Warriors From Father to Son

Al-Barāʾ ibn Maʿrūr stood up wanting to give the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) the pledge, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I swear it, we are warriors from father to son over many generations." When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "I want you to protect me like you protect your women and children," al-Barāʾ ibn Maʿrūr said, "O Messenger of Allah, we are warriors. We have inherited this from generation to generation." This is another thing Allah prepared that generation with, that they were fighters — they were strong, and they had this reputation in Arabia. While al-Barāʾ ibn Maʿrūr was speaking, Abū al-Haytham stood up and interrupted, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, we have certain ties to others" — referring to the Jews — "and if we break these, we are concerned that if Allah gives you victory, you might return to your people and abandon us." Abū al-Haytham was saying that this commitment might mean they would get into conflict with people with whom they had agreements. So now, if in case the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) won, was he going to stay with them, or was he going to leave them? They were willing to enter into this agreement for their whole life, but was he going to stay with them, or leave them?

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) responded after smiling. He said, "If your blood be sought, our blood shall be sought, and your destruction is mine as well. I am of you, and you are of me. I will battle those who battle you, and make peace with those with whom you make peace." And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept to his agreement. When Makkah was opened, the hometown of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), he left it and he went back with the people of al-Anṣār to Madīnah, and he remained there until he died — the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stayed with the people of al-Anṣār until the last moment.