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

272 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
"I therefore said, 'I bear witness that there is no God but God and that you
are the Messenger of God. I believe in all you have brought us regarding what is
lawful and what is disallowed, even though that will give offence to many people.'
I the11 recited lo him some verses I had composed when I had heard of him. We
used to have an idol, and my father was its guardian. I went to it and demolished
it and then joined up with the Prophet (SAAS). I recited,
'I bore wimess that God is truth and that I will be the first to abandon the stone
idols;
I then humed to depart to you, travelling over ravines and flat lands towards you.
To attend the very best of men in spirit and in ancestry, the messenger of man's
sovereign above the stars.'
"The Prophet (SAAS) responded, 'Welcome indeed, 0 'Amr b. Murra.' I
replied, '0 Messenger, may my father and mother be sacrifice for you! Send me
back to my own people, so that God may give me to benefit them as he has given
you to me.'
"So he did send me to them, saying, 'Speak only what is right; do not be
harsh, nor arrogant, nor envious.'
"When I went to my people, I told them, '0 you, Banii Rifs'a, and you too,
Bana Juhayna, I am a messenger to you from the Messenger of God. I invite you
to ~aradise and warn you of the he. I command you not to shed blood, to
enourage reconciliation, to worship God, to reject the idols, to make pilgrimage
to the kacba, to fast during Ramadm, one month in twelve. Those who respond
will go to paradise. Those who disobey will go to the fires. 0 people of Juhayna,
God, all praise be to Him, has made you better than your forebears. He made
you hate, in your state of ignorance, the obscene practices which others have
found acceptable. They used to unite two sisters, men would marry their
fathers' wives, and they would allow warfare during the sacred month. So
respond to this Prophet (SAAS) sent to you from Banii Lu'ayy b. Ghdib, and
you will attain respect on earth and honour in the hereafter. Hurry! Hurry to do
this, so that you will find favour with God.'
"They did all respond, except for one man. He arose and said, '0 'Amr b.
Murra, may God embitter your life for you! Do you order us to reject our gods
and break apart our community by abandoning the religion of our forefathers in
favour of what this Quraysbite from Tihwa advocates? No; and you are neither
welcome nor honoured here! ' He then spoke the verses,
'Ibn Mum has come here and made a speech, but it's not a speech of someone
wanting goodness.
I consider his words and deeds will be one day, however long the wait, mere winds.
Are we to deprecate our elders now gone? Whoever seeks for that will never achieve
success.'