The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then pardoned them, and Allah revealed: “It is He who withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of Mecca after He gave you victory over them …” —the entire verse.

7—Then we set out, returning to Medina, and encamped at a place with a mountain between us and Banu Lihyan, who were polytheists. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed for forgiveness for whoever climbed that mountain during the night, as though he were a scout for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions.

Salamah said: I climbed it two or three times that night.

8—Then we arrived in Medina. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent out his herd with Rabah, the Messenger of Allah’s servant, and I went with him, taking Talhah’s horse out to graze with the herd. When morning came, Abd al-Rahman al-Fazari had raided the Messenger of Allah’s herd, driven all of it away, and killed its shepherd. I said, “Rabah, take this horse to Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah, and inform the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that the polytheists have raided his grazing livestock.”

Then I climbed a hillock, faced Medina, and shouted three times, “To arms!” Then I set out in pursuit of the people, shooting arrows at them and chanting:

“I am the son of al-Akwaʿ; today is the day of those still at the breast!”

I would catch up with one of them and drive an arrow into his saddle until its point reached his shoulder. Then I would say, “Take that! I am the son of al-Akwaʿ; today is the day of those still at the breast!”

By Allah, I continued shooting at them and crippling their mounts. Whenever one of their horsemen turned back toward me, I would go to a tree, sit at its base, and shoot him, crippling his mount. When the mountain pass narrowed and they entered its constricted passage, I climbed the mountain and began pelting them with stones. I continued in this manner, pursuing them,