I swore a righteous oath for Muhammad—
I kept it whole, a thousand bridled chargers at his call.

Then the Prophet of the believers proclaimed, “Advance!
How dear to us that you should be the vanguard of them all.”

We camped at Nahy al-Mustadīr; no fear assailed our hearts—
Only eagerness and tightened belts prepared us for the start.

We obeyed you until all mankind embraced Islam’s bright flame,
Till at dawn we faced the host, the people of Yalamlam by name.

Amid their ranks the piebald, pink-nosed stallion lost his way,
And not a single elder knew repose till reins were firmly stayed.

We surged on them like sand-grouse rushing to the water just at noon,
While each you saw drew back a pace, then lunged again full-soon.

From early morn we pressed the fight until the close of day;
Hunayn we left at eventide, its gullies running red with spray.

Wherever you looked you saw a fallen horse, its rider hurtling down,
A shattered spear, a warrior sprawled—grim tokens of renown.

Yet Hawāzin had secured their womenfolk and herds from harm,
Yearning that we depart defeated, robbed of every prize and charm.

Thus Imām Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq has transmitted these odes by ʿAbbās ibn Mirdās and al-Sulamī. We have omitted some of what he recorded, fearing undue length and weariness, and he also cited verses by others. What we have presented suffices, and God knows best.

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

The Expedition of al-Ṭāʾif

ʿUrwah and Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah, on the authority of al-Zuhrī, report: The Messenger of God ﷺ fought at Ḥunayn and then besieged al-Ṭāʾif in Shawwāl of the eighth year AH.

Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq says: When the broken remnant of Thaqīf reached al-Ṭāʾif, they shut the gates of their city and made every preparation for war. ʿUrwah ibn Masʿūd and Ghailān ibn Salamah were not present at either Ḥunayn or the siege of al-Ṭāʾif; they were in Jurash learning how to construct battering rams, catapults, and iron-plated mantlets.