"In a few years. To Allah belongs the command before and after," meaning before the Romans were defeated and after they were defeated. "And on that day," the day the Romans defeat the Persians, "the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills," up to His saying: "do not know." Abu Bakr said to the polytheists: "Why do you rejoice? By Allah, the Romans shall surely prevail over the Persians within three years." Ubayy ibn Khalaf said: "I will bet with you that the Romans will not prevail over the Persians within three years." So they wagered on a stake of seven camels. Then Abu Bakr returned to the Messenger of Allah and informed him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Go and bet with him."
﴿فِي بِضْعِ سِنِينَ لِلَّهِ الأَمْرُ من قبل وَمن بعد﴾ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُهْزَمَ الرُّومُ، وَمِنْ بَعْدِ مَا هُزِمَتْ ﴿وَيَوْمَئِذٍ﴾ يَوْمَ يَغْلِبُ الرُّومُ فَارِسَ ﴿يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ﴾ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: ﴿لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ: لِمَ تَشْمَتُونَ؟ فَوَاللَّهِ لَتَظْهَرَنَّ الرُّومُ عَلَى فَارِسَ إِلَى ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ. وَقَالَ أُبَيُّ بْنُ خَلَفٍ: أَنَا أُبَايِعُكَ أَلَّا تَظْهَرَ الرُّومُ عَلَى فَارِسَ إِلَى ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ. فَتَبَايَعَا عَلَى خَطَرٍ بِسَبْعٍ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ. ثُمَّ رَجَعَ أَبُو بُكْرٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عليه السلام: اذْهَبْ فَبَايِعْهُ
