If you think it best, march to a certain well that I know—its water is plentiful and sweet. We would camp by it before the enemy can reach it, and then we would stop up every other well.”

The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Advance, for Allah has promised you one of the two parties.”

Fear settled into many hearts, and both the Muslims and the idolaters hurried toward the water. That night Allah sent down a single rain: upon the idolaters it was a torrential trial that kept them from moving on, whereas upon the Muslims it was a gentle, steady drizzle that packed the sand firm beneath their feet. Thus the Muslims reached the well first and encamped there halfway through the night. They descended into it, cleared it out until its water flowed abundantly, built a large cistern, and then stopped up all the remaining wells.

It is said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had only two horses with him: on one rode Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr, and on the other Saʿd ibn Khaythama. Another report states that the riders were al-Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām and al-Miqdād.

The Prophet ﷺ then drew up the ranks by the cisterns. When the idolaters appeared, he is reported to have said, “O Allah, here is Quraysh, come in its arrogance and pride, defying You and denying Your Messenger.” The Muslims sought Allah’s help and implored Him, and Allah answered them.

The idolaters dismounted and formed up for battle, and with them was Iblis in the guise of Surāqah al-Mudlijī, assuring them that Banū Kinānah were right behind him, coming to their aid.

Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām then hurried to ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah and said, “Would you like to be the chief of Quraysh for as long as you live?”

“How so?” ʿUtbah asked.

“Act as guarantor between the two sides, assume the blood-money for Ibn al-Ḥaḍramī, and cover what Muhammad took from that caravan. Quraysh want nothing more from Muhammad than this.”

ʿUtbah replied, “Yes, I will do it—an excellent suggestion.”