you were on the nearer side of the valley and they were on the farther side and the caravan was below you. had you wished to set a time by mutual agreement you would certainly have disagreed on the timing. however the encounter took place so that god might settle a matter which had already been ordained so that he who was to perish might perish after clear evidence of the truth and he who was to live might live in clear evidence of the truth. surely god is all hearing and allknowing.
إذ أنتم بالعدوة الدنيا وهم بالعدوة القصوى والركب أسفل منكم ولو تواعدتم لاختلفتم في الميعاد ولكن ليقضي الله أمرا كان مفعولا ليهلك من هلك عن بينة ويحيى من حي عن بينة وإن الله لسميع عليم