Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فِي قَوْلِهِ { الم غُلِبَتْ الرُّومُ } قَالَ غُلِبَتْ وَغَلَبَتْ قَالَ كَانَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ فَارِسُ عَلَى الرُّومِ لِأَنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ أَوْثَانٍ وَكَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ الرُّومُ عَلَى فَارِسَ لِأَنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ كِتَابٍ فَذَكَرُوهُ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ فَذَكَرَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ قَالَ فَذَكَرَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَهُمْ فَقَالُوا اجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ أَجَلًا فَإِنْ ظَهَرْنَا كَانَ لَنَا كَذَا وَكَذَا وَإِنْ ظَهَرْتُمْ كَانَ لَكُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَجَعَلَ أَجَلًا خَمْسَ سِنِينَ فَلَمْ يَظْهَرُوا فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَلَا جَعَلْتَهَا إِلَى دُونَ قَالَ أُرَاهُ قَالَ الْعَشْرِ قَالَ قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ الْبِضْعُ مَا دُونَ الْعَشْرِ ثُمَّ ظَهَرَتْ الرُّومُ بَعْدُ قَالَ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ { الم غُلِبَتْ الرُّومُ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ } قَالَ يَفْرَحُونَ { بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ }.
English Translation
Regarding the saying of Allah: 'Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated' (30:1-2) — he said: 'They were defeated and they were victorious.' The polytheists wanted Persia to prevail over the Romans because they (the Persians) were idol-worshippers, and the Muslims wanted the Romans to prevail over Persia because they were People of the Book. They mentioned this to Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who said: 'They (the Romans) will surely be victorious.' Abu Bakr mentioned this to them (the polytheists), and they said: 'Set a time limit between us and you — if we prevail, we get such and such, and if you prevail, you get such and such.' He set a term of five years, but they did not prevail. Abu Bakr mentioned that to the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: 'Why did you not set it at less than (ten)?' — I think he said 'ten.' Sa'id ibn Jubayr said: 'Bid' (a few) means less than ten.' Then the Romans prevailed afterward. That is the meaning of His saying: 'Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated... to His saying: and that day the believers will rejoice' (30:1-4). He said: They will rejoice 'with the victory of Allah' (30:5).