in a narrow mountain pass. Then I climbed the mountain. ʿUyaynah said, “What is this that I am seeing?” They replied, “We have suffered from this relentless man—he has not left us since the break of dawn until now. He has taken everything that was in our hands and put it behind his back.” ʿUyaynah said, “Were it not that he thinks reinforcements are behind him, he would have abandoned you. Let a number of you go up against him.”

So four men advanced toward me and climbed the mountain. When their voices reached my ears, I called out, “Do you know who I am?” They said, “And who are you?” I said, “I am the son of al-Akwaʿ. By Him who honored the face of Muhammad ﷺ, no man among you will pursue me and overtake me, nor will I pursue him and he escape me.” One of them remarked, “I think so,” affirming what I had said.

I had not moved from that spot before I saw the horsemen of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ weaving through the trees: at their head was al-Akhram al-Asadi, with Abū Qatadah behind him and al-Miqdad behind Abū Qatadah. The idolaters thereupon turned and fled. I came down from the mountain, intercepted al-Akhram, and seized the rein of his horse. I said, “O Akhram, warn the people—be on your guard—for I fear they will cut you down. Slow your pace until the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions catch up.” He replied, “If you believe in Allah and the Last Day, do not place yourself between me and martyrdom.” So I released his reins. He caught up with ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn ʿUyaynah, and ʿAbd al-Rahmān speared him and killed him. ʿAbd al-Rahmān then mounted al-Akhram’s horse. Abū Qatadah pursued him; they exchanged two thrusts, and he wounded Abū Qatadah, but Abū Qatadah killed him and mounted al-Akhram’s horse.

I then set off running after the enemy until I could no longer see the dust of my own companions. Before sunset they veered toward a ravine with water called Dhū Qarad. They intended to drink from it, but when they saw me running behind them they turned away and ascended the pass—Thaniyat Dhī Tīr—and the sun went down,