Abu Sufyan said, “By Allah, we had indeed resolved to return against them and wipe out those of them who remain.” Ma‘bad said, “By Allah, I warn you against doing that. What I saw moved me to compose these lines about them:

My mount nearly gave way beneath the clamour,
when sleek steeds flooded the earth in wave upon wave.

He recited further verses, and this caused Abu Sufyan and those with him to turn back.

A caravan from Abd al-Qays passed by him, and he said, “Where are you bound?” They replied, “We are going to Medina.” He said, “Why?” They replied, “We are seeking provisions.” (1) He said, “Will you convey a message from me to Muhammad? In return, when you come to us at Ukaz tomorrow, I will load these camels of yours with raisins.” They said, “Yes.” He said, “When you reach him, tell him that we have resolved to march against him and his Companions, in order to wipe out those of them who remain.”

Abu Sufyan then returned to Mecca. The caravan passed by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he and his Companions were at Hamra’ al-Asad, and informed him of what Abu Sufyan had said. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions said, “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then returned to Medina after the third day. (2) This is the view of most Quran commentators.

Mujahid and Ikrimah said: This verse was revealed concerning the campaign of Lesser Badr. On the day of Uhud, when Abu Sufyan was about to withdraw, he said, “Muhammad, let our appointed meeting be at the season of Lesser Badr next year, if you wish.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “That is the appointment between us, if Allah wills.”

When the following year came, Abu Sufyan set out with the people of Mecca until he halted at Majannah, near Marr al-Zahran. Then Allah cast fear into his heart, and he decided to turn back. He met Nu‘aym ibn Mas‘ud al-Ashja‘i, who had arrived to perform Umrah, and Abu Sufyan said to him, “Nu‘aym, I had agreed with Muhammad and his Companions that we would meet at the season of Lesser Badr. But this is a year of drought, and only a year in which our camels can graze on foliage and we can drink milk is suitable for us. I have decided not to go there; yet I dislike Muhammad going out while I do not, for that would only make them bolder against us. I would rather that they fail to keep the appointment than that I should fail to keep it. So go to Medina, discourage them, and tell them that I am with a great force against which they have no power. In return, I will give you ten she-camels, which I shall place in your possession through Suhayl ibn Amr, and he will guarantee them.”

Suhayl came, and Nu‘aym said to him, “Abu Yazid, will you guarantee these she-camels for me, so that I may go to Muhammad and discourage him?” He said, “Yes.” Nu‘aym then set out until he came to Medina ⦗74/a⦘ and found the people preparing for their appointment with Abu Sufyan. He said, “Where are you going?” They replied, “Abu Sufyan has appointed us to meet at the season of Lesser Badr, where we are to fight.” He said, “What a terrible decision you have made! They came upon you in your own homes and settlement, and none of you escaped except the scattered fugitives. Now you wish to go out while they have gathered against you at the appointed season? By Allah, not one of you will escape!”

The Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, became reluctant to go out. But the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “By Him in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, I shall certainly go out, even if alone.” As for the cowardly, they turned back; while the courageous prepared themselves for battle, saying, “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.”