al-Mustadrak (al-Hakim) 557

Translation

✧ We set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the expedition of Dhat al-Riqa' from Nakhl. A man among the Muslims captured a woman from the polytheists. When the Messenger ﷺ returned, her husband came, as he had been absent. When he was informed of the news, he swore that he would not stop until he shed blood among the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So he set out following the trail of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stopped at a place and said: “Which man will guard us this night of ours?” A man from the Muhajirun and a man from the Ansar volunteered, saying: We will, O Messenger of Allah. He said: “Then be at the mouth of the mountain pass.” He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions had stopped at the pass from the valley. When the two men went out to the mouth of the pass, the Ansari said to the Muhajir: Which part of the night would you like me to take over for you? He said: Take over the first part for me. So the Muhajir lay down and the Ansari stood praying. He said: The husband of the woman came. When he saw the figure of the man, he knew that he was a watchman of the people. He said: He shot an arrow at him and hit him. He said: He pulled it out and set it aside, and remained standing praying. Then he shot another arrow and hit him. He pulled it out and set it aside, and remained standing praying. Then he came back a third time and hit him. He pulled it out and set it aside, then he bowed, then he roused his companion and said: Sit up, I have been wounded. So he jumped up. When the man saw the two of them, he knew that he had been detected, so he fled. When the Muhajir saw the blood on the Ansari, he said: Glory be to Allah! Why did you not rouse me at the first shot? He said: I was in a surah that I was reciting, and I did not like to interrupt it until I completed it. When the shooting continued, I bowed and alerted you. By Allah, had I not feared neglecting a post that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had ordered me to guard, my breath would have been cut off before I cut it off or completed it.”

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