He continued: When the Messenger of God ﷺ had concluded the affair of Ḥunayn, he marched on to al-Ṭāʾif, and on that occasion Kaʿb ibn Mālik composed the following verses:

We have settled every doubt in Tihāmah, and at Khaybar too—
then gave our tempered swords a moment’s rest.

We chose them well; had they found a tongue, their edges would have cried,
“Let our blades fall on Daws or on Thaqīf!”

By God, may I no longer claim my nurse’s lap
if you do not see those swords—our thousands—on your very yard.

We shall rip the roofs from the valley of Wajj;
your dwellings will awaken void of you.

Swift squadrons of our cavalry will reach you,
leaving in their wake a great, compact host.

When they dismount within your court
you will hear the ground itself quake beneath their loads.

In their hands are keen and polished sabres
whose scorching stroke delivers sure death.

They gleam like blood-red carnelians, refined
by Indian smiths—untarnished, never nicked.

On the morning of assault you would think
the heroes’ blood upon them a crimson downpour.

Tell me, is there no true counsellor among them,
one of the tribes who knows us well,

to warn them that we have gathered
pure-bred horses and fleet, dromedary mounts,

that we have come against them with an army
whose ranks surround the walls of their fortress?

Their leader is the Prophet—unyielding,
clean of heart, patient, and gracious;

sound in judgment, endowed with knowledge and forbearance,
never rash, never light-minded.

We obey our Prophet and obey our Lord,
the All-Merciful, ever compassionate toward us.

If you extend peace to us, we shall accept it
and make you comrades and allies.

But if you refuse, we shall fight you and endure;
our resolve will neither tremble nor weaken.

We shall strive for as long as life remains,
or until you come to Islam in willing submission.

We fight unmindful of what we lose—
whether the wealth of our fathers or of recent gain.

Many a tribe has banded against us,
its pure-blooded stock and its confederates alike.

They came, believing none could match them;
we split their ears and noses in disgrace—

with every supple, gleaming sword,
driving them in harsh defeat—

for the sake of God and of Islam,
until the faith stands straight and true,

until al-Lāt, al-ʿUzzā, and Wudd are forgotten,
their necklaces and earrings stripped away.

Thus they awoke conceding and at peace;
whoever dares not resist must accept abasement.