Note [édition originale] : And part of the believers were averse to thy directions;] For the better understanding of this passage, it will be necessary to
mention some further particulars relating to the expedition of
Bedr.
Mohammed having received private information (for which he pretended he
was obliged to the angel
Gabriel
) of the approach of a caravan belonging to
the
Koreish, which was on its return from
Syria with a large quantity of
valuable merchandise, and was guarded by no more than thirty, or, as others
say, forty men, set out with a party to intercept it.
Abu Sofiân, who
commanded the little convoy, having notice of
Mohammed’s motions, sent to
Mecca for succours; upon which
Abu Jahl, and all the principal men of the
city, except only
Abu Laheb, marched to his assistance, with a body of nine hundred and fifty
men.
Mohammed had no sooner received advice of this, than
Gabriel descended
with a promise that he should either take the caravan or beat the succours;
whereupon he consulted with his companions which of the two he should attack.
Some of them were for setting upon the caravan, saying that they were not
prepared to fight such a body of troops as were coming with
Abu Jahl: but this
proposal
Mohammed rejected, telling them that the caravan was at a
considerable distance by the seaside, whereas
Abu Jahl was just upon them.
The others, however, insisted so obstinately on pursuing the first design of
falling on the caravan, that the prophet grew angry, but by the interposition
of
Abu Becr, Omar,
Saad Ebn Obadah, and
Mokdâd Ebn Amru, they at length
acquiesced in his opinion.
Mokdâd in particular assured him they were all
ready to obey his orders, and would not say to him, as the children of
Israel
did to
Moses, Go thou and thy Lord to fight, for we will sit here
1;
but,
Go
thou and thy
Lord to fight, and we will fight with you. At this
Mohammed
smiled, and again sat down to consult with them, applying himself chiefly to
the
Ansârs or
helpers, because they were the greater part of his forces, and
he had some apprehension lest they should not think themselves obliged by the
oath they had taken to him at
al Akaba
2,
to assist him against any other than
such as should attack him in
Medina. But
Saad Ebn Moâdh, in the name of the
rest, told him that they had received him as the apostle of
God, and had
promised him obedience, and were therefore all to a man ready to follow him
where he pleased, tho’ it were into the sea. Upon which the prophet ordered
them in
God’s name to attack the succours, assuring them of the victory
3.
-
1
Korân, chap. 5. p. 85.
-
2
See the Prelim. Disc. p. 48.
-
3
Al Beidawi.