The Muslims wanted the Romans to prevail over the Persians, because the Romans were People of the Book, while the polytheists wanted the Persians to prevail over the Romans, because the Persians were idol worshippers. The Muslims mentioned this to Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.The Prophet ﷺ said to him, "They will surely be defeated."Abu Bakr told the polytheists this, and they said, "Set a term between us. If they prevail, you will owe us such and such, and if we prevail, we will owe you such and such."So he set a term of five years between them, but the Romans did not prevail within that period. Abu Bakr mentioned this to the Prophet ﷺ, who said, "Why did you not make it," I think he said, "less than ten?"Saeed said, "Bid (a few) means less than ten."He said, the Romans then prevailed afterwards, and that is the meaning of Allah's statement, "Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated in the nearest land, but after their defeat they will be victorious within a few years" [Rum 30:1–4].He said, the Romans were defeated, then later they were victorious. Allah said, "To Allah belongs the command before and after, and on that day the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah" [Rum 30:4–5].He said, the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah.
حدثنا معاوية حدثنا أبو إسحاق عن سفيان عن حبيب بن أبي عمرة عن سعيد بن جبير
كان المسلمون يحبون أن تظهر الروم على فارس لأنهم أهل كتاب وكان المشركون يحبون أن تظهر فارس على الروم لأنهم أهل أوثان فذكر ذلك المسلمون لأبي بكر فذكر أبو بكر ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ فقال له النبي ﷺ أما إنهم سيهزمون فذكر ذلك أبو بكر لهم فقالوا اجعل بيننا وبينك أجلا فإن ظهروا كان لك كذا وكذا وإن ظهرنا كان لنا كذا وكذا فجعل بينهم أجلا خمس سنين فلم يظهروا فذكر ذلك أبو بكر للنبي ﷺ فقال ألا جعلته أراه قال دون العشر قال وقال سعيد البضع ما دون العشر قال فظهرت الروم بعد ذلك فذلك قوله تعالى {الم غلبت الروم في أدنى الأرض وهم من بعد غلبهم سيغلبون في بضع سنين} قال فغلبت الروم بعد ثم غلبت بعد قال {لله الأمر من قبل ومن بعد ويومئذ يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله} قال يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله