Tarikh (al-Tabari) 703
The sending of the Prophet ﷺ
كِتَابُ مَبْعَثِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا، وَذِكْرُ شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْبِشَارَاتِ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ: وَكَانَتِ الْأَحْبَارُ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ وَالرُّهْبَانُ مِنَ النَّصَارَى وَالْكُهَّانُ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ قَدْ تَحَدَّثُوا بِأَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَبْلَ مَبْعَثِهِ لَمَّا تَقَارَبَ زَمَانُهُ أَمَّا الْأَحْبَارُ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ وَالرُّهْبَانُ مِنَ النَّصَارَى فَعَمَّا وَجَدُوا فِي كُتُبِهِمْ مَنْ صِفَتِهِ وَصِفَةِ زَمَانِهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ عَهْدِ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ إِلَيْهِمْ فِيهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ الْآيَةَ [ اَلْأَعْرَافِ: 157 ] وَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ [ اَلصَّفِّ: 6 ] وَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ذَلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ الْآيَةَ [ اَلْفَتْحِ: 29 ] وَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ [ آلِ عِمْرَانَ: 81 ] وَفِي صَحِيحِ الْبُخَارِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا إِلَّا أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِ الْمِيثَاقَ لَئِنْ بُعِثَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّهُ، وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ عَلَى أُمَّتِهِ الْمِيثَاقَ لَئِنْ بُعِثَ مُحَمَّدٌ، وَهُمْ أَحْيَاءٌ لَيُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَيَنْصُرُنَّهُ وَلَيَتَّبِعُنَّهُ يُعْلَمُ مِنْ هَذَا أَنَّ جَمِيعَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بَشَّرُوا وَأَمَرُوا بِاتِّبَاعِهِ. وَقَدْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِيمَا دَعَا بِهِ لِأَهْلِ مَكَّةَ رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ الْآيَةَ [ اَلْبَقَرَةِ: 129 ] وَقَالَ الْإِمَامُ أَحْمَدُ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّضْرِ حَدَّثَنَا الْفَرَجُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ حَدَّثَنَا لُقْمَانُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أُمَامَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ بَدْءُ أَمْرِكَ قَالَ: دَعْوَةُ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبُشْرَى عِيسَى، وَرَأَتْ أُمِّي أَنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا نُورٌ أَضَاءَتْ لَهُ قُصُورُ الشَّامِ وَقَدْ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ ثَوْرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَعْدَانَ عَنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْهُ مِثْلَهُ. وَمَعْنَى هَذَا أَنَّهُ أَرَادَ بَدْءَ أَمْرِهِ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ، وَاشْتِهَارَ ذِكْرِهِ وَانْتِشَارَهُ فَذَكَرَ دَعْوَةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي تُنْسَبُ إِلَيْهِ الْعَرَبُ، ثُمَّ بُشْرَى عِيسَى الَّذِي هُوَ خَاتَمُ أَنْبِيَاءِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ يَدُلُّ هَذَا عَلَى أَنَّ مَنْ بَيْنَهُمَا مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بَشَّرُوا بِهِ أَيْضًا. أَمَّا فِي الْمَلَأِ الْأَعْلَى فَقَدْ كَانَ أَمْرُهُ مَشْهُورًا مَذْكُورًا مَعْلُومًا مِنْ قَبْلِ خَلْقِ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ كَمَا قَالَ الْإِمَامُ أَحْمَدُ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ الْكَلْبِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى بْنِ هِلَالٍ السُّلَمِيِّ عَنِ الْعِرْبَاضِ بْنِ سَارِيَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَإِنَّ آدَمَ لَمُنْجَدِلٌ فِي طِينَتِهِ، وَسَأُنْبِئُكُمْ بِأَوَّلِ ذَلِكَ، دَعْوَةُ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبِشَارَةُ عِيسَى بِي، وَرُؤْيَا أُمَّيِ الَّتِي رَأَتْ، وَكَذَلِكَ أُمَّهَاتُ النَّبِيِّينَ تَرَيْنَ وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ اللَّيْثُ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّ أُمَّهُ رَأَتْ - حِينَ وَضَعَتْهُ - نُورًا أَضَاءَتْ مِنْهُ قُصُورُ الشَّامِ. وَقَالَ الْإِمَامُ أَحْمَدُ أَيْضًا: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ بُدَيْلِ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ عَنْ مَيْسَرَةَ الْفَجْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَتَى كُنْتَ نَبِيًّا ؟ قَالَ: وَآدَمُ بَيْنَ الرُّوحِ وَالْجَسَدِ تَفَرَّدَ بِهِنَّ أَحْمَدُ. وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ شَاهِينَ فِي كِتَابِ دَلَائِلِ النُّبُوَّةِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ فَقَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ - يَعْنِي أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ الْبَغَوِيَّ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هَمَّامٍ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنِ الْأَوْزَاعِيِّ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَتَى وَجَبَتْ لَكَ النُّبُوَّةُ ؟ قَالَ: بَيْنَ خَلْقِ آدَمَ وَنَفْخِ الرُّوحِ فِيهِ وَرَوَاهُ مِنْ وَجْهٍ آخَرَ عَنِ الْأَوْزَاعِيِّ بِهِ. وَقَالَ وَآدَمُ مُنْجَدِلٌ فِي طِينَتِهِ. وَرُوِيَ عَنِ الْبَغَوِيِّ أَيْضًا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْمِقْدَامِ عَنْ بَقِيَّةَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ مَرْفُوعًا فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ وَمِنْكَ وَمِنْ نُوحٍ [ الْأَحْزَابِ: 7 ] قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: كُنْتُ أَوَّلَ النَّبِيِّينَ فِي الْخَلْقِ، وَآخِرَهُمْ فِي الْبَعْثِ وَمِنْ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ مُزَاحِمٍ عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَتَى كُنْتَ نَبِيًّا ؟ قَالَ: وَآدَمُ بَيْنَ الرُّوحِ وَالْجَسَدِ. وَأَمَّا الْكُهَّانُ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ فَأَتَتْهُمْ بِهِ الشَّيَاطِينُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ مِمَّا تَسْتَرِقُ مِنَ السَّمْعِ، إِذْ كَانَتْ لَا تُحْجَبُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ بِالْقَذْفِ بِالنُّجُومِ وَكَانَ الْكَاهِنُ وَالْكَاهِنَةُ لَا يَزَالُ يَقَعُ مِنْهُمَا بَعْضُ ذِكْرِ أُمُورِهِ وَلَا يُلْقِي الْعَرَبُ لِذَلِكَ فِيهِ بَالًا حَتَّى بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى، وَوَقَعَتْ تِلْكَ الْأُمُورُ الَّتِي كَانُوا يَذْكُرُونَ فَعَرَفُوهَا فَلَمَّا تَقَارَبَ أَمْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَحَضَرَ زَمَانُ مَبْعَثِهِ حُجِبَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ عَنِ السَّمْعِ، وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ الْمَقَاعِدِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَقْعُدُ لِاسْتِرَاقِ السَّمْعِ فِيهَا فَرُمُوا بِالنُّجُومِ فَعَرَفَتِ الْجِنُّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ لِأَمْرٍ حَدَثَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. قَالَ وَفِي ذَلِكَ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ ﷺ قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا [ اَلْجِنِّ: 1، 2 ] إِلَى آخِرِ السُّورَةِ وَقَدْ ذَكَرْنَا تَفْسِيرَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ فِي كِتَابِنَا التَّفْسِيرِ، وَكَذَا قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ قَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ الْآيَاتِ [ اَلْأَحْقَافِ: 29، 30 ] ذَكَرْنَا تَفْسِيرَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ هُنَاكَ. قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ الْأَخْنَسِ أَنَّهُ حُدِّثَ أَنَّ أَوَّلَ الْعَرَبِ فَزِعَ لِلرَّمْيِ بِالنُّجُومِ حِينَ رُمِيَ بِهَا هَذَا الْحَيُّ مِنْ ثَقِيفٍ، وَأَنَّهُمْ جَاءُوا إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ يُقَالَ لَهُ: عَمْرُو بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ أَحَدُ بَنِي عِلَاجٍ وَكَانَ أَدْهَى الْعَرَبِ وَأَنْكَرَهَا رَأْيًا فَقَالُوا لَهُ: يَا عَمْرُو أَلَمْ تَرَ مَا حَدَثَ فِي السَّمَاءِ مِنَ الْقَذْفِ بِهَذِهِ النُّجُومِ ؟ قَالَ: بَلَى فَانْظُرُوا فَإِنْ كَانَتْ مَعَالِمُ النُّجُومِ الَّتِي يُهْتَدَى بِهَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ، وَيُعْرَفُ بِهَا الْأَنْوَاءُ مِنَ الصَّيْفِ وَالشِّتَاءِ لِمَا يُصْلِحُ النَّاسَ فِي مَعَايِشِهِمْ هِيَ الَّتِي يُرْمَى بِهَا فَهُوَ وَاللَّهِ طَيُّ الدُّنْيَا، وَهَلَاكُ هَذَا الْخَلْقِ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ نُجُومًا غَيْرَهَا، وَهِيَ ثَابِتَةٌ عَلَى حَالِهَا فَهَذَا لِأَمْرٍ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهِ هَذَا الْخَلْقَ فَانْظُرُوا مَا هُوَ ؟ قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: وَحَدَّثَنِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي سَهْمٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا: الْغَيْطَلَةُ كَانَتْ كَاهِنَةً فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ جَاءَهَا صَاحِبُهَا لَيْلَةً مِنَ اللَّيَالِي فَانْقَضَّ تَحْتَهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَدْرِ مَا أَدْرِ يَوْمُ عَقْرٍ وَنَحْرٍ. قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ حِينَ بَلَغَهَا ذَلِكَ: مَا يُرِيدُ ؟ ثُمَّ جَاءَهَا لَيْلَةً أُخْرَى فَانْقَضَّ تَحْتَهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: شُعُوبٌ مَا شُعُوبٌ ؟ يُصْرَعُ فِيهِ كَعْبٌ لِجُنُوبٍ. فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ قُرَيْشًا قَالُوا: مَاذَا يُرِيدُ ؟ إِنَّ هَذَا لِأَمْرٍ هُوَ كَائِنٌ فَانْظُرُوا مَا هُوَ فَمَا عَرَفُوهُ حَتَّى كَانَتْ وَقْعَةُ بَدْرٍ وَأُحُدٍ بِالشِّعْبِ فَعَرَفُوا أَنَّهُ كَانَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ إِلَى صَاحِبَتِهِ. قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: وَحَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ نَافِعٍ الْجُرَشِيُّ أَنَّ جَنْبًا - بَطْنًا مِنَ الْيَمَنِ - كَانَ لَهُمْ كَاهِنٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا ذُكِرَ أَمْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَانْتَشَرَ فِي الْعَرَبِ قَالَتْ لَهُ جَنْبٌ: انْظُرْ لَنَا فِي أَمْرِ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ، وَاجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ فِي أَسْفَلِ جَبَلِهِ فَنَزَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ حِينَ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَوَقَفَ لَهُمْ قَائِمًا مُتَّكِئًا عَلَى قَوْسٍ لَهُ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يَنْزُو، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَكْرَمَ مُحَمَّدًا وَاصْطَفَاهُ وَطَهَّرَ قَلَبَهُ وَحَشَاهُ وَمُكْثُهُ فِيكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَلِيلٌ، ثُمَّ اشْتَدَّ فِي جَبَلِهِ رَاجِعًا مِنْ حَيْثُ جَاءَ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ قِصَّةَ سَوَادِ بْنِ قَارِبٍ وَقَدْ أَخَّرْنَاهَا إِلَى هَوَاتِفِ الْجَانِّ. بَابُ: ذِكْرِ أَمَارَاتِ النُّبُوَّةِ قَالَ مُؤَلِّفُ الْكِتَابِ: مَا زَالَتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ قَبْلَ ظُهُورِ نَبِيِّنَا ﷺ وَعُلَمَاءُ الْكُتُبِ تَعِدُ بِهِ، حَتَّى كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ: قَدْ قَرُبَ زَمَانُهُ، وَفِي هَذَا الزَّمَانِ يَظْهَرُ. أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْمُذْهِبِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبِي، عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي صَالِحُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ سَلَامَةَ بْنِ وَقْشٍ قَالَ: كَانَ لَنَا جَارٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فِي بَنِي عَبْدِ الْأَشْهَلِ قَالَ: فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا يَوْمًا مِنْ بَيْتِهِ قَبْلَ مَبْعَثِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ [بِيَسِيرٍ] حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَى [مَجْلِسِ] بَنِي عَبْدِ الْأَشْهَلِ - قَالَ سَلَمَةُ: وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ أَحْدَثُ مَنْ فِيهِ سِنًّا عَلَيَّ بُرْدَةٌ مُضْطَجِعٌ فِيهَا بِفِنَاءِ أَهْلِي - فَذَكَرَ الْبَعْثَ وَالْقِيَامَةَ وَالْحِسَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ وَالْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ. فَقَالَ: ذَلِكَ لِقَوْمٍ أَهْلِ شِرْكٍ وَأَصْحَابِ أَوْثَانٍ لَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّ الْبَعْثَ [كَائِنًا] بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ. فَقَالُوا لَهُ: وَيْحَكَ يَا فُلَانُ، تَرَى هَذَا كَائِنًا بِأَنَّ النَّاسَ يُبْعَثُونَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمْ إِلَى دَارٍ فِيهَا جَنَّةٌ وَنَارٌ يُجْزَوْنَ [فِيهَا] بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَالَّذِي نَحْلِفُ بِهِ لَوَدَّ أَنَّ لَهُ بِحَظِّهِ مِنْ تِلْكَ النَّارِ أَعْظَمُ تَنُّورٍ فِي الدُّنْيَا تُحْمُونَهُ ثُمَّ تُدْخِلُونَهُ إِيَّاهُ، فَتُطْبِقُونَهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَنْ تَنْجُوَا مِنْ بَيْنِ [تِلْكَ] النَّارِ غَدًا. قَالُوا لَهُ: وَيْحَكَ وَمَا آيَةُ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ: نَبِيٌّ يُبْعَثُ مِنْ نَحْوِ هَذِهِ الْبِلَادِ. وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ مَكَّةَ وَالْيَمَنِ. قَالُوا: وَمَتَى نَرَاهُ؟ قَالَ: فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ وَأَنَا أَحْدَثُهُمْ سِنًّا فَقَالَ: إِنْ يَسْتَنْفِذْ هَذَا الْغُلَامُ عُمْرَهُ يُدْرِكْهُ. قَالَ سَلَمَةُ: فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَهَبَ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ رَسُولَهُ ﷺ، وَهُوَ حَيٌّ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَكَفَرَ بِهِ بَغْيًا وَحَسَدًا. فَقُلْنَا: وَيْلَكَ يَا فُلَانُ، أَلَسْتَ الَّذِي قُلْتَ لَنَا فِيهِ مَا قُلْتَ؟ قَالَ: بَلَى وَلَيْسَ بِهِ. أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ بْنُ بِشْرَانَ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ الدَّقَّاقُ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ بْنُ الْبَرَاءِ قَالَ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ غَانِمٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ قَالَ: إِنَّ مِمَّا دَعَانَا إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ مَعَ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِيَّانَا وَهُدَاهُ لَمَا كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ مِنْ يَهُودَ، كُنَّا أَهْلَ شِرْكٍ أَصْحَابَ أَوْثَانٍ، وَكَانُوا أَهْلَ كِتَابٍ عِنْدَهُمْ عِلْمٌ لَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا، وَكَانَتْ لَا تَزَالُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ شُرُورٌ، فَإِذَا نِلْنَا مِنْهُمْ بَعْضَ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ قَالُوا لَنَا: إِنَّهُ قَدْ تَقَارَبَ زَمَانُ نَبِيٍّ يُبْعَثُ الْآنَ نَتَّبِعُهُ، فَنَقْتُلَكُمْ مَعَهُ قَتْلَ عَادٍ وَإِرَمَ، وَكُنَّا كَثِيرًا مَا نَسْمَعُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ فَلَمَّا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ رَسُولَهُ أَجَبْنَاهُ حِينَ دَعَانَا إِلَى اللَّهِ، وَعَرَفْنَا مَا كَانُوا يَتَوَاعَدُونَا، فَبَادَرْنَاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ، وَآمَنَّا بِهِ، وَكَفَرُوا، فَفِينَا وَفِيهِمْ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَاتُ، وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ كِتَابٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ، فَلَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ. وَعَنْ عَاصِمٍ عَنْ شَيْخٍ مِنْ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي: هَلْ تَدْرُونَ عَمَّا كَانَ إِسْلَامُ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَأُسَيْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَسَدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، نَفَرٍ مِنْ بَنِي ذُهْلٍ أُخْوَةُ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ، كَانُوا مَعَهُمْ فِي جَاهِلِيَّتِهِمْ ثُمَّ كَانُوا سَادَاتِهِمْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ. قَالَ، قُلْتُ: لَا أَدْرِي. قَالَ: فَإِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ يَهُودَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يُقَالُ لَهُ: ابْنُ الْهَيَّبَانِ، قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا قَبْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ بِسِنِينَ، فَحَلَّ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا، لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْنَا رَجُلًا قَطُّ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْخَمْسَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ، فَأَقَامَ عِنْدَنَا، فَكُنَّا إِذَا قَحَطَ عَنَّا الْمَطَرُ قُلْنَا لَهُ: اخْرُجْ يَا بْنَ الْهَيَّبَانِ فَاسْتَسْقِ لَنَا. فَيَقُولُ: لَا وَاللَّهِ حَتَّى تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ مَخْرَجِكُمْ صَدَقَةً [فَنَقُولُ لَهُ: كَمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ:] صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ مُدَّيْنِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ. قَالَ: فَيُخْرَجُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ بِنَا إِلَى ظَاهِرِ حَرَّتِنَا فَيَسْتَسْقِي لَنَا، فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا يَبْرَحُ مَجْلِسَهُ حَتَّى يَمُرَّ السَّحَابُ وَيُسْقَى، قَدْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ، وَلَا مَرَّتَيْنِ، وَلَا ثَلَاثًا. قَالَ: ثُمَّ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ عِنْدَنَا، فَلَمَّا عَرَفَ أَنَّهُ مَيِّتٌ قَالَ، يَا مَعْشَرَ يَهُودَ مَا تَرَوْنَهُ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْخَمِيرِ إِلَى أَرْضِ الْجُوعِ وَالْبُؤْسِ؟ قَالَ: قُلْنَا: أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: فَإِنِّي إِنَّمَا قَدِمْتُ هَذِهِ الْبَلْدَةَ أَتَوَكَّفُ خُرُوجَ نَبِيٍّ قَدْ أَظَلَّكُمْ [زَمَانُهُ، هَذِهِ الْبَلْدَةُ مُهَاجَرُهُ، فَكُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبْعَثَ فَأَتَّبِعُهُ وَقَدْ أَظَلَّكُمْ] زَمَانُهُ فَلَا يَسْبِقُنَّكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَيْهِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْيَهُودِ، فَإِنَّهُ يُبْعَثُ يَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ، وَيَسْبِي الذَّرَارِيَّ وَالنِّسَاءَ، مِمَّنْ خَالَفَهُ فَلَا يَمْنَعَنَّكُمْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ. فَلَمَّا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ وَحَاصَرَ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْفِتْيَةُ وَكَانُوا شَبَابًا أَحْدَاثًا: يَا بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ، وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ الَّذِي عَهِدَ إِلَيْكُمْ فِيهِ ابْنُ الْهَيَّبَانِ. قَالُوا: لَيْسَ بِهِ. قَالُوا: بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَهُوَ بِصِفَتِهِ. فَنَزَلُوا فَأَسْلَمُوا فَأَحْرَزُوا دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ وَأَهَالِيَهُمْ. وَمِنَ الْأَمَارَاتِ رَجْفَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ أَصَابَتِ الشَّامَ قَالَ مُؤَلِّفُ الْكِتَابِ: كَانَ الرُّهْبَانُ يَعُدُّونَهَا لِعَلَامَةِ ظُهُورِهِ، وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ شَابٌّ قَدْ دَخَلَ فِي الْكُهُولَةِ يَجْتَنِبُ الْمَحَارِمَ وَالْمَظَالِمَ، وَيَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَيَأْمُرُ بِصِلَتِهَا، وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّطٌ فِي الْعَشِيرَةِ [صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ]. أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ نَاصِرٍ [الْحَافِظُ] قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْمُحْسِنِ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْمَحَامِلِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا الدَّارَقُطْنِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ الْمَدَنِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ الْعَدَوِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عُثْمَانُ بْنُ الضَّحَّاكِ الْحِزَامِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قَالَ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ. حَضَرْتُ سُوقَ بُصْرَى، فَإِذَا بِرَاهِبٍ فِي صَوْمَعَتِهِ يَقُولُ: اسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الْمَوْسِمِ، هَلْ فِيكُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحَرَمِ؟ قَالَ طَلْحَةُ: فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَنَا. قَالَ لِي: هَلْ ظَهَرَ بِمَكَّةَ بَعْدُ أَحْمَدُ؟ قُلْتُ: وَمَا أَحْمَدُ ؟ قَالَ: ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ هَذَا شَهْرُهُ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُ فِيهِ، وَهُوَ آخِرُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَمَخْرَجُهُ مِنَ الْحَرَمِ، وَمُهَاجَرُهُ إِلَى نَخْلٍ وَحَرَّةٍ وَسِبَاخٍ. قَالَ طَلْحَةُ: فَوَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي مَا قَالَ الرَّاهِبُ، فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى قَدِمْتُ مَكَّةَ، فَقُلْتُ: هَلْ كَانَ مِنْ حَدَثٍ؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَمِينُ تَنَبَّأَ، وَتَابَعَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ. فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ وَقُلْتُ لَهُ: هَلْ تَابَعْتَ الرَّجُلَ [قَالَ: نَعَمْ] فَانْطَلِقْ فَبَايِعْهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْحَقِّ، فَذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ مَعَهُ قَالَ طَلْحَةُ: فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ خَبَرَ الرَّاهِبِ وَمَا قَالَ لِي. أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي طَاهِرٍ الْبَزَّازُ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَوْهَرِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عُمَرَ بْنُ حَيَّوَيْهِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَارِثُ بْنُ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي سَلْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا قَدِمَ تُبَّعٌ الْمَدِينَةَ وَنَزَلَ بِقَنَاةَ بَعَثَ إِلَى أَحْبَارِ يَهُودَ وَقَالَ: إِنِّي مُخَرِّبٌ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ حَتَّى لَا يَقُومَ بِهِ يَهُودِيَّةُ وَيَرْجِعَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَى [دِينِ] الْعَرَبِ. قَالَ: فَقَالَ لَهُ سَامُولٌ الْيَهُودِيُّ وَهُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَعْلَمُهُمْ: أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ، إِنَّ هَذَا بَلَدٌ يَكُونُ إِلَيْهِ مُهَاجَرَةُ نَبِيٍّ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ، مَوْلِدُهُ بِمَكَّةَ، اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ، وَهَذِهِ دَارُ هِجْرَتِهِ، وَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَكَ هَذَا الَّذِي أَنْتَ بِهِ [يَكُونُ] مِنَ الْقَتْلَى وَالْجِرَاحِ أَمْرٌ كَثِيرٌ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ وَفِي عَدُوِّهِمْ قَالَ تُبَّعٌ: وَمَنْ يُقَاتِلُهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَهُوَ نَبِيٌّ كَمَا تَزْعُمُونَ؟ قَالَ: يَسِيرُ إِلَيْهِ قَوْمُهُ فَيَقْتَتِلُونَ هَاهُنَا. قَالَ: فَأَيْنَ قَبْرُهُ؟ قَالَ: بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِ، قَالَ: فَإِذَا قُوبِلَ فَلِمَنْ تَكُونُ الدَّبْرَةُ ؟ قَالَ: تَكُونُ لَهُ مَرَّةٌ وَعَلَيْهِ مَرَّةٌ، وَبِهَذَا الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي أَنْتَ بِهِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ، وَيُقْتَلُ بِهِ أَصْحَابُهُ مَقْتَلَةً لَمْ يُقْتُلُوا فِي مَوْطِنٍ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْعَاقِبَةُ، وَيَظْهَرُ وَلَا يُنَازِعُهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ. قَالَ: وَمَا صِفَتُهُ؟ قَالَ: رَجُلٌ لَيْسَ بِالطَّوِيلِ وَلَا بِالْقَصِيرِ، فِي عَيْنَيْهِ حُمْرَةٌ، يَرْكَبُ الْبَعِيرَ، وَيَلْبَسُ الشَّمْلَةَ، سَيْفُهُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ، لَا يُبَالِي مَنْ لَاقَى مِنْ أَخٍ، أَوِ ابْنِ عَمٍّ، أَوْ عَمٍّ، حَتَّى يَظْهَرَ أَمْرُهُ. قَالَ تُبَّعٌ: مَا إِلَى هَذِهِ الْبَلْدَةِ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ، وَمَا كَانَ لِيَكُونَ خَرَابُهَا إِلَّا عَلَى يَدَيَّ. فَخَرَجَ تُبَّعٌ مُنْصَرِفًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ. قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ: وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ بَاطَا أَعْلَمَ الْيَهُودِ، يَقُولُ: إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ سِفْرًا كَانَ يَخْتِمُهُ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ ذِكْرُ أَحْمَدَ، نَبِيٌّ يَخْرُجُ بِأَرْضِ الْقَرَظِ، صِفَتُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَتَحَدَّثَ بِهِ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ بَاطَا بَعْدَ أَبِيهِ، وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ [يَوْمَئِذٍ] لَمْ يُبْعَثْ فَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ سَمِعُ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَدْ خَرَجَ بِمَكَّةَ [حَتَّى] عَمَدَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ السِّفْرِ فَمَحَاهُ، وَكَتَمَ شَأْنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَصِفَتَهُ، وَقَالَ: لَيْسَ بِهِ. قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ: وَحَدَّثَنِي الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَتْ يَهُودُ قُرَيْظَةَ، وَالنَّضِيرِ، وَفَدَكَ، وَخَيْبَرَ، يَجِدُونَ صِفَةَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ، قُبَيْلَ أَنْ يُبْعَثَ وَأَنَّ دَارَ هِجْرَتِهِ الْمَدِينَةُ. فَلَمَّا وُلِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ أَحْبَارُ الْيَهُودِ: وُلِدَ أَحْمَدُ اللَّيْلَةَ، هَذَا الْكَوْكَبُ قَدْ طَلَعَ، فَلَمَّا تَنَبَّأَ قَالُوا: تَنَبَّأَ أَحْمَدُ، قَدْ طَلَعَ الْكَوْكَبُ، كَانُوا يَعْرِفُونَ ذَلِكَ وَيُقِرُّونَ بِهِ وَيَصِفُونَهُ، وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ مِنَ اتِّبَاعِهِ إِلَّا الْحَسَدُ وَالْبَغْيُ. قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ: وَحَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ الْهُذَلِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا فِي عِيرٍ لَنَا إِلَى الشَّامِ، فَلَمَّا كُنَّا بَيْنَ الزَّرْقَاءِ وَمَعَانَ، وَقَدْ عَرَّسْنَا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِذَا بِفَارِسٍ يَقُولُ: أَيُّهَا النِّيَامُ هُبُّوا فَلَيْسَ هَذَا بِحِينِ رُقَادٍ، قَدْ خَرَجَ أَحْمَدُ، وَطُرِّدَتِ الْجِنُّ كُلَّ مُطَرَّدٍ، فَفَزِعْنَا وَنَحْنُ رُفْقَةٌ [جَرَّارَةٌ] كُلُّهُمْ قَدْ سَمِعَ هَذَا، فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَى أَهْلِنَا فَإِذَا هُمْ يَذْكُرُونَ اخْتِلَافًا بِمَكَّةَ بَيْنَ قُرَيْشٍ بِنَبِيٍّ خَرَجَ فِيهِمْ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ. قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ: وَأَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ وَغَيْرُهُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ قَالَتْ: سَكَنَ يَهُودِيٌّ بِمَكَّةَ يَبِيعُ بِهَا تِجَارَاتٍ، فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ وُلِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ مِنْ مَجَالِسِ قُرَيْشٍ: هَلْ فِيكُمْ مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ؟ قَالُوا، لَا نَعْلَمُهُ، قَالَ: انْظُرُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ وَأَحْصُوا مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: وُلِدَ اللَّيْلَةَ نَبِيُّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ: أَحْمَدُ، بِهِ شَامَةٌ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ فِيهَا شَعَرَاتٌ. فَتَصَدَّعَ الْقَوْمُ مِنْ مَجَالِسِهِمْ وَهُمْ يَتَعَجَّبُونَ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ، فَلَمَّا صَارُوا فِي مَنَازِلِهِمْ وَذَكَرُوا لِأَهَالِيهِمْ، فَقِيلَ لِبَعْضِهِمْ: وُلِدَ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ اللَّيْلَةَ غُلَامٌ سَمَّاهُ مُحَمَّدًا فَأَتَوُا الْيَهُودِيَّ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ، فَقَالُوا: أَعَلِمْتَ أَنَّهُ وُلِدَ فِينَا مَوْلُودٌ؟ فَقَالَ: أَبَعْدَ خَبَرِي أَمْ قَبْلَهُ؟ قَالُوا: قَبْلَهُ، وَاسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ. قَالَ: فَاذْهَبُوا بِنَا إِلَيْهِ فَخَرَجُوا مَعَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلُوا عَلَى أُمِّهِ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَرَأَى شَامَةً فِي ظَهْرِهِ، فَغُشِيَ عَلَى الْيَهُودِيِّ، ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالُوا: مَا لَكَ؟ قَالَ: ذَهَبَتِ النُّبُوَّةُ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَخَرَجَ الْكِتَابُ مِنْهُمْ، وَهَذَا مَكْتُوبٌ يَقْتُلُهُمْ وَيَبُزُّ أَخْبَارَهُمْ، فَازَتِ الْعَرَبُ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ، أَفَرِحْتُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ؟ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَيَسْطُوَنَّ بِكُمْ سَطْوَةً يَخْرُجُ نَبَؤُهَا مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ. قَالَ: وَأَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ قَالَ: كَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ تَسْمَعُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَمِنَ الْكُهَّانِ أَنَّ نَبِيًّا يُبْعَثُ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ اسْمُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ، [فَسَمَّى مَنْ بَلَغَهُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ وَلَدَهُ مُحَمَّدًا] طَمَعًا فِي النُّبُوَّةِ. أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو غَالِبٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْمَاوَرْدِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا الْقَاضِي أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ هَمَّامُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْأَيْلِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْدِيٍّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَلِيٍّ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ حَجَرٍ الشَّامِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ الْأَنْبَارِيُّ، عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّقَاشِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيِّ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَاعِدٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ مَرَّ بِهِ رَجُلٌ فِي مُؤَخَّرِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَتَعْرِفُ الْمَارَّ ؟ قَالَ: فَمَنْ هُوَ؟ قَالَ: سَوَادُ بْنُ قَارِبٍ، [وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ لَهُ فِيهِمْ شَرَفٌ وَمَوْضِعٌ، وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَتَاهُ رِيبَةٌ بِظُهُورِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: عَلَيَّ بِهِ. فَدُعِيَ بِهِ، فَقَالَ، أَنْتَ سَوَادُ بْنُ قَارِبٍ؟] قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: فَأَنْتَ عَلَى مَا كُنْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ كَهَانَتِكَ. فَغَضِبَ غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا وَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مَا اسْتَقْبَلَنِي بِهَذَا أَحَدٌ مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنَّا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ أَعْظَمَ مِمَّا كُنْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ كَهَانَتِكَ، أَخْبِرْنِي بِإِشَارَاتٍ أَتَتْكَ بِظُهُورِ النَّبِيِّ [ ﷺ ]. قَالَ: نَعَمْ، يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بَيْنَا أَنَا [ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ] بَيْنَ النَّائِمِ وَالْيَقْظَانِ إِذْ أَتَانِي آتٍ، فَضَرَبَنِي بِرِجْلِهِ وَقَالَ: قُمْ يَا سَوَادُ بْنَ قَارِبٍ [فَافْهَمْ] وَاعْقِلْ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْقِلُ، إِنَّهُ قَدْ بُعِثَ رَسُولٌ مِنْ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غَالِبٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ [الْجِنِّيُّ] يَقُولُ: عَجِبْتُ لِلْجِنِّ وَتَجْسَاسِهَا وَشَدِّهَا الْعِيسَ بِأَحْلَاسِهَا تَهْوِي إِلَى مَكَّةَ تَبْغِي الْهُدَى مَا خَيْرُ الْجِنِّ كَأَرْجَاسِهَا فَارْحَلْ إِلَى الصَّفْوَةِ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ وَاسْمُ بِعَيْنَيْكَ إِلَى رَأْسِهَا قَالَ: فَلَمْ أَرْفَعْ لِقَوْلِهِ رَأْسًا، وَقُلْتُ: دَعْنِي أَنَامُ، فَإِنِّي أَمْسَيْتُ نَاعِسًا، فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ أَتَانِي فَضَرَبَنِي بِرِجْلِهِ وَقَالَ: أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ يَا سَوَادُ بْنَ قَارِبٍ قُمْ فَافْهَمْ، وَاعْقِلْ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْقِلُ، قَدْ بُعِثَ نَبِيٌّ مِنْ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غَالِبٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ [الْجِنِّيُّ] يَقُولُ: [عَجِبْتُ لِلْجِنِّ وَتَطْلَابِهَا وَشَدِّهَا الْعِيسَ بِأَقْتَابِهَا] تَهْوِي إِلَى مَكَّةَ تَبْغِي الْهُدَى مَا صَادِقُ الْجِنِّ كَكَذَّابِهَا فَارْحَلْ إِلَى الصَّفْوَةِ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ لَيْسَ قُدَّامَاهَا كَأَذْنَابِهَا قَالَ: فَلَمْ أَرْفَعْ بِقَوْلِهِ رَأْسًا. فَقُلْتُ: دَعْنِي أَنَامُ فَإِنِّي أَمْسَيْتُ نَاعِسًا، فَلَمَّا كَانَ اللَّيْلَةُ الثَّالِثَةُ أَتَانِي فَضَرَبَنِي بِرِجْلِهِ وَقَالَ: أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ يَا سَوَادُ بْنَ قَارِبٍ، قُمْ فَافْهَمْ وَاعْقِلْ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْقِلُ، إِنَّهُ قَدْ بُعِثَ رَسُولٌ مِنْ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غَالِبٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ: عَجِبْتُ لِلْجِنِّ وَأَخْبَارِهَا وَشَدِّهَا الْعِيسَ بَأَكْوَارِهَا تَهْوِي إِلَى مَكَّةَ تَبْغِي الْهُدَى مَا مُؤْمِنُو الْجِنِّ كَكُفَّارِهَا فَارْحَلْ إِلَى الصَّفْوَةِ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ بَيْنَ رَوَابِيهَا وَأَحْجَارِهَا قَالَ: فَوَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي حُبُّ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَرَغِبْتُ فِيهِ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ شَدَدْتُ عَلَيَّ رَاحِلَتِي وَانْطَلَقْتُ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى مَكَّةَ، فَلَمَّا كُنْتُ بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَدْ هَاجَرَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَقَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ، فَسَأَلْتُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ. فَقِيلَ لِي: فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَأَتْيَتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَعَقَلْتُ نَاقَتِي، وَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ حَوْلَهُ، فَقُلْتُ: تَسْمَعُ مَقَالَتِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ: ادْنُهْ ادْنُهْ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي حَتَّى صِرْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقُلْتُ: اسْمَعْ مَقَالَتِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: هَاتِ، فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِإِتْيَانِكَ رَئِيَّكَ. فَقُلْتُ: أَتَانِي نَجِيٌّ بَعْدَ هَدْءٍ وَرَقْدَةٍ وَلَمْ أَكُ فِيمَا قَدْ بَلَوْتُ بِكَاذِبِ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ قَوْلُهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ أَتَاكَ رَسُولٌ مِنْ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غَالِبِ فَشَمَّرْتُ عَنْ ذَيْلِي الْإِزَارَ وَوَسَّطَتْ بِيَ الذِّعْلِبُ الْوَجْنَاءُ بَيْنَ السَّبَاسِبِ فَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا رَبَّ غَيْرُهُ وَأَنَّكَ مَأْمُونٌ عَلَى كُلِّ غَائِبِ وَأَنَّكَ أَدْنَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَسِيلَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ يَا بْنَ الْأَكْرَمِينَ الْأَطَايِبِ فَمُرْنَا بِمَا يَأْتِيكَ يَا خَيْرَ مُرْسَلٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيمَا جَاءَ شَيْبُ الذَّوَائِبِ وَكُنْ لِي شَفِيعًا يَوْمَ لَا ذُو شَفَاعَةٍ سِوَاكَ لَمُغْنٍ عَنْ سَوَادِ بْنِ قَارِبِ قَالَ: فَفَرِحَ رَسَوُلُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِإِسْلَامِي فَرَحًا شَدِيدًا وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى رُئِيَ الْفَرَحُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ. قَالَ: فَوَثَبَ إِلَيْهِ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ فَالْتَزَمَهُ وَقَالَ: قَدْ كُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ هَذَا مِنْكَ. أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْمُذْهِبِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا أَتَوْا كَاهِنَةً، فَقَالُوا: أَخْبِرِينَا بِأَقْرَبِنَا شَبَهًا بِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الْمَقَامِ. فَقَالَتْ: إِنْ أَنْتُمْ جَرَرْتُمْ كِسَاءً عَلَى هَذِهِ السَّهْلَةِ، ثُمَّ مَشَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهَا نَبَّأْتُكُمْ. فَجَرُّوا، ثُمَّ مَشَى النَّاسُ عَلَيْهَا، فَأَبْصَرَتْ أَثَرَ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ: هَذَا أَقْرَبُكُمْ شَبَهًا بِهِ، فَمَكَثُوا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً أَوْ قَرِيبًا مِنْ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ بُعِثَ ﷺ. الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ فِيمَا أَخْبَرَ بِهِ الْأَحْبَارُ وَالرُّهْبَانُ وَالْكُهَّانُ بِأَنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ الْمَبْعُوثُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ عَنْ سَلْمَانَ ؓ قَالَ: كُنْتُ رَجُلًا مَنْ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ جَيٍّ، وَكَانَ أَبِي دِهْقَانَ رَامَهُرْمُزَ، أَيْ رَئِيسَهَا، وَكَانَ يُحِبُّنِي حُبًّا شَدِيدًا، حَتَّى حَبَسَنِي فِي الْبَيْتِ كَمَا تُحْبَسُ الْجَارِيَةُ، وَاجْتَهَدْتُ فِي الْمَجُوسِيَّةِ حَتَّى كُنْتُ قَطَنَ النَّارِ، أَيْ خَازِنَهَا وَخَادِمَهَا. وَفِي لَفْظٍ: وَكَانَ أَهْلُ قَرْيَتِي يَعْبُدُونَ الْخَيْلَ الْبُلْقَ، فَكُنْتُ كَذَلِكَ لَا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّاسِ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مَا أَنَا فِيهِ، وَأَعْرِفُ أَنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا عَلَى شَيْءٍ، وَكَانَ لِي أَخٌ أَكْبَرُ مِنِّي. وَفِي لَفْظٍ: ابْنُ صَاحِبِ رَامَهُرْمُزَ، فَكَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ خَرَجَ فَتَقَنَّعَ بِثَوْبِهِ ثُمَّ صَعِدَ الْجَبَلَ، وَكَانَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ مُتَنَكِّرًا، فَقُلْتُ: أَمَا إِنَّكَ تَفْعَلُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَلِمَ لَا تَذْهَبُ بِي مَعَكَ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّكَ غُلَامٌ وَأَخَافُ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ مِنْكَ شَيْءٌ. قُلْتُ: لَا تَخَفْ. قَالَ: فَإِنَّ فِي هَذَا الْجَبَلِ قَوْمًا فِي بِرْطِيلٍ لَهُمْ عِبَادَةٌ وَصَلَاحٌ، يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَيَذْكُرُونَ الْآخِرَةَ، وَيَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّا عَبَدَةُ الْأَوْثَانِ وَالْأَصْنَامِ وَعَبَدَةُ النِّيرَانِ وَأَنَّا عَلَى غَيْرِ دِينٍ. قُلْتُ: فَاذْهَبْ بِي مَعَكَ. قَالَ: حَتَّى أَسْتَأْمِرَهُمْ وَأَنَا أَخَافُ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ مِنْكَ شَيْءٌ فَيَعْلَمُ أَبِي فَيَقْتُلَهُمْ فَيَجْرِي هَلَاكُهُمْ عَلَى يَدَيَّ. قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَا يَظْهَرُ مِنِّي ذَلِكَ. فَاسْتَأْمَرَهُمْ. فَقَالُوا جِئْ بِهِ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ فَانْتَبَهْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَإِذَا هُمْ سِتَّةٌ أَوْ سَبْعَةٌ، وَكَأَنَّ الرُّوحَ خَرَجَتْ مِنْهُمْ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ، يَصُومُونَ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُونَ اللَّيْلَ يَأْكُلُونَ الشَّجَرَ وَمَا وَجَدُوا، فَقَعَدْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فَحَمِدُوا اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ وَذَكَرُوا مَنْ مَضَى مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَالْأَنْبِيَاءِ حَتَّى خَلَصُوا إِلَى عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ فَقَالُوا: بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ وَوُلِدَ بِغَيْرِ ذَكَرٍ، بَعَثَهُ رَسُولًا وَسَخَّرَ لَهُ مَا كَانَ يَفْعَلُ مِنْ إِحْيَاءِ الْمَوْتَى وَخَلْقِ الطَّيْرِ وَإِبْرَاءِ الْأَكْمَهِ وَالْأَبْرَصِ، فَكَفَرَ بِهِ قَوْمٌ وَتَبِعَهُ قَوْمٌ، وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولَهُ ابْتَلَى بِهِ خَلْقَهُ. ثُمَّ قَالُوا: يَا غُلَامُ إِنَّ لَكَ رَبًّا وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَعَادًا، وَإِنَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ جَنَّةً وَنَارًا إِلَيْهَا تَصِيرُ، وَإِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ يَعْبُدُونَ النِّيرَانَ أَهْلُ كُفْرٍ وَضَلَالَةٍ لَا يَرْضَى اللَّهُ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ، وَلَيْسُوا عَلَى دِينٍ. ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْنَا ثُمَّ عُدْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالُوا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَأَحْسَنَ، فَلَزِمْتُهُمْ فَقَالُوا لِي: يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنَّكَ غُلَامٌ، وَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ مَا نَصْنَعُ، فَصَلِّ وَنَمْ وَكُلْ وَاشْرَبْ. قَالَ: فَاطَّلَعَ الْمَلِكُ عَلَى صَنِيعِ ابْنِهِ فَرَكِبَ فِي الْخَيْلِ حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ فِي بِرْطِيلِهِمْ فَقَالَ: يَا هَؤُلَاءِ قَدْ جَاوَرْتُمُونِي فَأَحْسَنْتُ جِوَارَكُمْ وَلَمْ تَرَوْا مِنِّي سُوءًا فَعَمَدْتُمْ إِلَى ابْنِي فَأَفْسَدْتُمُوهُ عَلَيَّ قَدْ أَجَّلْتُكُمْ ثَلَاثًا، فَإِنْ قَدَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدَ ثَلَاثٍ أَحْرَقْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِرْطِيلَكُمْ هَذَا، فَالْحَقُوا بِبِلَادِكُمْ فَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنِّي إِلَيْكُمْ سُوءٌ. قَالُوا: نَعَمْ مَا تَعَمَّدْنَا مَسَاءَتَكَ، وَمَا أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ. فَكَفَّ ابْنَهُ عَنْ إِتْيَانِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: اتَّقِ اللَّهَ، إِنَّكَ تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ هَذَا الدِّينَ دِينُ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّ أَبَاكَ وَنَحْنُ عَلَى غَيْرِ دِينٍ، إِنَّمَا هُمْ عَبَدَةُ النِّيرَانِ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ اللَّهَ، وَلَا تَبِعْ آخِرَتَكَ بِدُنْيَا غَيْرِكَ. قَالَ: يَا سَلْمَانُ هُوَ كَمَا تَقُولُ، وَإِنَّمَا أَتَخَلَّفُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ بُقْيًا عَلَيْهِمْ، إِنْ تَبِعْتُ الْقَوْمَ طَلَبَنِي أَبِي فِي الْخَيْلِ، وَقَدْ جَزِعَ مِنْ إِتْيَانِي إِيَّاهُمْ حَتَّى طَرَدَهُمْ، وَقَدْ أَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْحَقَّ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ. قُلْتُ: أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ. ثُمَّ لَقِيتُ أَخِي فَعَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: أَنَا مُشْتَغِلٌ بِنَفْسِي فِي طَلَبِ الْمَعِيشَةِ. فَأَتَيْتُهُمْ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَرْتَحِلُوا فِيهِ فَقَالُوا: يَا سَلْمَانُ قَدْ كُنَّا نَحْذَرُ فَكَانَ مَا رَأَيْتَ، فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الدِّينَ مَا أَوْصَيْنَاكَ بِهِ، وَأَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ عَبَدَةُ الْأَوْثَانِ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ اللَّهَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَهُ وَلَا يَخْدَعَنَّكَ أَحَدٌ عَنْ ذَلِكَ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: وَكَانَ لِأَبِي ضَيْعَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَشُغِلَ فِي بُنْيَانٍ لَهُ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ لِي: يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي قَدْ شُغِلْتُ فِي بُنْيَانِي هَذَا الْيَوْمَ عَنْ ضَيْعَتِي، وَلَا بُدَّ لِي مِنَ اطِّلَاعِهَا، فَانْطَلِقْ إِلَيْهَا فَمُرْهُمْ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا وَلَا تَحْتَبِسُ عَنِّي تَشْغَلْنِي عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ. فَخَرَجْتُ أُرِيدُ ضَيْعَتَهُ فَمَرَرْتُ بِكَنِيسَةِ النَّصَارَى فَسَمِعْتُ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ فِيهَا، فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذَا؟ فَقَالُوا: هَؤُلَاءِ النَّصَارَى يُصَلُّونَ. فَدَخَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ فَأَعْجَبَنِي مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ حَالِهِمْ، فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا زِلْتُ جَالِسًا عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَبَعَثَ أَبِي فِي طَلَبِي فِي كُلِّ وَجْهٍ حَتَّى جِئْتُهُ حِينَ أَمْسَيْتُ، وَلَمْ أَذْهَبْ إِلَى ضَيْعَتِهِ، فَقَالَ: أَيْنَ كُنْتَ؟ فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَبَتَاهُ مَرَرْتُ بِنَاسٍ يُقَالُ لَهُمُ النَّصَارَى فَأَعْجَبَنِي صَلَاتُهُمْ وَدُعَاؤُهُمْ فَجَلَسْتُ أَنْظُرُ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُونَ: فَقَالَ: أَيْ بُنَيَّ دِينُكَ وَدِينُ آبَائِكَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ دِينِهِمْ. فَقُلْتُ: لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ دِينِهِمْ، وَهَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ وَيَدْعُونَهُ وَنَحْنُ إِنَّمَا نَعْبُدُ نَارًا نُوقِدُهَا بِأَيْدِينَا إِذَا تَرَكْنَاهَا مَاتَتْ. فَخَافَنِي فَجَعَلَ فِي رِجْلِي حَدِيدًا وَحَبَسَنِي عِنْدَهُ، فَبَعَثْتُ إِلَى النَّصَارَى فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: أَيْنَ أَصْلُ هَذَا الدِّينَ الَّذِي أَرَاكُمْ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالُوا بِالشَّامِ. فَقُلْتُ: إِذَا قَدِمَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ هُنَاكَ نَاسٌ وَقَضَوْا حَوَائِجَهُمْ فَآذِنُونِي أَيْ أَعْلِمُونِي: فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِمْ نَاسٌ وَقَضَوْا حَوَائِجَهُمْ بَعَثُوا إِلَيَّ بِذَلِكَ فَطَرَحْتُ الْحَدِيدَ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي رِجْلِي وَلَحِقْتُ بِهِمْ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمَلِكَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ فِي الْجَبَلِ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالْخُرُوجِ مِنْ بِلَادِهِ فَقُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِمُفَارِقِكُمْ. فَقَالُوا إِنَّكَ لَا تَقْدِرُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَعَنَا نَحْنُ نَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَنَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَنَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ وَمَا أَصَبْنَا، وَأَنْتَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ. قُلْتُ: لَا أُفَارِقُكُمْ. قَالُوا: أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ، قَدْ أَعْلَمْنَاكَ حَالَنَا فَإِذًا جِئْتَ. فَاطْلُبْ أَحَدًا يَكُونُ مَعَكَ وَاحْمِلْ مَعَكَ شَيْئًا تَأْكُلُهُ، فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَا نَسْتَطِيعُ نَحْنُ. فَفَعَلْتُ وَلَقِيتُ أَخِي فَعَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَبَى، فَأَتَيْتُهُمْ فَتَحَمَّلُوا، فَكَانُوا يَمْشُونَ وَأَمْشِي مَعَهُمْ، فَرَزَقَ اللَّهُ السَّلَامَةَ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا الْمَوْصِلَ، فَأَتَيْنَا بَيْعَةً بِالْمَوْصِلِ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا حَفُّوا بِهِمْ وَقَالُوا: أَيْنَ كُنْتُمْ؟ قَالُوا: كُنَّا فِي بِلَادٍ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى عَبَدَةُ النِّيرَانِ، فَطَرَدُونَا فَقَدِمْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدُ قَالُوا: يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنَّ هَا هُنَا قَوْمًا فِي هَذِهِ الْجِبَالِ هُمْ أَهْلُ دِينٍ وَإِنَّا نُرِيدُ لِقَاءَهُمْ فَكُنْ أَنْتَ هَا هُنَا مَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ دِينٍ وَسَتَرَى مِنْهُمْ مَا تُحِبُّ. قُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِمُفَارِقِكُمْ قَالَ: وَأَوْصَوْا بِي أَهْلَ الْبَيْعَةِ فَقَالَ أَهْلُ الْبَيْعَةِ: أَقِمْ مَعَنَا يَا غُلَامُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُعْجِزُكَ شَيْءٌ بِبَيْعَتِنَا. قَالَ: قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِمُفَارِقِكُمْ. فَخَرَجُوا وَأَنَا مَعَهُمْ فَأَصْبَحْنَا بَيْنَ جِبَالٍ، فَإِذَا صَخْرَةٌ وَمَاءٌ كَثِيرٌ فِي جِرَارٍ وَخُبْزٌ كَثِيرٌ، فَقَعَدْنَا عِنْدَ الصَّخْرَةِ، فَلَمَّا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ خَرَجُوا مِنْ بَيْنِ تِلْكَ الْجِبَالِ: يُخْرِجُ رَجُلٌ رَجُلًا مِنْ مَكَانِهِ، كَأَنَّ الْأَرْوَاحَ انْتُزِعَتْ مِنْهُمْ حَتَّى كَثُرُوا فَرَحَّبُوا بِهِمْ وَحَفُّوا وَقَالُوا: أَيْنَ كُنْتُمْ؟ قَالُوا: كُنَّا بِبِلَادٍ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى، فِيهَا عَبَدَةُ النَّارِ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ فِيهَا، فَطَرَدُونَا. فَقَالُوا: مَا هَذَا الْغُلَامُ؟ فَطَفِقُوا يُثْنُونَ عَلَيَّ وَقَالُوا صَحِبَنَا مِنْ تِلْكَ الْبِلَادِ فَلَمْ نَرَ مِنْهُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا. قَالَ: فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَذَلِكَ إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْ كَهْفٍ طِوَالٍ، فَجَاءَ حَتَّى سَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَجَلَسَ فَحَفُّوا بِهِ وَعَظَّمَهُ أَصْحَابِي الَّذِينَ كُنْتُ مَعَهُمْ وَأَحْدَقُوا بِهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: أَيْنَ كُنْتُمْ؟ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ. فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا الْغُلَامُ مَعَكُمْ؟ فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيَّ خَيْرًا وَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِاتِّبَاعِي إِيَّاهُمْ، وَلَمْ أَرَ مِثْلَ إِعْظَامِهِمْ إِيَّاهُ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مَنْ أَرْسَلَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَأَنْبِيَائِهِ وَمَا لَقُوا وَمَا صَنَعَ بِهِمْ حَتَّى ذَكَرَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأَنَّهُ وُلِدَ بِغَيْرِ ذَكَرٍ، فَبَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ رَسُولًا وَأَجْرَى عَلَى يَدَيْهِ إِحْيَاءَ الْمَوْتَى وَإِبْرَاءَ الْأَعْمَى وَالْأَبْرَصِ، وَأَنَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَيَنْفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ، وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْإِنْجِيلَ وَعَلَّمَهُ التَّوْرَاةَ، وَبَعَثَهُ رَسُولًا إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَكَفَرَ بِهِ قَوْمٌ وَآمَنَ بِهِ قَوْمٌ. وَذَكَرَ بَعْضَ مَا لَقِيَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ، وَأَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا كَانَ عَبْدًا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَشَكَرَهُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ وَرَضِيَ عَنْهُ. ثُمَّ وَعَظَهُمْ وَقَالَ: اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَالْزَمُوا مَا جَاءَ بِهِ عِيسَى وَلَا تُخَالِفُوا فَيُخَالَفُ بِكُمْ. ثُمَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَقُومَ فَقُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِمُفَارِقِكَ فَقَالَ: يَا غُلَامُ إِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنَّ تَكُونَ مَعِي، إِنِّي لَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ كَهْفِي هَذَا إِلَّا كُلَّ يَوْمِ أَحَدٍ. قُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِمُفَارِقِكَ. قَالَ: فَتَبِعْتُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْكَهْفَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ نَائِمًا وَلَا طَاعِمًا، إِلَّا رَاكِعًا وَسَاجِدًا إِلَى الْأَحَدِ الْآخَرِ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْنَا خَرَجْنَا وَاجْتَمَعُوا إِلَيْهِ، فَتَكَلَّمَ نَحْوَ الْمَرَّةِ الْأُولَى ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى كَهْفِهِ وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ. فَلَبِثْتُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، يَخْرُجُ كُلَّ يَوْمِ أَحَدٍ وَيَخْرُجُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَعِظُهُمْ، وَيُوصِيهِمْ. فَخَرَجَ فِي أَحَدٍ فَقَالَ مِثْلَ مَا كَانَ يَقُولُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا هَؤُلَاءِ إِنِّي كَبِرَتْ سِنِّي وَرَقَّ عَظْمِي وَاقْتَرَبَ أَجَلِي وَإِنَّهُ لَا عَهْدَ لِي بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ مِنْ مُنْذُ كَذَا كَذَا، وَلَا بُدَّ لِي مِنْ إِتْيَانِهِ. فَقُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِمُفَارِقِكَ. وَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَدَخَلَ فَجَعَلَ يُصَلِّي، وَكَانَ فِيمَا يَقُولُ لِي: يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَوْفَ يَبْعَثُ رَسُولًا اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ يَخْرُجُ بِتِهَامَةَ، وَإِنَّهُ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ، بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَهَذَا زَمَانُهُ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُ فِيهِ قَدْ تَقَارَبَ، فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنِّي شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ وَلَا أَحْسِبُنِي أُدْرِكُهُ، فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ أَنْتَ فَصَدِّقْهُ وَاتَّبِعْهُ. قُلْتُ وَإِنْ أَمَرَنِي بِتَرْكِ دِينِكَ وَمَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ، وَعَلَى بَابِهِ مُقْعَدٌ، فَقَالَ: نَاوِلْنِي يَدَكَ. فَنَاوَلَهُ، فَقَالَ: قُمْ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ. فَقَامَ كَأَنَّمَا نُشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ فَخَلَّى عَنْ يَدِهِ، فَانْطَلَقَ ذَاهِبًا وَكَانَ لَا يَلْوِي عَلَى أَحَدٍ. فَقَالَ الْمُقْعَدَ: يَا غُلَامُ احْمِلْ عَلَيَّ ثِيَابِي حَتَّى أَنْطَلِقَ. فَحَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابَهُ وَانْطَلَقَ الرَّاهِبُ. فَكُلَّمَا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ قَالُوا: أَمَامَكَ فَسِرْتُ حَتَّى قَدِمْتُ الشَّامَ، فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ أَفْضَلُ هَذَا الدِّينِ؟ فَقِيلَ الْأُسْقُفُ صَاحِبُ الْكَنِيسَةِ، فَجِئْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: إِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَكَ فِي كَنِيسَتِكَ وَأَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا مَعَكَ وَأَتَعَلَّمُ مِنْكَ الْخَيْرَ. قَالَ: فَكُنْ مَعِي، فَكُنْتُ مَعَهُ، وَكَانَ رَجُلَ سُوءٍ، كَانَ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَيُرَغِّبُهُمْ فِيهَا حَتَّى إِذَا جَمَعُوهَا إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يُعْطِهَا لِلْمَسَاكِينِ، فَأَبْغَضْتُهُ بُغْضًا شَدِيدًا لِمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ حَالِهِ، فَلَمْ يَنْشَبْ أَنْ مَاتَ، فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا لِيَدْفِنُوهُ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ: إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ رَجُلَ سُوءٍ، كَانَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَيُرَغِّبُكُمْ فِيهَا حَتَّى إِذَا جَمَعْتُمُوهَا إِلَيْهِ اكْتَنَزَهَا وَلَمْ يُعْطِهَا لِلْمَسَاكِينِ، فَقَالُوا: وَمَا عَلَامَةُ ذَلِكَ؟ قُلْتُ: أَنَا أُخْرِجُ لَكُمْ كَنْزَهُ. فَقَالُوا: هَاتِهِ. فَأَخْرَجْتُ لَهُمْ سَبْعَ قِلَالٍ مَمْلُوءَةٍ ذَهَبًا وَوَرِقًا، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا ذَلِكَ رَجَمُوهُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ وَقَالُوا: لَا نَدْفِنُهُ أَبَدًا فَصَلَبُوهُ عَلَى خَشَبَةٍ وَرَمَوْهُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ. وَجَاءُوا بِرَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَجَعَلُوهُ مَكَانَهُ، فَلَا وَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا قَطُّ يُصَلِّي الْخَمْسَ أَرَى أَنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ وَأَشَدُّ اجْتِهَادًا وَلَا زَهَادَةً فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَلَا أَدْأَبَ لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مِنْهُ وَمَا أَعْلَمُنِي أَحْبَبْتُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ حُبَّهُ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ مَعَهُ حَتَّى حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلَانُ قَدْ حَضَرَكَ مَا تَرَى، وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْبَبْتُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ حُبَّكَ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُنِي وَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِينِي؟ فَقَالَ لِي: أَيْ بُنَيَّ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا رَجُلًا بِالْمَوْصِلِ فَائْتِهِ فَإِنَّكَ سَتَجِدُهُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَالِي. فَلَمَّا مَاتَ لَحِقْتُ بِالْمَوْصِلِ فَأَتَيْتُ صَاحِبَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَالِهِ مِنَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَالزَّهَادَةِ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: إِنَّ فُلَانًا أَوْصَى بِي إِلَيْكَ أَنْ آتِيَكَ وَأَكُونَ مَعَكَ. فَقَالَ: فَأَقِمْ عِنْدِي. فَأَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ عَلَى مِثْلِ أَمْرِ صَاحِبِهِ، حَتَّى حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ فُلَانًا أَوْصَى بِي إِلَيْكَ وَقَدْ حَضَرَكَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ مَا تَرَى فَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِينِي؟ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ أَيْ بُنَيَّ إِلَّا رَجُلًا بِنَصِيبِينَ، وَهُوَ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ فَالْحَقْ بِهِ. فَلَمَّا دَفَنَّاهُ لَحِقْتُ بِالْآخَرِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا فُلَانُ إِنَّ فُلَانًا أَوْصَى بِي إِلَى فُلَانٍ وَفُلَانًا أَوْصَى بِي إِلَيْكَ. قَالَ: فَأَقِمْ عِنْدِي فَأَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَالِهِمْ حَتَّى حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا فُلَانُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ حَضَرَكَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ مَا تَرَى، وَقَدْ كَانَ فُلَانٌ أَوْصَى بِي إِلَى فُلَانٍ وَأَوْصَى بِي فُلَانٌ إِلَى فُلَانٍ، وَأَوْصَى بِي فُلَانٌ إِلَيْكَ، فَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِينِي. فَقَالَ: أَيْ بُنَيَّ، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا كُنَّا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا رَجُلًا بِعَمُورِيَّةَ مِنْ أَرْضِ الرُّومِ ائْتِهِ فَإِنَّكَ سَتَجِدُهُ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا كُنَّا عَلَيْهِ. فَلَمَّا مَاتَ وَوَارَيْتُهُ خَرَجْتُ حَتَّى قَدِمْتُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ عَمُورِيَّةَ، فَوَجَدْتُهُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَالِهِمْ فَأَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ وَاكْتَسَبْتُ حَتَّى كَانَتْ لِي غُنَيْمَةٌ وَبَقَرَاتٌ، ثُمَّ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا فُلَانُ إِنَّ فُلَانًا أَوْصَى بِي إِلَى فُلَانٍ، وَفُلَانٌ أَوْصَى بِي إِلَى فُلَانٍ، وَفُلَانٌ إِلَى فُلَانٍ، وَفُلَانٌ إِلَيْكَ وَقَدْ حَضَرَكَ مَا تَرَى مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، فَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِينِي؟ فَقَالَ: أَيْ بُنَيَّ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا كُنَّا عَلَيْهِ آمُرُكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُ، وَلَكِنَّهُ قَدْ أَظَلَّكَ زَمَانُ نَبِيٍّ يُبْعَثُ مِنَ الْحَرَمِ، مُهَاجَرُهُ بَيْنَ حَرَّتَيْنِ إِلَى أَرْضٍ سَبْخَةٍ ذَاتِ نَخْلٍ، وَإِنَّ فِيهِ عَلَامَاتٍ لَا تَخْفَى: بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ، يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ، فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَخْلُصَ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْبِلَادِ فَافْعَلْ، فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ أَظَلَّكَ زَمَانُهُ. فَلَمَّا وَارَيْنَاهُ أَقَمْتُ حَتَّى مَرَّتْ رِجَالٌ مِنْ تُجَّارِ الْعَرَبِ مِنْ كَلْبٍ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُمُ: احْمِلُونِي مَعَكُمْ حَتَّى تَقْدَمُوا بِي أَرْضَ الْعَرَبِ فَأُعْطِيكُمْ غُنَيْمَتِي هَذِهِ وَبَقَرَاتِي؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ. فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ إِيَّاهَا فَحَمَلُونِي حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءُوا بِي وَادِيَ الْقُرَى ظَلَمُونِي فَبَاعُونِي عَبْدًا مِنْ يَهُودِيٍّ بِوَادِي الْقُرَى. فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ النَّخْلَ وَطَمِعْتُ أَنْ تَكُونَ الْبَلَدَ الَّذِي نَعَتَ لِي صَاحِبِي، وَمَا خَفِيَتْ عَنِّي، حَتَّى قَدِمَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ مِنْ يَهُودَ بِوَادِي الْقُرَى فَابْتَاعَنِي مِنْ صَاحِبِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ، فَخَرَجَ بِي حَتَّى قَدِمَ بِيَ الْمَدِينَةَ. وَفِي لَفْظٍ: فَاشْتَرَتْنِي امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَجَعَلَتْنِي فِي حَائِطٍ لَهَا. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: اسْمُهَا خُلَيْسَةُ بِنْتُ فُلَانٍ حَلِيفِ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ. فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ رَأَيْتُهَا عَرَفْتُهَا، فَعَرَفْتُ نَعْتَهُ فَأَقَمْتُ فِي رِقِّي مَعَ صَاحِبِي فِي نَخْلِهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أَنَّهُ مَكَثَ كَذَلِكَ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا. قَالَ: فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَفِيهَا إِذْ جَاءَ ابْنُ عَمٍّ لَهُ فَقَالَ: يَا فُلَانُ، قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ بَنِي قَيْلَةَ، فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُمُ الْآنَ لَفِي قُبَاءٍ يَجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ مَكَّةَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ. فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ سَمِعْتُهَا فَأَخَذَتْنِي الْعُرَوَاءُ يَعْنِي الرَّعْدَةَ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ لَأَسْقُطَنَّ عَلَى صَاحِبِي وَنَزَلْتُ أَقُولُ: مَا هَذَا الْخَبَرُ؟ مَا هُوَ؟ فَرَفَعَ مَوْلَايَ يَدَهُ فَلَكَمَنِي لَكْمَةً شَدِيدَةً وَقَالَ: مَالَكَ وَلِهَذَا؟ أَقْبِلْ عَلَى عَمَلِكَ. فَقُلْتُ: لَا شَيْءَ إِلَّا أَنَّنِي سَمِعْتُ خَبَرًا فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَعْلَمَهُ. فَخَرَجْتُ وَسَأَلْتُ فَلَقِيتُ امْرَأَةً مِنْ أَهْلِ بِلَادِي فَسَأَلْتُهَا، فَإِذَا أَهْلُ بَيْتِهَا قَدْ أَسْلَمُوا، فَدَلَّتْنِي عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَأَمْسَيْتُ وَكَانَ عِنْدِي شَيْءٌ مِنْ طَعَامٍ فَحَمَلْتُهُ وَذَهَبْتُ بِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ بِقُبَاءٍ فَقُلْتُ: بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ، وَأَنَّ مَعَكَ أَصَحَابًا غُرَبَاءَ، وَقَدْ كَانَ عِنْدِي شَيْءٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ، فَرَأَيْتُكُمْ أَحَقَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبِلَادِ فَهَا هُوَ ذَا فَكُلْ. فَأَمْسَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ وَقَالَ: لِأَصْحَابِهِ كُلُوا وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ. فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: هَذِهِ خَلَّةٌ مِمَّا وَصَفَ لِي صَاحِبِي. وَفِي حَدِيثِ بُرَيْدَةَ عِنْدَ أَحْمَدَ أَنَّ سَلْمَانَ جَاءَ بِمَائِدَةِ بَطٍّ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: بِلَحْمِ جَزُورٍ مَثْرُودٍ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: بِخَلَالٍ. فَوَضَعَهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَا هَذَا يَا سَلْمَانُ؟» قَالَ: صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى أَصْحَابِكَ. قَالَ: «ارْفَعْهَا فَإِنَّا لَا نَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ». وَجَاءَهُ مِنَ الْغَدِ بِمِثْلِهِ فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا يَا سَلْمَانُ قَالَ: هَدِيَّةٌ لَكَ» فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: «انْشَطُوا». وَذَكَرَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ أَنَّهُ جَاءَهُ بِتَمْرٍ وَأَخْبَرَهُ بِأَنَّهُ صَدَقَةٌ يَأْكُلُهُ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ وَتَحَوَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَجَمَعْتُ شَيْئًا كَانَ عِنْدِي ثُمَّ جِئْتُ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُكَ لَا تَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ، وَهَذِهِ هَدِيَّةٌ وَلَيْسَتْ بِصَدَقَةٍ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ عِنْدَ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ سَلْمَانُ: كُنْتُ عَبْدًا لِامْرَأَةٍ فَسَأَلْتُ سَيِّدَتِي أَنْ تَهَبَ لِي يَوْمًا، فَعَمِلْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ عَلَى صَاعٍ أَوْ صَاعَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرٍ، فَجِئْتُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ سَأَلْتُ سَيِّدَتِي أَنْ تَهَبَ لِي يَوْمًا آخَرَ، فَعَمِلْتُ فِيهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ بِهِ هَدِيَّةً لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَبِلَهُ وَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ. وَفِي الشَّمَائِلِ لِلتِّرْمِذِيِّ أَنَّهُ أَتَى بِمَائِدَةٍ عَلَيْهَا رُطَبٌ. فَأَكَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ: هَذِهِ خَلَّتَانِ. ثُمَّ جِئْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يَتْبَعُ جَنَازَةَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ شَمْلَتَانِ وَهُوَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ فَاسْتَدَرْتُ لِأَنْظُرَ الْخَاتَمَ الَّذِي فِي ظَهْرِهِ، فَلَمَّا رَآنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اسْتَدْبَرْتُهُ عَرَفَ أَنِّي اسْتَثْبَتُّ شَيْئًا قَدْ وُصِفَ لِي، فَرَفَعَ رِدَاءَهُ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى الْخَاتَمِ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ كَمَا وَصَفَ لِي صَاحِبِي، فَأَكْبَبْتُ عَلَيْهِ أُقَبِّلُهُ وَأَبْكِي، فَقَالَ: تَحَوَّلْ يَا سَلْمَانُ هَكَذَا فَتَحَوَّلْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ أَصْحَابُهُ حَدِيثِي. فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِمَنْزِلِ كُلْثُومِ بْنِ الْهَدْمِ ؓ فَقَالَ: حَدِّثْنِي. فَحَدَّثْتُهُ. ثُمَّ شَغَلَ سَلْمَانَ الرِّقُّ حَتَّى فَاتَهُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَدْرٌ وَأُحُدٌ.
Translation
✧ The Book of the Sending of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with abundant salutations, and mention of some of the glad tidings concerning that. Muhammad b. Isḥāq, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The Jewish rabbis, the Christian monks, and the Arab soothsayers had spoken about the matter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ before his sending, when his time drew near. As for the Jewish rabbis and the Christian monks, it was from what they found in their scriptures of his description, the description of his time, and the covenant of their prophets to them concerning him. Allah, exalted is He, said: "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel…" (al-Aʿrāf: 157). And Allah, exalted is He, said: "And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what was before me of the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me, whose name is Aḥmad" (al-Ṣaff: 6). And Allah, exalted is He, said: "Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are stern against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their example in the Torah and their example in the Gospel…" (al-Fatḥ: 29). And Allah, exalted is He, said: "And when Allah took the covenant of the prophets: for what I have given you of Book and wisdom, then there comes to you a Messenger confirming what is with you, you must believe in him and support him. He said: Do you affirm and take upon that My burden? They said: We affirm. He said: Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses" (Āl ʿImrān: 81). In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, he said: Allah did not send any prophet except that He took from him the covenant that if Muḥammad were sent while he was alive, he would surely believe in him and support him, and He commanded him to take from his nation the covenant that if Muḥammad were sent while they were alive, they would surely believe in him, support him, and follow him. From this it is known that all the prophets gave glad tidings of him and commanded following him. And Ibrāhīm, ﷺ, said in his supplication for the people of Makkah: "Our Lord, send among them a Messenger from among them who will recite to them Your verses…" (al-Baqarah: 129). Al-Imām Aḥmad said: Abū al-Naḍr narrated to us, al-Faraj b. Faḍālah narrated to us, Luqmān b. ʿĀmir narrated to us: I heard Abū Umāmah say: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what was the beginning of your affair?" He said: "The supplication of my father Ibrāhīm, the glad tidings of ʿĪsā, and my mother saw that a light came out of her that illuminated the palaces of Syria." Muḥammad b. Isḥāq also narrated the like of it from Thawr b. Yazīd, from Khālid b. Maʿdān, from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from him. The meaning of this is that he meant the beginning of his affair among people, the spread of his mention and its dissemination. He mentioned the supplication of Ibrāhīm, to whom the Arabs trace their lineage, then the glad tidings of ʿĪsā, who is the seal of the prophets of the Children of Israel, as has preceded. This indicates that the prophets between them also gave glad tidings of him. As for the Highest Assembly, his matter was famous, mentioned, and known before the creation of Ādam, upon him be blessings and peace. As al-Imām Aḥmad said: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Mahdī narrated to us, Muʿāwiyah b. Ṣāliḥ narrated to us, from Saʿīd b. Suwayd al-Kalbī, from ʿAbd al-Aʿlā b. Hilāl al-Sulamī, from al-ʿIrbāḍ b. Sāriyah, he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "I am the servant of Allah, the seal of the prophets, and Ādam was still prostrate in his clay, and I will tell you of the first of that: the supplication of my father Ibrāhīm, the glad tidings of ʿĪsā concerning me, and the vision of my mother that she saw, and likewise the mothers of the prophets see." Al-Layth also narrated it from Muʿāwiyah b. Ṣāliḥ, and he said: "His mother saw, when she gave birth to him, a light that illuminated the palaces of Syria." Al-Imām Aḥmad also said: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān narrated to us, Manṣūr b. Saʿd narrated to us, from Budayl b. Maysarah, from ʿAbd Allāh b. Shaqīq, from Maysarah al-Fajr, he said: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, when were you a prophet?" He said: "While Ādam was between the spirit and the body." Aḥmad alone narrated these. ʿUmar b. Aḥmad b. Shāhīn narrated it in the Book of the Proofs of Prophethood from the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah, saying: ʿAbd Allāh b. Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, meaning Abū al-Qāsim al-Baghawī, narrated to us, Abū Hammām al-Walīd b. Muslim narrated to us, from al-Awzāʿī: Yaḥyā narrated to me, from Abū Salamah, from Abū Hurayrah, he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked: "When did prophethood become incumbent for you?" He said: "Between the creation of Ādam and the blowing of the spirit into him." He narrated it from another route from al-Awzāʿī with it, and he said: "While Ādam was prostrate in his clay." It is also narrated from al-Baghawī, from Aḥmad b. al-Miqdām, from Baqiyyah b. Saʿīd b. Bashīr, from Qatādah, from Abū Hurayrah, raised to the Prophet, regarding the saying of Allah, exalted is He: "And when We took from the prophets their covenant, and from you, and from Nūḥ" (al-Aḥzāb: 7): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "I was the first of the prophets in creation and the last of them in sending." And from the ḥadīth of Ibn Muzāḥim, from Qays b. al-Rabīʿ, from Jābir, from al-Shaʿbī, from Ibn ʿAbbās: It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, when were you a prophet?" He said: "While Ādam was between the spirit and the body." As for the Arab soothsayers, the devils among the jinn brought them word from what they eavesdropped of hearing, when they were not prevented from that by being pelted with shooting stars. The soothsayer, male or female, would continually let fall some mention of his affairs, but the Arabs paid no heed to that, until Allah, exalted is He, sent him and those things they used to mention came to pass, and they recognized them. When the matter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew near and the time of his sending came, the devils were prevented from hearing, and a barrier was placed between them and the seats where they used to sit to eavesdrop. They were pelted with shooting stars, and the jinn knew that that was because of a matter that had occurred from the command of Allah, mighty and majestic is He. He said: Concerning that, Allah revealed to His Messenger ﷺ: "Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened, and they said: Indeed we have heard a wondrous Quran, guiding to right conduct, so we have believed in it, and we will not associate anyone with our Lord" (al-Jinn: 1–2) to the end of the surah. We have mentioned the interpretation of all that in our book of Tafsīr. Likewise His saying, exalted is He: "And when We turned toward you a group of the jinn listening to the Quran, and when they attended it they said: Listen. And when it was finished they returned to their people as warners. They said: O our people, we have heard a Book sent down after Moses, confirming what was before it, guiding to the truth and to a straight path…" (al-Aḥqāf: 29–30). We have mentioned the interpretation of all that there. Muḥammad b. Isḥāq said: Yaʿqūb b. ʿUtbah b. al-Mughīrah b. al-Akhnas narrated to me that it was told to him that the first of the Arabs to be alarmed at the pelting with shooting stars when it occurred was this clan of Thaqīf, and that they came to a man among them called ʿAmr b. Umayyah, one of the Banū ʿIlāj, who was the most cunning of the Arabs and the most astute in judgment. They said to him: "O ʿAmr, have you not seen what has happened in the sky of pelting with these stars?" He said: "Yes, so look. If the known stars by which one is guided on land and sea, and by