Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated: Allah made it obligatory upon them that one should fight against ten, so this was burdensome and difficult for them, then Allah removed this (hardship, burden) from them and commanded that one should fight and face two, so Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: «إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَابِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ» "If there are twenty steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred." And then he recited till the end of the verses. Then he said: «لَّوْلَا كِتَابٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ» "If it had not been for a prior decree from Allah, you would have been severely punished for what you have taken." Meaning the spoils of Badr, He says: My way is that I do not punish the one who disobeys Me until I have given him prior warning. Then He said: «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّمَن فِي أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ الْأَسْرَىٰ إِن يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا» "O Prophet! Say to those captives who are in your hands, if Allah knows any good in your hearts..." Sayyiduna Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: This verse was revealed about me when I informed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about my Islam, and requested him not to hold me accountable for the twenty uqiyah he had taken from me, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave me twenty slaves, all of whom traded with the wealth that was in your possession, and along with that, stored up forgiveness from Allah.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the Battle of Badr, it was said to him: You should pursue this trade caravan, there is nothing else. So Sayyiduna Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) called out to them, while he was in his bonds (he had been tied with rope), that it is not permissible for you, so he (the Prophet) said: Why (is it not permissible)? He (Abbas) said: Because Allah had promised you one of the two groups, and He has fulfilled for you what He had promised you.