Even if they enter the hole of a lizard, you will still follow them there.

Even if they enter the hole of a lizard, you will still follow them there.” We [the sahābah ] said, “The Jews and the Christians?!” He (ṣ) said, “Who else?!”[^4] And among the sahābah are those about whom the Almighty said the following in His Glorious Book: “But when they [some sahābah] see some bargain or amusement, they disperse headlong to it and leave you standing” (Qur’ān, 62:11).

This verse was revealed about the sahābah who left the Messenger of Allāh (ṣ) delivering his Friday sermon when they heard about a trade caravan that had come from Syria, leaving with him only twelve men from among all the other thousands of sahābah . Jābir ibn Abdullāh [al-Ansāri] is quoted as having said, “A trade caravan came on a Friday while we were with the Prophet (ṣ).

People left save twelve men; thereupon, Allāh revealed this verse: ‘But when they see some bargain or amusement, they disperse headlong to it and leave you standing’ (Qur’ān, 62:11).” In another narrative, he said, “While we were praying with the Prophet (ṣ), a caravan came carrying foodstuffs.

They turned to it, leaving with the Prophet (ṣ) only twelve men; therefore, this verse was revealed: ‘But when they see some bargain or amusement, they disperse headlong to it and leave you standing’ (Qur’ān, 62:11).” The same number of sahābah remained with the Messenger of Allāh (ṣ) after all the rest had fled away in the Battle of Uhud, prompting the Messenger of Allāh (ṣ) to dissociate himself from their action.

Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib has said, “My uncle, Anas ibn al-Nadar, was absent during the battle of Badr, so he said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh! I was absent the first day when you fought the polytheists. If Allāh permits me to be present during the fight against the polytheists, Allāh will see what I shall do.’ When the battle of Uhud approached and the Muslims dispersed, the Messenger of Allāh (ṣ) said, ‘Lord!

I seek Your excuse for what these have done,’ meaning his sahābah .” [^5] Add to the above what happened during the battle of Hunayn. The flight of the sahābah left a more bitter taste. They numbered in the thousands. The Holy Qur’ān reprimanded them for their abominable action thus: “Assuredly Allāh did help you on many battle-fields and on the Day of Hunayn: Behold!

Your great numbers elated you, but they did not avail you at all: The land, for all its vastness, constrained you and you turned back in retreat.