Further reports on the Battle of Badr
– serving as an explanation of what has preceded – include the following:
Isra’il related—through Abu Ishaq, from ‘Amr ibn Maymun, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud—that:
Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh set out to perform ‘umrah (the lesser pilgrimage). He stayed with Umayyah ibn Khalaf—who in turn would lodge with Sa‘d whenever he travelled to Syria. Umayyah said, “Wait until midday, when people are inattentive, then make your circumambulation.”
While Sa‘d was performing tawaf around the Ka‘bah, Abu Jahl came up and asked, “Who are you?”
“Sa‘d,” he replied.
Abu Jahl said, “Do you circle the House in safety after you have given refuge to Muhammad and his followers?”—and the two men exchanged harsh words.
Umayyah said to Sa‘d, “Do not raise your voice against Abu al-Hakam; he is the chief of this valley.”
Sa‘d answered, “By Allah, if you stop me from circumambulating the House I will cut off your trade route to Syria!” Umayyah kept repeating, “Lower your voice.”
Sa‘d became angry and said, “Leave us be! I heard Muhammad ﷺ claim that he will kill you.”
“You mean me?” Umayyah asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
“By Allah, Muhammad does not lie,” Umayyah said—and he was so shaken that he almost lost control of himself.
He went back home and said to his wife, “Do you know what my Yathribi brother has just said?”
“What did he say?” she asked.
“He alleged that Muhammad claims he will kill me.”
She responded, “By Allah, he never lies.”
When the marching orders for Badr were issued and the alarm reached them, his wife reminded him, “Do you not remember what the man from Yathrib said?”
“In that case,” he said, “I will not go out.”
But Abu Jahl said to him, “You are one of the nobles of this valley; march with us for a day or two.” He did march with them—and was killed.
This report is recorded by al-Bukhari.
Al-Bukhari also transmitted it through another chain—via Ibrahim ibn Yusuf ibn Abi Ishaq al-Sabi‘i, from his father, from his grandfather—in which occurs the wording: “When Abu Jahl mobilised the people and said…”