We set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the expedition of Dhat al-Riqa. A woman from the polytheists was captured. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned back to return home, her husband, who had been away, came back and swore that he would not rest until he had shed the blood of Muhammad's ﷺ companions. He set out following the trail of the Prophet ﷺ.The Prophet ﷺ camped at a certain spot and asked, "Who will stand guard over us tonight?"A man from the Emigrants and a man from the Helpers volunteered, saying, "We will, Messenger of Allah."He said, "Then take your post at the mouth of the mountain pass."They had camped near a pass in the valley. When the two men went out to the mouth of the pass, the Helper said to the Emigrant, "Which part of the night would you prefer me to take for you, the first or the last?"He replied, "Cover the first part for me."So the Emigrant lay down and slept, while the Helper stood up to pray.The man arrived, and when he saw the figure of someone standing, he knew it was the lookout of the group. He shot him with an arrow, which struck him. The Helper pulled it out, set it down, and remained standing. Then the man shot a second arrow, which also struck him. He pulled that out too, set it down, and stayed on his feet. Then the man shot a third, which struck him as well. He pulled it out, set it down, then completed his bowing and prostration. After that he roused his companion, saying, "Sit up, I have been hit."The Emigrant sprang to his feet. When the attacker saw the two of them, he realized he had been discovered, and he fled.When the Emigrant saw the blood covering the Helper, he exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah! Why did you not wake me at the first shot?"He answered, "I was in the middle of a surah I was reciting, and I did not want to interrupt it until I had finished. But when the shooting continued, I bowed down and woke you. By Allah, were it not that I would have abandoned a post the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded me to guard, I would rather have my life cut short than break off my recitation before completing it."
حدثنا إبراهيم بن إسحاق حدثنا ابن المبارك عن محمد بن إسحاق قراءة حدثني صدقة بن يسار عن عقيل بن جابر
خرجنا مع رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة ذات الرقاع فأصيبت امرأة من المشركين فلما انصرف رسول الله ﷺ قافلا وجاء زوجها وكان غائبا فحلف أن لا ينتهي حتى يهريق دما في أصحاب محمد ﷺ فخرج يتبع أثر النبي ﷺ فنزل النبي ﷺ منزلا فقال من رجل يكلؤنا ليلتنا هذه فانتدب رجل من المهاجرين ورجل من الأنصار فقالا نحن يا رسول الله قال فكونوا بفم الشعب قال وكانوا نزلوا إلى شعب من الوادي فلما خرج الرجلان إلى فم الشعب قال الأنصاري للمهاجري أي الليل أحب إليك أن أكفيكه أوله أو آخره قال اكفني أوله فاضطجع المهاجري فنام وقام الأنصاري يصلي وأتى الرجل فلما رأى شخص الرجل عرف أنه ربيئة القوم فرماه بسهم فوضعه فيه فنزعه فوضعه وثبت قائما ثم رماه بسهم آخر فوضعه فيه فنزعه فوضعه وثبت قائما ثم عاد له بثالث فوضعه فيه فنزعه فوضعه ثم ركع وسجد ثم أهب صاحبه فقال اجلس فقد أوتيت فوثب فلما رآهما الرجل عرف أن قد نذروا به فهرب فلما رأى المهاجري ما بالأنصاري من الدماء قال سبحان الله ألا أهببتني قال كنت في سورة أقرؤها فلم أحب أن أقطعها حتى أنفذها فلما تابع الرمي ركعت فأريتك وايم الله لولا أن أضيع ثغرا أمرني رسول الله ﷺ بحفظه لقطع نفسي قبل أن أقطعها أو أنفذها