The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

202 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUYAMMAD
you be rewarded with good things? Indeed so, just as grapes are harvested from
thorns!"
Sacid b. Yahya al-Urnawl stated that al-Muctamir h. Sulaymw al-Raqqi
related to hi, from 'Abd Allah b. Bisbr al-Zuhri, with a chain of authorities
back to the prophet (SAAS), who said, "In the shrine three slates were found.
On the first was written, 'It is I, God, Lord of Bakka, I made it when I made the
sun and the moon and I have set seven trusty angels around it. And I have
blessed its people in the meat and in the milk.'
"On the second it said, 'I am God, Lord of Bakka. I created al-rahim, kinship,
which I derived from my name, (Rahim, (meaning) merciful and compassionate).
He who acts kindly to his kin, so will I treat; he who severs his ties of kinship, so
will I treat.'
"On the third was written: 'I am God, Lord of Bakka. I created goodness and
evil and I predetermine. Joy shall be for those who bring good, and woe upon
those who bring evil! "'
Ibn Ishaq continued, "Then the tribes of Quraysh gathered stones to rebuild it,
each one collecting them separately.
"They built it up until it reached the place for the (black) stone but then fell
into dispute about it. Each tribe wanted to raise it into its position, regardless of
the rest. Eventually they broke up, established alliances, and readied to do battle.
Banti 'Abd al-Dzr brought a bowl full of blood and they and Banti 'Adi b. Ka'b
b. Lu'ayy made a pact to fight to the death, placing their hands into that bowl of
blood. And so they were known as the 'blood-lickers'.
"Quraysh remained in this confrontation for four or five nights, then they met
together in the mosque, debated one another but divided into equal sides.
"Some scholars of the traditions claim that Abti Umayya b. al-Mughira b. 'Abd
A m b. 'Umar b. Makhzm, who was at that time the oldest man in all @raysh,
said, '0 Tribe of of Quraysh, resolve your dispute by agreeing that the first man
who enters by the door of this mosque will decide the issue.' They agreed.
"The first man to enter was the Messenger of God (SAAS) and when they
saw him they said, 'This is al-Amin, "the trustworthy"; we are satisfied. This is
Muhammad.' When he reached them and they told him of the problem, the
Messenger of God (SAAS) said: 'Bring me a robe.' One was brought to him and
he took the cornerpiece (the 'black stone') and placed it on the robe. Then he
said, 'Let each tribe grasp one side of the cloth. Then all raise it up.' This they
did until it was at the right spot, whereupon the Messenger of God (SAAS)
himself positioned it. Then they built above it."
Quraysh used to refer to the Messenger of God (SAAS) as "the trustworthy".
Inmn Alynad stated that (Ahd al-Samad related to hi, quoting Th%bit -
meaning Aha Yazid - quoting Hi21 - meaning Ibn HabbZn - from Mujshid