Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth — Page 617
UNVEILING OF THE ‘UNSEEN' BY THE QURAN – A HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE their homes and property to the idolaters of Mecca, like the. Romans had done to the idol worshippers of Persia, the consensus among the companions was that soon after the. Romans' victory, the Muslims would also regain their territory Mecca. This understanding was unanimous among all the companions of the Holy Prophetsa. The only difference was regarding the period in which the prophecy would be fulfilled. This controversy stemmed from the expression ‘biḍ'ai Sineen' Literally, it means a period extending from three to nine years. Some companions of the Holy Prophets in their eagerness bet with some others that they would certainly return soon after the expiry of three years. But others reminded them that their return could be delayed by as much as nine years which is the upper limit of the term 'biḍ'ai Sineen' a. The events as they unfolded themselves, proved the latter opinion to be right. Thus, in this sense both the promises were fulfilled in letter and in spirit. First it was the. Romans who regained their lost territory within the prescribed limit and then it was the turn of the Muslims to return to Mecca in glory before the end of the eighth year. . Another category of the prophecies which was manifestly fulfilled during the lifetime of the Holy Prophetsa relates to the repeated attacks on the Muslims in Medina by the Meccans and their confederates from among the nomad tribes. . The first of these prophecies as mentioned in the following verses clearly portrayed the events of the Battle of Badr. During this first serious encounter of the Muslims with a formidable, professionally organized army of. Meccans, the invading hosts were completely routed and put to a most humiliating flight by a comparatively much smaller body of Muslim defenders. 579