which the rains of summer and winter are known, for what benefits people in their livelihoods, are the ones being pelted, then by Allah it is the folding up of the world and the destruction of this creation. But if they are other stars, and those remain fixed in their places, then this is for a matter Allah intends for this creation. So look what it is." Ibn Isḥāq said: Some of the people of knowledge narrated to me that a woman of Banū Sahm called al-Ghayṭalah was a soothsayer in the time of ignorance. Her familiar came to her one night and swooped down beneath her, then said: "I perceive what I perceive: a day of wounding and slaughter." Quraysh said when that reached them: "What does he mean?" Then he came to her another night and swooped down beneath her, then said: "Shuʿūb, what Shuʿūb? Kaʿb will be thrown down there for the South." When that reached Quraysh they said: "What does he mean? This is a matter that is going to happen, so look what it is." They did not know until the battle of Badr and Uḥud at the mountain pass, and they knew that it was what he had brought to his companion. Ibn Isḥāq said: ʿAlī b. Nāfiʿ al-Jurashī narrated to me that Janb, a clan of Yemen, had a soothsayer in the time of ignorance. When the matter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was mentioned and spread among the Arabs, Janb said to him: "Look into the matter of this man for us." They gathered for him at the foot of his mountain. He came down to them at sunrise and stood before them leaning on a bow of his. He raised his head to the sky for a long time, then began to leap, then said: "O people, Allah has honored Muḥammad and chosen him, purified his heart and his inner being. His stay among you, O people, will be short." Then he hastened up his mountain, returning the way he came. Then Ibn Isḥāq mentioned the story of Sawād b. Qārib, which we have postponed to the chapter on the calls of the jinn. Chapter: Mention of the signs of prophethood. The author of the book said: The prophets before the appearance of our Prophet ﷺ and the scholars of the scriptures kept promising him, until they would say: "His time has drawn near, and in this time he will appear." Ibn al-Ḥuṣayn informed us, saying: Ibn al-Mudhhib informed us, saying: Abū Bakr b. Mālik informed us, saying: ʿAbd Allāh b. Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Yaʿqūb narrated to me, saying: My father informed us, from Ibn Isḥāq, saying: Ṣāliḥ b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿAwf narrated to me, from Maḥmūd b. Labīd, from Salamah b. Salāmah b. Waqsh, he said: We had a Jewish neighbor among the Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal. He said: He came out to us one day from his house shortly before the sending of the Prophet ﷺ, until he stood before the assembly of the Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal — Salamah said: I was then the youngest of them in age, wrapped in a cloak, lying in it in the courtyard of my family — and he mentioned the resurrection, the standing, the reckoning, the scale, Paradise, and Hell. He said that to a people of polytheism and idol-worshippers who did not think that the resurrection would occur after death. They said to him: "Woe to you, O so-and-so, do you think this will happen, that people will be resurrected after their death to an abode in which there is a Paradise and a Hell, and they will be recompensed for their deeds?" He said: "Yes, and by the One we swear by, he would wish that his share of that fire were the largest oven in the world, which you would heat up and then put him into, and close it over him, and that you would escape from among that fire tomorrow." They said to him: "Woe to you, what is the sign of that?" He said: "A prophet who will be sent from the direction of these lands." And he pointed with his hand toward Makkah and Yemen. They said: "When will we see him?" He said: He looked at me, and I was the youngest of them, and said: "If this lad lives out his life, he will reach him." Salamah said: By Allah, night and day did not pass before Allah, mighty and majestic is He, sent His Messenger ﷺ, and he was alive among us. We believed in him, and he disbelieved in him out of envy and jealousy. We said: "Woe to you, O so-and-so, are you not the one who said to us about him what you said?" He said: "Yes, but it is not he." ʿAbd al-Wahhāb b. al-Mubārak reported to us, saying: ʿĀṣim b. al-Ḥusayn informed us, saying: Abū al-Ḥusayn b. Bishrān informed us, saying: ʿUthmān b. Aḥmad al-Daqqāq informed us, saying: Abū al-Ḥasan b. al-Barāʾ informed us, saying: al-Faḍl b. Ghānim informed us, saying: Salamah narrated to us, saying: Muḥammad b. Isḥāq narrated to me, from ʿĀṣim b. ʿUmar b. Qatādah, from a man of his people, he said: Among what called us to Islam, along with Allah's mercy to us and His guidance, was what we used to hear from the Jews. We were a people of polytheism and idol-worshippers, and they were People of the Book with knowledge we did not have. There were always hostilities between us and them. When we inflicted on them some of what they disliked, they said to us: "The time of a prophet who will be sent now has drawn near; we will follow him and kill you with him with the killing of ʿĀd and Iram." We often heard that from them. When Allah, mighty and majestic is He, sent His Messenger, we answered him when he called us to Allah, and we recognized what they used to threaten us with. We hastened to him before them, and we believed in him, and they disbelieved. Concerning us and them these verses were revealed: "And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming what was with them…" to His saying: "…the curse of Allah is upon the disbelievers." And from ʿĀṣim, from a shaykh of the Banū Qurayẓah, he said: He said to me: "Do you know what the Islam of Thaʿlabah b. Saʿīd, Usayd b. Saʿīd, and Asad b. ʿUbayd, a group of the Banū Dhuhl, brothers of the Banū Qurayẓah, who were with them in their time of ignorance and then became their leaders in Islam, was about?" He said, I said: "I do not know." He said: "A Jewish man from the people of Syria called Ibn al-Hayyabān came to us years before Islam and settled among us. By Allah, we never saw a man who prayed the five prayers better than him. He stayed with us, and when the rain failed us, we would say to him: 'Go out, O Ibn al-Hayyabān, and pray for rain for us.' He would say: 'No, by Allah, not until you present before your going out a charity.' We would say to him: 'How much?' He would say: 'A ṣāʿ of dates or two mudds of barley.'" He said: "That would be brought out, then he would go out with us to the edge of our lava field and pray for rain for us. By Allah, he would not leave his place until the clouds passed and we were watered. He did that more than once, twice, or thrice." He said: "Then death came to him among us. When he knew he was dying, he said: 'O assembly of Jews, what do you think made me leave the land of wine and leaven for the land of hunger and hardship?'" He said: "We said: 'You know best.' He said: 'I came to this town only to await the emergence of a prophet whose time has overshadowed you. This town is his place of emigration. I hoped that he would be sent and I would follow him. His time has overshadowed you, so let no one beat you to him, O assembly of Jews, for he will be sent shedding blood and taking captive the offspring and women of those who oppose him. Do not let that prevent you from him.' When Allah sent His Messenger and he besieged the Banū Qurayẓah, these youths, who were young men, said: 'O Banū Qurayẓah, by Allah, he is the prophet about whom Ibn al-Hayyabān made a covenant with you.' They said: 'It is not he.' They said: 'Yes, by Allah, he is with his description.' So they came down and accepted Islam, and safeguarded their blood, their wealth, and their families. Among the signs was a great earthquake that struck Syria. The author of the book said: The monks counted it as a sign of his appearance, and they used to say that he was a young man entering middle age, avoiding forbidden things and wrongs, maintaining ties of kinship and commanding their maintenance, and moderate in his clan, may Allah bless him. Muḥammad b. Nāṣir [al-Ḥāfiẓ] informed us, saying: ʿAbd al-Muḥsin b. ʿAlī informed us, saying: ʿAbd al-Karīm b. Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-Maḥāmilī informed us, saying: Al-Dāraquṭnī informed us, saying: Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Sālim al-Makhzūmī informed us, saying: Abū Saʿīd ʿAbd Allāh b. Shabīb al-Madanī informed us, saying: Isḥāq al-ʿAdawī informed us, saying: ʿUthmān b. al-Ḍaḥḥāk al-Ḥizāmī narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, from Makhrama b. Sulaymān, from Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad b. Ṭalḥa, from his father, who said: Ṭalḥa b. ʿAbd Allāh said: I was present at the market of Buṣrā, and behold, a monk in his cell was saying: Ask the people of the fair, is there among you anyone from the people of the sanctuary? Ṭalḥa said: I said, yes, I am. He said to me: Has Aḥmad appeared in Makkah yet? I said: And who is Aḥmad? He said: The son of ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib. This is his month in which he will come forth, and he is the last of the prophets; his emergence is from the sanctuary, and his emigration will be to palm groves, a ḥarra (stony tract), and salt flats. Ṭalḥa said: What the monk said fell into my heart, so I set out until I arrived in Makkah, and I said: Has there been any event? They said: Yes, Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Amīn has claimed prophethood, and the son of Abī Quḥāfa has followed him. So I went out until I came to Abū Bakr and informed him and said to him: Have you followed the man? He said: Yes. Go and pledge allegiance to him, for he calls to the truth. So Abū Bakr ؓ went with him. Ṭalḥa said: Then I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him of the monk's news and what he said to me. Abū Bakr b. Abī Ṭāhir al-Bazzāz informed us, saying: Abū Muḥammad al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī al-Jawharī informed us, saying: Abū ʿUmar b. Ḥayyawayh informed us, saying: Aḥmad b. Maʿrūf informed us, saying: Al-Ḥārith b. Abī Usāma informed us, saying: Muḥammad b. Saʿd narrated to us, saying: Muḥammad b. ʿUmar narrated to us, saying: Salmān b. Dāwūd b. al-Ḥuṣayn narrated to me, from his father, from ʿIkrima, from Ibn ʿAbbās, from Ubayy b. Kaʿb, who said: When Tubbaʿ arrived in Madinah and encamped at Qanāt, he sent to the Jewish rabbis and said: I shall destroy this town so that no Jew remains in it and the matter returns to the religion of the Arabs. He said: Then Sāmūl the Jew, who was then the most learned among them, said to him: O king, this is the town to which will be the emigration of a prophet from the sons of Ismāʿīl, whose birthplace is Makkah, whose name is Aḥmad, and this is his abode of migration. Indeed in this place where you are, there will be many killings and wounds among his companions and their enemies. Tubbaʿ said: And who will fight him on that day, when he is a prophet as you claim? He said: His people will march against him, and they will fight here. He said: Where is his grave? He said: In this town. He said: When he is confronted, to whom will the defeat belong? He said: It will belong to him at one time and against him at another; and in this very place where you are it will be against him, and his companions will be slain there in a slaughter such as they have not suffered in any other site. Then the outcome will be his, and he will prevail, and no one will dispute this matter with him. He said: And what is his description? He said: A man neither tall nor short, with redness in his eyes; he rides the camel and wears the shimla (a kind of cloak); his sword is on his shoulder; he does not care whom he meets, be it a brother, a cousin, or an uncle, until his affair prevails. Tubbaʿ said: There is no way to this town; its destruction would only be at my hands. So Tubbaʿ departed, returning to Yemen. Muḥammad b. ʿUmar said: And ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd b. Jaʿfar narrated to me, from his father, who said: Al-Zubayr b. Bāṭā, the most learned of the Jews, used to say: I found a scripture that my father had sealed for me, in which there was mention of Aḥmad, a prophet who would come forth in the land of the qaraẓ (acacia), whose description is such-and-such. Al-Zubayr b. Bāṭā used to speak of it after his father, while the Prophet ﷺ had not yet been sent; but as soon as he heard that the Prophet ﷺ had emerged in Makkah, he went to that scripture and erased it, concealed the matter of the Prophet ﷺ and his description, and said: It is not he. Muḥammad b. ʿUmar said: And al-Ḍaḥḥāk b. ʿUthmān narrated to me, from Makhrama b. Sulaymān, from Kurayb, from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: The Jews of Qurayẓa, al-Naḍīr, Fadak, and Khaybar used to find the description of the Prophet ﷺ shortly before he was sent, and that the abode of his emigration was Madinah. