Verse 49
The Moon • makkah
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Important Words:
یسحبون (dragged) is derived from سحب. They say سحبه i.e. he dragged or drew it along upon the ground. سحب الریح التراب means the wind drew along the dust upon the ground. One would say جاء یسحب ذیله i.e. he came dragging along his skirt on the ground, i.e. walking haughtily (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
How remarkably and to the very letter the prophecy made in this verse was fulfilled! It is reported that of the Quraishite leaders and chiefs who were killed in the Battle of Badr, 24 were thrown in a pit for burial, and before he left the field of battle, the Holy Prophet went to the pit, and calling each of them by name addressed them in the words: ھل وجدتم ما وعد کم ربکم حقا فانی وجدت ما وعدنی ربی حقا i.e. Have you found true what your Lord promised you; I have indeed, found true what my Lord promised me (Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). He further said: یا أھل القلیب بئس عشیرة النبی کنتم لنبیکم، کذبتمونی و صدقنی الناس و أخرجتمونی وآ وانی الناس و قاتلتمونی ونصرنی الناس i.e. "O fellows of the pit! you proved to be bad relatives of your Prophet. You declared me to be a liar but other people testified to my truth. You expelled me, but other people gave me asylum. You fought against me and other people helped me" (Tabari).
The defeat at Badr was, indeed, a most formidable and calamitous misfortune for the Quraish. Their power and prestige sustained a crushing blow. Most of their leaders were killed and their dead bodies were dragged along and thrown into a pit. The Holy Prophet went up to its brink and, addressing the dead bodies is reported to have said, 'Have you found true what your Lord had promised you? I have, indeed, found true what my Lord had promised me' (Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). The prophecy was fulfilled to the very letter.