—and Abu Masʿud was the youngest of them.
Ibn Bukayr narrated from Ibn Isḥāq: ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUmar and ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Bakr told me that al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿUbādah ibn Naḍlah, the ally of Banū Sālim, said, “People of Khazraj, do you know on what terms you are pledging allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? You are pledging to wage war against the red and the black alike. If you think that when your wealth has been depleted and your nobles slain you will abandon him and hand him over, then withdraw now—for by Allah, should you do so it will be disgrace in this world and the next. But if you believe you can shoulder it and remain true to him, then by Allah it is goodness in this world and the next.”
ʿĀṣim added, “By Allah, al-ʿAbbās only said this to make the covenant with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ more binding.”
Ibn Abī Bakr said, “He merely said it to postpone the matter that night so that ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ubayy could be present, which would strengthen the pledge.”
They asked, “What shall we receive for this, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Paradise.” They said, “Extend your hand,” and they pledged their allegiance to him.
Afterwards al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿUbādah said, “If you wish, we can attack them tomorrow with our swords.” The Prophet replied, “I have not been commanded to do that.”
Al-Zuhrī related—and Ibn Luhayʿah transmitted it from Abū al-Aswad, from ʿUrwah; Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah also reported it in these very words—that in the following year seventy men from the Anṣār came on pilgrimage: forty of mature age and thirty young men, the youngest being Abu Masʿud ʿUqbah ibn ʿAmr and Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh. They met him at al-ʿAqabah while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was accompanied by his uncle al-ʿAbbās. When he explained the grace Allah had singled him out for—prophethood and honour—and invited them to Islam and to give him their pledge, they responded, “Set whatever conditions you wish, for your Lord and for yourself.” He said, “For my Lord I stipulate that you associate nothing with Him; for myself, that you protect me from whatever you protect your own lives and wealth.” When they were content with that—