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born, the Jewish rabbis said: Aḥmad was born tonight; this star has risen. When he claimed prophethood, they said: Aḥmad has claimed prophethood; the star has risen. They knew that, acknowledged it, and described him; nothing prevented them from following him except envy and transgression. Muḥammad b. ʿUmar said: And Ibn Abī Dhiʾb narrated to me, from Muslim b. Ḥabīb, from al-Naḍr b. Sufyān al-Hudhalī, from his father, who said: We set out with a caravan of ours to Syria, and when we were between al-Zarqāʾ and Maʿān, we had dismounted at night to rest, when behold, a horseman came saying: O sleepers, arise! This is no time for slumber; Aḥmad has come forth, and the jinn have been driven away utterly. We were terrified, and we were a numerous company, all of whom heard this. We returned to our families and found them mentioning a dispute in Makkah among Quraysh concerning a prophet who had arisen among them from the sons of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, whose name was Aḥmad. Muḥammad b. Saʿd said: And ʿAlī b. Muḥammad b. ʿAmmār b. Yāsir and others informed us, from Hishām b. ʿUrwa, from his father, from ʿĀʾisha ؓ, who said: A Jew resided in Makkah and sold goods there. On the night when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born, he said in one of the gatherings of Quraysh: Is there among you a newborn who was born this night? They said: We know of none. He said: Look, O assembly of Quraysh, and take heed of what I say to you: Tonight was born the prophet of this community: Aḥmad. He has a mark between his shoulder blades, in which there are some hairs. The people dispersed from their gathering, astonished by his talk. When they went to their homes and mentioned it to their families, it was said to some of them: A boy was born tonight to ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, and he named him Muḥammad. So they came to the Jew in his dwelling and said: Did you know that a child has been born among us? He said: After my news or before it? They said: Before it; and his name is Aḥmad. He said: Take me to him. They went out with him until they entered upon his mother, and she brought him out to them. He saw a mark on his back, and the Jew fell into a swoon. Then he recovered, and they said: What is the matter with you? He said: Prophethood has departed from the children of Israel, and the Book has left them. This is inscribed: he will fight them and strip them of their reports. The Arabs have won prophethood. Are you rejoicing, O assembly of Quraysh? By Allah, he will surely strike you with a blow whose news will spread from the east to the west. He [Muḥammad b. Saʿd] said: And ʿAlī b. Muḥammad b. Salama b. ʿUthmān informed us, from ʿAlī b. Zayd, from Saʿīd b. al-Musayyab, who said: The Arabs used to hear from the People of the Book and from the soothsayers that a prophet would be sent from the Arabs, whose name was Muḥammad; so those Arabs who received that named their sons Muḥammad, hoping for prophethood. Abū Ghālib Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Māwardī informed us, saying: Al-Qāḍī Abū Muḥammad Hammām b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Aylī informed us, saying: Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Mahdī narrated to us, saying: Abū ʿAlī Aḥmad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Shuʿba informed us, saying: Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad b. Muḥammad b. Ḥassān al-Anṣārī informed us, saying: Bishr b. Ḥajar al-Shāmī narrated to us, saying: ʿAlī b. Manṣūr al-Anbārī informed us, from Ghiyāth b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Raqāshī, from Muḥammad b. Kaʿb al-Quraẓī, who said: While ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb was sitting in the mosque, a man passed by him at the rear of the mosque, and a man said to him: O Commander of the Faithful, do you know the passerby? He said: Who is he? He said: Sawād b. Qārib; he is a man from Yemen with standing and position among them, and he is the one whom a spirit (raʾī) visited with tidings of the Prophet's appearance ﷺ. ʿUmar said: Bring him to me. He was summoned, and ʿUmar said: Are you Sawād b. Qārib? He said: Yes. He said: Are you still upon your soothsaying of old? He became very angry and said: O Commander of the Faithful, no one has greeted me with this since I embraced Islam. ʿUmar said: Glory be to Allah! By Allah, the idolatry we were upon was greater than the soothsaying you were upon. Tell me of the signs that came to you about the emergence of the Prophet ﷺ. He said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful. One night while I was between sleep and wakefulness, a visitor came to me and struck me with his foot and said: Arise, O Sawād b. Qārib, understand and heed if you can heed: a messenger has been sent from Luʾayy b. Ghālib, calling to Allah, Mighty and Exalted, and to His worship. Then the jinnī began to say: I marveled at the jinn and their spying, And their girding the camels with their saddles, They hasten to Makkah seeking guidance; The best of the jinn are not like their worst. So depart to the chosen one of Hāshim, And raise your eyes to its head. He said: I did not lift my head at his words, and I said: Let me sleep, for I have become drowsy this evening. On the second night, he came to me and struck me with his foot and said: Did I not tell you, O Sawād b. Qārib, arise, understand and heed if you can heed: a prophet has been sent from Luʾayy b. Ghālib, calling to Allah, Mighty and Exalted, and to His worship. Then the jinnī began to say: I marveled at the jinn and their seeking, And their girding the camels with their saddle-frames, They hasten to Makkah seeking guidance; The truthful of the jinn are not like their liars. So depart to the chosen one of Hāshim, Whose foremost are not like their hindmost. He said: I did not lift my head at his words. I said: Let me sleep, for I have become drowsy this evening. On the third night, he came to me and struck me with his foot and said: Did I not tell you, O Sawād b. Qārib, arise, understand and heed if you can heed: a messenger has been sent from Luʾayy b. Ghālib, calling to Allah and to His worship. Then he began to say: I marveled at the jinn and their reports, And their girding the camels with their saddle-pads, They hasten to Makkah seeking guidance; The believers among the jinn are not like their disbelievers. So depart to the chosen one of Hāshim, Among its hillocks and its stones. He said: Love of Islam fell into my heart, and I desired it. When morning came, I saddled my mount and set out towards Makkah. When I was part way along the road, I was told that the Prophet ﷺ had migrated to Madinah. I arrived in Madinah and asked about the Prophet ﷺ. I was told he was in the mosque. I came to the mosque, tethered my she-camel, and behold, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was there with people around him. I said: Listen to my words, O Messenger of Allah. He said to Abū Bakr: Bring him near, bring him near. He continued until I stood before him. I said: Hear my words, O Messenger of Allah. He said: Proceed, and tell me of what brought you to your spirit-companion. I said: A confidant came to me after stillness and a nap, And I was not, in what I have tested, a liar; Three nights, each night his saying was: A messenger has come to you from Luʾayy b. Ghālib. So I tucked up the hem of my garment, and the swift, Gaunt she-camel bore me amid the deserts. I witness that there is no god but Allah, And that you are trustworthy over every unseen thing, And that you are the nearest of the messengers in mediation To Allah, O son of the noblest and purest. So command us, O best of messengers, with what comes to you, Even if in what comes there is graying of the locks; And be an intercessor for me on a day when no intercessor Other than you will avail Sawād b. Qārib. He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ rejoiced greatly at my Islam, and so did his companions, until joy was seen on their faces. He said: Then ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb ؓ sprang to him, embraced him, and said: I had been wishing to hear this from you. Ibn al-Ḥuṣayn informed us, saying: Ibn al-Mudhhib informed us, saying: Aḥmad b. Jaʿfar informed us, saying: ʿAbd Allāh b. Aḥmad informed us, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq narrated to us, saying: Isrāʾīl informed us, from Simāk, from ʿIkrima, from Ibn ʿAbbās: that Quraysh went to a soothsayer and said: Tell us which of us is closest in resemblance to the one of this station (maqām). She said: If you drag a cloak over this plain, then walk upon it, I will inform you. So they dragged it, and the people walked upon it. She saw the trace of Muḥammad ﷺ and said: This one is closest to him in resemblance. After that, they remained twenty years, or nearly twenty years, or as Allah willed, then he ﷺ was sent. Chapter Nine: On what the rabbis, monks, and soothsayers reported that he is the prophet sent at the end of time. From Salmān ؓ, who said: I was a man from the people of Persia, and in another narration from the people of Jayy. My father was the dihqān of Rāmahurmuz, that is, its chief. He loved me intensely, so much so that he confined me in the house as a slave-girl is confined. I strove in Magianism until I became the keeper of the fire, that is, its treasurer and servant. In another wording: The people of my village used to worship piebald horses. I was like that, knowing nothing of people's affairs except what I was in, but I knew that they were upon nothing. I had a brother older than me. In another wording: The son of the companion of Rāmahurmuz. Whenever he rose from his gathering, he would go out, wrap himself in his garment, and climb the mountain, doing that many times in disguise. I said: You do such-and-such; why do you not take me with you? He said: You are a boy, and I fear that something may appear from you. I said: Do not fear. He said: In this mountain there is a people in a cave, for whom there is worship and righteousness. They remember Allah, the Exalted, and the Hereafter, and assert that we are worshippers of idols and images and worshippers of fires, and that we are not upon any religion. I said: Take me with you. He said: Until I seek their permission, for I fear something may appear from you, and my father would know and kill them, and their destruction would come about through my hands. I said: Nothing will appear from me of that. So he sought their permission, and they said: Bring him. I went with him, and I came to them and found they were six or seven, as if the spirit had left them from worship. They fasted by day and stood in prayer by night, eating leaves and whatever they found. We sat with them, and they praised Allah and extolled Him, and mentioned the messengers and prophets who had passed, until they came to ʿĪsā b. Maryam and said: Allah sent him, and he was born without a male; He sent him as a messenger and subjugated for him what he used to do of reviving the dead, creating the bird, and healing the blind and the leper. A people disbelieved in him and a people followed him; he was only Allah's servant and messenger, with whom He tested His creation. Then they said: O boy, you have a Lord, and you have a resurrection; before you are a Garden and a Fire to which you will go. These people who worship the fires are a people of unbelief and error, Allah is not pleased with what they do, and they are not upon a religion. Then we left, and later returned to them, and they said the like of that and better. I kept to them, and they said to me: O Salmān, you are a boy; you cannot do what we do. So pray and sleep, and eat and drink. He said: The king became aware of what his son was doing, so he rode out with horsemen until he came to them at their monastery and said: “O these people, you have been my neighbors and I treated you well as neighbors, and you have seen no evil from me. Yet you went to my son and corrupted him against me. I give you three days; if I can lay hold of you after three days, I will burn this monastery of yours down upon you. So rejoin your own lands, for I dislike that any evil from me should reach you.” They said: “Yes, we did not intend to harm you, and we desired only good.” So he kept his son from going to them. Then I said to him: “Fear God, for you know that this religion is the religion of God, and that your father and we are not upon any religion. They are only fire worshipers who do not know God. Do not sell your hereafter for the worldly life of others.” He said: “O Salmān, it is as you say. I only stay behind from the people out of concern for them. If I followed the people, my father would seek me with horsemen. He has already become distressed at my going to them, to the point that he drove them out. I know that the truth is in their hands.” I said: “You know best.” Then I met my brother and offered it to him, but he said: “I am occupied with myself in seeking a livelihood.” So I came to them on the day they intended to depart, and they said: “O Salmān, we were wary, and what you saw came to pass. Fear God, and know that the religion is what we enjoined upon you, and that these people are worshipers of idols who do not know God, do not mention Him, and let no one deceive you about that.” In another version: My father had a large estate, and one day he was occupied with a building of his. He said to me: “O my son, I am occupied today with this building of mine and away from my estate, and I must inspect it. Go to it and order them to do such and such, and do not delay in returning to me, lest you distract me from everything.” So I went out toward his estate and passed by a church of the Christians. I heard their voices inside it and said: “What is this?” They said: “These are Christians praying.” I entered to look, and what I saw of their state pleased me. By God, I kept sitting with them until the sun set. My father sent people to look for me in every direction, until I came to him at nightfall, without having gone to his estate. He said: “Where were you?” I said: “O my father, I passed by people called Christians, and their prayer and supplication pleased me, so I sat watching how they act.” He said: “O my son, your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better than their religion.” I said: “No, by God, it is not better than their religion. These are people who worship God and call upon Him, while we worship a fire that we kindle with our own hands; if we leave it, it dies.” He became afraid for me, so he put iron shackles on my leg and imprisoned me with him. I sent word to the Christians and said to them: “Where is the origin of this religion that I see you upon?” They said: “In Syria.” I said: “If people from there come to you and finish their business, inform me.” When people came to them and finished their business, they sent me word of that, and I threw off the iron that was on my leg and joined them. Then the king became aware of the people in