It is narrated from Hasan that Suraqah bin Malik al-Mudliji informed the people that the Quraysh had set a reward of forty uqiyah regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Hazrat Abu Bakr. He says: I was sitting when a man came to me and said, "Those men about whom the Quraysh have made their announcement (of reward) are near you, at such-and-such a place." He says: I went to my horse, which was grazing. I took it and hurried, then I took my spear. He says: I mounted it, and out of fear that someone else might join me regarding these two, I began to draw my spear. He says: When I saw the two of them, Hazrat Abu Bakr said, "This is a seeker who is searching for us." The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards me and said, "O Allah! Be sufficient for us against him as You wish." Suraqah says: My horse sank into the ground, even though I was on hard ground. I fell on a stone and tumbled. So I said, "Pray to that Being who has done this to my horse, as I am seeing, that He may bring it out from here." He says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for Suraqah, and the horse came out. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Will you gift this to me?" I said, "Yes!" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Then stay here." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Keep our situation hidden from the people."

2. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took the route along the seashore. He says: At the beginning of the day, I was their pursuer, and at the end of the day, I was their protector. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me, "When we make Medina our destination, if you wish, come to us." Suraqah says: Then when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Medina and prevailed over the people of Badr and the people of Uhud, and the people and those around the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted Islam, Suraqah says: News reached me that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to send Khalid bin Walid towards Banu Mudlij. He says: I presented myself before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, "I remind you of the reward (promise)." The people said, "Wait!" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Leave him." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "What do you intend?" I said, "I have heard that you intend to send Khalid bin Walid towards my people, and I would like you to make a pact with them. If their people accept faith, they too will accept faith. And if their people do not accept faith, then their hearts will not be hardened against them." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took the hand of Khalid bin Walid and said to him, "Go with him and do as he wishes."

3. So Khalid bin Walid went towards Banu Mudlij and took a pact from them that they would not help against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If the Quraysh accepted Islam, they too would accept Islam with them. (Upon this) Allah the Exalted revealed these verses: { وَدُّوا لَوْ تَکْفُرُونَ کَمَا کَفَرُوا …حَتَّی بَلَغَ … إِلاَّ الَّذِینَ یَصِلُونَ إِلَی قَوْمٍ بَیْنَکُمْ وَبَیْنَہُمْ مِیثَاقٌ، أَوْ جَاؤُوکُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُہُمْ أَنْ یُقَاتِلُوکُمْ، أَوْ یُقَاتِلُوا قَوْمَہُمْ، وَلَوْ شَائَ اللَّہُ لَسَلَّطَہُمْ عَلَیْکُمْ فَلَقَاتَلُوکُمْ }. Hasan says: Those about whom "hasrat sudurihim" was said are Banu Mudlij. Whoever reaches Banu Mudlij will also be included in their pact.