and warfare and stratagem?”

He replied, “Rather, it is a matter of judgment, warfare, and stratagem.” He then said, “This is not a suitable place to fight.”

In the year of the Trench, he made a peace agreement with Ghatafān in return for half of Medina’s date harvest, after the confederates had rallied against them: Quraysh and their allies, the people of Najd and their forces, and the Jewish Banū Qurayzah, Medina’s neighbours. That episode was among the gravest trials and ordeals, and concerning it Allah revealed Sūrat al-Ahzāb. When he agreed to give them half its date harvest, Sa'd said to him, in substance:

“If Allah has commanded you to do this, we hear and obey. But if it is your own judgment, intended to serve our interests, then even in the days of ignorance none of them could obtain a single date from it except by purchasing it or receiving it as hospitality. Now that Allah has honoured us with Islam, are we to give you our dates?”—or words to that effect.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained to him: “When I saw that the enemies had banded together against you, I feared that you might be unable to withstand them. So I thought I would turn these people away by giving them some of the dates. But if you are steadfast and patient, there is no need for this.”

An authentic report relates: “During one of their journeys, their provisions ran out, so they asked his permission to slaughter their riding animals—the camels they rode—and he gave them permission. Then 'Umar came to him and explained that slaughtering their riding animals would cause them hardship, and asked that their provisions be gathered together and that he pray over them