Muhammad ibn Ja‘far informed us; he said: ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Thabit informed us; he said: Ahmad ibn Mansur narrated to us; he said: ‘Abd Allah ibn Salih narrated to us; he said: Mu‘awiyah ibn Salih narrated to us, from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn ‘Abbas, regarding the saying of Allah, Most High: “But Allah would not punish them while you are among them.” [al-Anfal 8:33] He said: Allah would not punish a people while their prophets were in their midst, until He removed their prophets from among them. Then He said: “Nor would Allah punish them while they sought forgiveness.” [al-Anfal 8:33] He means those for whom Allah had already decreed entry into faith—and that is seeking forgiveness. And He says to the disbeliever: “Allah would not leave the believers in the state you are in until He distinguishes the wicked from the good.” [Al ‘Imran 3:179] Thus He distinguished the people of felicity from the people of wretchedness, saying: “And why should Allah not punish them?” [al-Anfal 8:34] So Allah punished them with the sword on the Day of Badr.