While the merciless conflict between the Muslims and the polytheists continued in Mecca, a ruthless battle was taking place between East Rome and Persia in the Middle East… Eventually this battle came to an end with a great victory on behalf of the Persians…

The Meccan polytheists were overjoyed to hear this, they festively celebrated this victory as if it was their own… Reason being, the Romans were ‘People of the Book’… Despite the serious degeneration they still believed in Allah and His Book… On the contrary the Persians were polytheists and Zoroastrians who denied the divine books altogether… 

Hence the polytheists’ victory over the people of the book was a tremendous source of joy, and not to mention, hopefor the Meccan unbelievers, vouching for their own potential victory over the Muslims…

With joviality they began to sing, “You are Muslims, the people of the book, just as the Christians are… The Persians are illiterate; they are not people of the book, just like us! They won the Christians, which means we will also win you!”

The Muslims were extremely saddened by this… They did not know how to respond to the polytheists… 

That is when the following verses were revealed:

Alif, Lam, Meem.

The Romans (Byzantines) have been defeated!

In a nearby land... They (the Byzantines) will be victorious after this defeat.

Within a few years... The judgment is Allah’s from beginning to end! Then those who have believed will rejoice (for the word of Allah will have been fulfilled).

With the help of Allah... He gives victory to whom He wills! HU is the Aziz, the Rahim.

(This is) the promise of Allah; He does not fail in His promise! But the majority of the people do not know.[1]

As can be seen the verses openly give the good news that the Romans who were defeated by the Persians will be victorious over them within a few years… After our Master disclosed these verses, Abu Bakr (pbuh) immediately memorized them and recited them in a public area where all the polytheists could hear. Then added:

“Within a few years the Romans will definitely be victorious over the Persians!”

Upon hearing this, an infuriated polytheist, Ubay bin Khalef, objected and said, “Liar! If you’re so sure let us bet on it! I say ten young camels and three years! What do you say?”

Abu Bakr (ra) accepted. Then he went to our Master and told him about what had happenned. Our Master said:

“The term ‘few years’ in this verse denotes within a decade, so go back and extend the time and increase the number of camels!”

Abu Bakr (pbuh) went back and extended the period of the bet to 9 years and the number of young camels to 100.

Sometime later when Abu Bakr had to migrate from Mecca, he delegated his son Abdurrahman as his successor but during the battle of Uhud Abdurrahman asked Ubay to delegate a successor in his stead in case he dies in the battle. Ubay chose one of his heirs as his successor. During the battle of Uhud Ubay was killed. Some years later, just before the period of nine years reached completion, the Romans suddenly attacked the Persians and were victorious…

Upon this, Abu Bakr was given 100 young camels from the heirs of the Khalef and with the command of our Master, he donated them to the poor and needy… According to certain narrations, some polytheists who saw this miracle converted to Islam…

After this Abu Bakr migrated from Mecca but this decision is mainly based on personal reasons which I have penned in “Abu Bakr as-Siddiq” in detail for those who may be interested…