"Your call is now met . . ."

This thread is dedicated to the battles of the Sahabah (ra).

The Prophet (saw) consented to let his closest relatives, the Hashimites and Muttalibites, answer the challenges to single combat on the day of Badr, albeit grudgingly and with the utmost concern for their safety. In fact, he fought Ubayy in person at Uhud, and granted permission to 'Ali, may God grant him peace, to fight 'Amr ibn Wudd in the battle of the Trench even though the danger was more serious, and his concern, may God bless him and grant him peace, for 'Ali was greater. Thus, upon making the challenge on the first day and getting no answer, and on the second day with the same reuslt, then watching the men avoid and recoil from him as he repeated it for the third day, 'Amr said: "O, Muhammad, don't you claim your own killed would live and thrive in heaven in the company of their God, while ours would be tortured in hell? Why, then, doesn't any of your men seem to care to speed up his reward from God, or to offer an enemy to hellfire?" extemporising the following lines (in the kamil metre):

[i]And here am I upon their battalions to fight;
Won't anyone come forward?
Here stand I, as the mighty flinch, ready to do battle,
As ever eager to face heavy odds.
For all of the firtues he could have
Courage and generosity a young man best adorn.[/i]

At which point 'Ali, may God approve of him, got up and asked the Prophet's permission to fight the duel. The Prophet granted it, saying, "Go, 'Ali, protected and shielded by God's grace," and the latter came forth extemporising (in the kamil metre):

[b][i]Rejoice; your call is now met
By one who in trouble never falters,
One with a will and vision armed
Wishing to be a winner tommorow.
O, how I wish to dispatch you to the mourners
Who will furnish your funeral celebrate,
With a mighty blow
Enchanting to recall when the going is rough.[/b][/i]

[b]-Al Ahkam as Sultanniyyah by Imam Mawardi p 42-43-[/b]