fight except in nine expeditions: Badr, Uhud, Banū al-Mustaliq, the Trench, Dhū Qarad, and the expedition of al-Tā’if. The largest army the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, assembled was at Hunayn and al-Tā’if, numbering twelve thousand. The largest army to accompany the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on an expedition was the army of Tabūk: it was so numerous that it could not be counted, but no fighting took place during that expedition.

Those mentioned above are included in the words of Allah Most High:

“Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquest; they are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterward. Yet Allah has promised the best reward to all.”

For these men who were granted amnesty and embraced Islam at the conquest were among those who spent and fought after the conquest, and Allah promised them the best reward. They spent at Hunayn and al-Tā’if and fought in both expeditions—may Allah be pleased with them.

They are also included among those with whom Allah is pleased, as He says:

“The foremost pioneers among the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in righteousness—Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.”

The pioneers were those who embraced Islam before al-Hudaybiyah, such as those who pledged allegiance to him beneath the tree, concerning whom Allah revealed:

“Allah was certainly pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you beneath the tree.”

They numbered more than fourteen hundred, and all of them are among the people of Paradise, as authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said:

“No one who pledged allegiance beneath the tree will enter the Fire.”

Among them was Hātib ibn Abī Balta‘ah, and he had committed sins