In sum, the military expeditions of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—especially those involving combat, are well known and widely recognized, accurately recorded and attested through numerous channels among those learned in the details of his life. They are recorded in works of hadith, jurisprudence, Quranic exegesis, the Prophet’s campaigns and biography, and similar disciplines. Such events are of a kind that people have every reason to transmit. It is therefore impossible—in terms of both ordinary experience and the Sharia—that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—could have undertaken an expedition in which events such as these occurred, yet no one knowledgeable about such matters transmitted it. This is just as impossible as more than five prayers having been prescribed during each day and night, or more fasting (1) than the month of Ramadan having been prescribed each year without that being transmitted. It is likewise impossible that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—could have campaigned against the Persians in Iraq and gone to Yemen without anyone transmitting it. The same applies to all comparable events which, had they occurred, people would have had every interest and reason to transmit.

There are two views concerning Surah “al-Ādiyāt.” The first is that it was revealed in Mecca. This is related from Ibn Masūd, Ikrima, Atā, and others. On this view, the falsity of the claim becomes evident.

The second is that it was revealed in Medina. This is related from Ibn Abbās and Qatāda, and it accords with the interpretation of “those that race” as the horses of those fighting in Allah’s cause. However, the well-known view of Alī, as transmitted from him in works of Quranic exegesis, is that he interpreted “those that race” as the pilgrims’ camels and their racing from Muzdalifa to Minā. This accords with the first view; thus, according to Alī’s interpretation, this claim is false. Ibn Abbās and the majority interpreted the expression as referring to horses charging in Allah’s cause (2) 208.