the mountain and ordered them to leave his land. I said: “I will not part from you.” They said: “You will not be able to be with us. We fast by day, stand in prayer by night, and eat from trees and whatever we find. You cannot endure that.” I said: “I will not part from you.” They said: “You know best. We have informed you of our condition, so if you come,” “seek someone to be with you and carry with you something to eat, for you will not be able to endure what we endure.” So I did that. I met my brother and offered it to him, but he refused. Then I came to them and they set out. They walked and I walked with them, and God granted safety until we reached Mosul. We came to a church in Mosul, and when they entered, the people gathered around them and said: “Where have you been?” They said: “We were in a land where they do not mention God Almighty, worshipers of fire. They drove us out, so we have come to you.” Later they said: “O Salmān, here there are people in these mountains who are people of religion. We want to meet them. Stay here with these people, for they are people of religion, and you will see from them what pleases you.” I said: “I will not part from you.” He said: They entrusted me to the people of the church. The people of the church said: “Stay with us, O boy, for nothing will be too difficult for you in our church.” He said: I said: “I will not part from you.” So they went out, and I was with them. In the morning we found ourselves among mountains, and there was a rock with much water in jars and much bread. We sat by the rock, and when the sun rose, they came out from among those mountains: one man bringing out another from his place, as if their spirits had been snatched from them, until they became many. They welcomed them, gathered around them, and said: “Where have you been?” They said: “We were in a land where they do not mention God Almighty, containing worshipers of fire who do not worship God. They drove us out.” They said: “Who is this boy?” They began to praise me and said: “He accompanied us from that land, and we have seen nothing from him but good.” He said: By God, while they were thus, a tall man emerged from a cave, came forward until he greeted them and sat down. My companions whom I had been with gathered around him and honored him, and they surrounded him. He said to them: “Where have you been?” They told him. He said: “Who is this boy with you?” They spoke well of me and told him of my following them. I had never seen the like of their veneration of him. He praised God and extolled Him, then mentioned those whom God Almighty sent as His messengers and prophets, and what they endured and what was done with them, until he mentioned Jesus son of Mary: that he was born without a male, that God sent him as a messenger, and that through his hands God brought the dead to life and healed the blind and the leper, and that he created from clay the likeness of a bird, blew into it, and it became a bird by God's permission, and that God sent down the Gospel to him and taught him the Torah, and that He sent him as a messenger to the Children of Israel, but some people disbelieved in him and others believed. He mentioned some of what Jesus son of Mary endured, and that he was only a servant whom God blessed, so he gave thanks to Him for that, and He was pleased with him. Then he admonished them and said: “Fear God, adhere to what Jesus brought, and do not oppose, lest He oppose you.” Then he wanted to get up, but I said: “I will not part from you.” He said: “O boy, you will not be able to be with me. I do not come out of this cave of mine except every Sunday.” I said: “I will not part from you.” He said: So I followed him until he entered the cave. I never saw him sleeping or eating, only bowing and prostrating until the next Sunday. When morning came, we went out and they gathered to him. He spoke in the manner of the first time, then returned to his cave, and I returned with him. I remained as long as God willed, he coming out every Sunday and they coming out to him, while he admonished and enjoined them. Then he came out on a Sunday and said the like of what he used to say, and then said: “O these people, I have grown old in years, my bones have become frail, my appointed time has drawn near, and I have not visited this House since such and such a time. I must go to it.” I said: “I will not part from you.” I went out with him until we reached Jerusalem. He entered and began to pray. Among what he said to me was: “O Salmān, God will soon send a messenger whose name is Aḥmad, who will appear in Tihāmah. He will eat the gift but not charity. Between his shoulders is the seal of prophethood, and this is his time, which has drawn near. As for me, I am an old man, and I do not think I will live to see him. If you live to see him, then believe in him and follow him.” I said: “Even if he commands me to abandon your religion and what you are upon?” He said: “Yes.” Then he left Jerusalem, and at its gate was a crippled man. He said: “Give me your hand.” He gave it to him, and he said: “Arise, in the name of God.” He stood up as if he had been released from a hobble. Then he let go of his hand, and the man went off without turning to anyone. The crippled man said: “O boy, load my clothes upon me so I can go.” I loaded his clothes upon him, and the monk departed. Every time I asked about him, they said: “He is ahead of you.” So I traveled until I reached Syria. I said: “Who is the most virtuous person of this religion?” It was said: “The bishop, the master of the church.” I came to him and said: “I would like to be with you in your church, to worship God in it with you, and to learn good from you.” He said: “Then be with me.” So I was with him. He was an evil man. He commanded them to give charity and urged them to it, but when they collected it for him, he did not give it to the poor. I came to hate him intensely because of what I saw of his conduct. It was not long before he died. When they came to bury him, I said to them: “This was an evil man. He commanded you to give charity and urged you to it, but when you collected it for him, he hoarded it and did not give it to the poor.” They said: “What is the proof of that?” I said: “I will bring out his treasure for you.” They said: “Bring it.” I brought out to them seven jars filled with gold and silver. When they saw that, they stoned him with rocks and said: “We will never bury him.” So they crucified him on a piece of wood and stoned him. Then they brought another man and put him in his place. By God, I never saw a man who prayed the five prayers whom I considered more excellent than him, more diligent in striving, more abstinent from worldly things, or more tireless night and day than him. I do not think I ever loved anything as much as I loved him. I remained with him until death came to him. I said to him: “O so-and-so, what you see has come to you. By God, I have never loved anything as much as I have loved you. What do you command me, and to whom do you entrust me?” He said to me: “O my son, by God, I know of no one except a man in Mosul. Go to him, for you will find him upon the like of my state.” When he died, I went to Mosul and came to his companion. I found him upon the like of his state in striving and abstinence from worldly things. I said to him: “So-and-so entrusted me to you, that I should come to you and be with you.” He said: “Then stay with me.” I stayed with him upon the like of the matter of his companion, until death came to him. I said: “So-and-so entrusted me to you, and what you see of God's decree has come to you. To whom do you entrust me?” He said: “By God, O my son, I know of no one except a man in Naṣībīn, and he is upon the like of what we are upon. So join him.” When we buried him, I joined the other and said to him: “O so-and-so, so-and-so entrusted me to so-and-so, and so-and-so entrusted me to you.” He said: “Then stay with me.” I stayed with him upon the like of their state, until death came to him. I said to him: “O so-and-so, what you see of God's decree has come to you. So-and-so entrusted me to so-and-so, and so-and-so entrusted me to so-and-so, and so-and-so entrusted me to you. To whom do you entrust me?” He said: “O my son, by God, I know of no one upon the like of what we were upon except a man in ʿAmūriyyah in the land of the Romans. Go to him, for you will find him upon the like of what we were upon.” When he died and I buried him, I set out until I came to the companion of ʿAmūriyyah. I found him upon the like of their state, and I stayed with him and earned a living until I had some sheep and cows. Then death came to him, and I said: “O so-and-so, so-and-so entrusted me to so-and-so, and so-and-so entrusted me to so-and-so, and so-and-so to so-and-so, and so-and-so to you. What you see of God Almighty's decree has come to you. To whom do you entrust me?” He said: “O my son, by God, I know of no one remaining upon the like of what we were upon whom I could command you to go to. But the time of a prophet is upon you, who will be sent from the sanctuary. His place of emigration is between two lava fields, to a salty land with palm trees. In him are signs that are not hidden: between his shoulders is the seal of prophethood, he eats the gift but not charity. If you can reach those lands, then do so, for his time is upon you.” When we buried him, I stayed until some men of the Arab traders of Kalb passed by. I said to them: “Carry me with you until you bring me to the land of the Arabs, and I will give you these sheep and cows of mine.” They said: “Yes.” I gave them to them, and they carried me. When they brought me to Wādī al-Qurā, they wronged me and sold me as a slave to a Jew in Wādī al-Qurā. By God, I saw the palm trees and hoped that it might be the town my companion had described to me, and it was not hidden from me. Then a man of the Banū Qurayẓah, a Jew, came to Wādī al-Qurā and bought me from my master whom I was with. He took me away until he brought me to Madinah. In another wording: A woman of the Anṣār bought me and put me in a garden of hers. In another version: Her name was Khulaysah bt. so-and-so, an ally of the Banū al-Najjār. By God, it was only that when I saw it, I recognized it, and I recognized its description. So I remained in slavery with my master in his palm trees. In another version, he remained thus for sixteen months. He said: By God, while I was there, a cousin of his came and said: “O so-and-so, may God curse the Banū Qaylah! By God, they are now in Qubāʾ gathering around a man who has come to them from Makkah, claiming that he is a prophet.” By God, it was only that when I heard it, I was seized with a shivering—that is, a trembling—until I thought I would fall upon my master. I climbed down and said: “What is this news? What is it?” My master raised his hand and struck me a hard blow, and said: “What is it to you and this? Attend to your work.” I said: “Nothing, except that I heard news and wanted to know it.” I went out and asked. I met a woman from my own land and asked her, and it turned out that her household had embraced Islam. She directed me to the Messenger of God ﷺ. When evening came, I had some food with me, so I carried it and went with it to the Messenger of God ﷺ while he was in Qubāʾ. I said: “I have heard that you are a righteous man, and that you have companions who are strangers. I had some charity with me, and I saw that you were more deserving of it than the people of this land. Here it is, so eat.” The Messenger of God ﷺ held back his hand and said to his companions: “Eat,” and he did not eat. I said to myself: “This is one of the traits my companion described to me.” In the ḥadīth of Buraydah according to Aḥmad, Salmān brought a table of ducks, and in another version: with meat of a slaughtered camel crumbled into bread, and in another version: with a pick. He placed it before the Messenger of God ﷺ, and the Messenger of God ﷺ said: “What is this, O Salmān?” He said: “Charity for you and your companions.” He said: “Take it away, for we do not eat charity.” The next day he came to him with the like of it and placed it before him. He said: “What is this, O Salmān?” He said: “A gift for you.” The Messenger of God ﷺ said to his companions: “Partake.” Ibn Isḥāq mentioned that he brought him dates and told him that it was charity for him to eat. He said: Then I returned, and the Messenger of God ﷺ moved to Madinah. I gathered something I had, then came with it and said: “I have seen that you do not eat charity, and this is a gift, not charity.” In a version according to Ibn Isḥāq, Salmān said: I was a slave of a woman. I asked my mistress to grant me a day, and on that day I worked for a ṣāʿ or two ṣāʿs of dates, and brought it to the Prophet ﷺ. When I saw that he did not eat charity, I asked my mistress to grant me another day, and I worked on it for the like of that, then brought it as a gift to the Prophet ﷺ, and he accepted it and ate from it. In al-Shamāʾil of al-Tirmidhī, he brought a table with fresh dates on it. The Messenger of God ﷺ ate, and I said: “These are two traits.” Then I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was following the funeral of a man from among his companions, wearing two rough cloths, and he was among his companions. I turned around to look at the seal that was on his back. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw me turning my back, he knew that I was seeking confirmation of something that had been described to me, so he lifted his cloak from his back, and I saw the seal between his shoulder blades just as my companion had described to me. I fell upon it, kissing it and weeping. He said: "Turn around, O Salmān, like this," so I turned and sat before him. He wanted his companions to hear my story, so I related to him the story of Kulthūm b. al-Hadam ؓ, and he said: "Tell me," so I related it to him. Then slavery preoccupied Salmān until he missed Badr and Uḥud with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Grades by grader
No grade is recorded for this wording.