize our lives. Come, let us
march in the higher portions of the Wâdy.’ The army of
Islâm, however, replied: ‘The prophet—u. w. b.—having
forbidden us to disobey A’li—u. w. b.—how can we listen
to thy words and act according to them?’ A’li—u. w. b.
—considered the opinion of A’mru to be erroneous,
and continued his march as before, till he arrived at the
dawn of day in sight of the opponents, on whom he avenged
himself according to his heart’s desire. The author of the
Kashafu-l-ghummah maintains that on this occasion the
chapter ‘The war-horses which run swiftly’*
was revealed,
and that his lordship the apostle—u. w. b—informed
his companions of the glad tidings of the victory.
When A’li—u. w. b.—returned and arrived in the vicinity
of Madinah, his lordship ordered his companions to meet
Hayder [i.e., A’li] the Commander of the Faithful in
solemn procession, and preceded them himself at a short
distance, and as soon as the blessed eye of the receptacle
of sovereignty alighted on the joy-bringing countenance of
the owner of prophecy he alighted from his horse, but that
prince said: ‘Mount, O A’li, for God and the apostle of
God are pleased with thee.’ A’li the Commander of the
Faithful began to weep for joy, and the apostle of Allah
said: ‘Had I not been apprehensive of the people saying
of thee what they have said with reference to the Masyh
[Messiah], namely, I’sa [Jesus], the son of Maryam, I
would have uttered words, in consequence whereof thou
wouldest not have passed near any company, but they
would have picked up the earth from under thy feet.’