The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 174
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 174 disbelievers of Makkah and limited a period of three to nine years, which was the term mentioned by the Holy Qur’ān, to merely six years. In this manner, the Quraish received a false opportunity to rejoice. Afterwards, however, the Holy Prophet sa made the rectification that no one had the right to limit a term set by God and that the full term was nine years; therefore, everyone should wait until this time for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Hence, nine years had not passed when the war took a sudden turn and hitting Persia with defeat upon defeat, Byzantium seized all of its lost territory, and the war concluded with a Byzantium victory. These were the same days when the Companions defeated the Quraish of Makkah, in the field of Badr. In other words at this time, the Muslims were met with two joys, while the Quraish of Makkah were confronted with two misfortunes. 1 In various narrations it has been related that the Byzantines acquired this victory in the era of the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah. However, these narrations are not contradictory, because in actuality, the era of the Byzantine victory covered a period spanning from the battle of Badr to the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah. 1 * Ar-Rūm (30:3-5) * Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābu Tafsīril-Qur’ān, Bābu Wa Min Sūratir-Rūm, Ḥadīth No. 3193-3194 * The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XII (Relations with Christianity), His sympathies with Heraclius, p. 245, Published by Smith, Elder, & Co. London (1878) * The Encyclopedia Britannica (Eleventh Edition), Volume XIII, p. 310, Under the name ‘Heraclius’, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc, New York (1910-1911)