leave this position until I send word to you. Even if you see that we have routed the people and trampled them underfoot, do not leave until I send word to you.” So they routed them. (1)

He said: “By Allah, I saw the women fleeing in haste, with their anklets and lower legs exposed as they lifted their garments. The companions of Abdullah ibn Jubayr said, ‘The spoils, O people—the spoils! Your companions have prevailed, so what are you waiting for?’ Abdullah ibn Jubayr said, ‘Have you forgotten what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told you?’ They said, ‘By Allah, we shall go to the people and take our share of the spoils.’ But when they went to them, they were driven back and fled in defeat. That was when the Messenger was calling them from behind them, and only twelve men remained with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. They killed seventy of us.

On the day of Badr, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions had inflicted one hundred and forty casualties upon the polytheists: seventy captives and seventy slain. Abu Sufyan called out three times, ‘Is Muhammad among the people?’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade them to answer him. Then he called three times, ‘Is the son of Abu Quhafah among the people?’ Then he called three times, ‘Is the son of al-Khattab among the people?’ He then returned to his companions and said, ‘As for these men, they have been killed.’ Umar could not restrain himself and said, ‘You lie, by Allah, enemy of Allah! All those whom you named are alive, and there yet remains for you that which will grieve you.’

He said, ‘A day in return for the day of Badr; war brings alternating fortunes. You will find mutilation among the people—a thing I did not order, though it did not displease me.’ Then he began to chant: ‘May Hubal be exalted!’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Will you not answer him?’ They said, ‘Messenger of Allah, what should we say?’ He said, ‘Say: Allah is higher and more glorious.’ He said, ‘We have al-Uzza, whereas you have no Uzza.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Will you not answer him?’ They said, ‘Messenger of Allah, what should we say?’ He said, ‘Say: Allah is our Protector, and you have no protector.’” (2)

This same meaning was narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. In his report, Abu Sufyan said, ‘A day for a day; days alternate, and war brings alternating fortunes.’ Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘They are not equal: our slain are in Paradise, while your slain are in the Fire.’” (3)

Al-Zajjaj said: The victory belongs to the Muslims over the disbelievers, as Allah, exalted is He, says: “Indeed, Our forces will surely prevail.” On the day of Uhud ⦗70⦘, however, the advantage belonged to the disbelievers over the Muslims because they disobeyed the command of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Concerning His saying, “So that Allah may know those who believe”: that is, this alternation occurred only so that He might know—that is, so that Allah might see—those who believe, and thus distinguish the believer from the hypocrite. “And that He may take martyrs from among you”: He honors certain people with martyrdom. “And Allah does not love the wrongdoers.”