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

312 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
b. Ahti Iyas b. 'Afif, from his father, from his grandfather 'Afif, this 'Afif being
the brother of al-Ash'ath b. Qays on his mother's side, who said, "I was a
businessman and went to Mina during the pilgrimage season. Al-cAbhas b. 'Ahd
al-MuMib was also a merchant, and I went to him to buy and sell from him.
"While we were engaged in this, a man came out of a tent and hegan praying
towards the ka'ba. And then a woman came out and also hegan to pray, then a
boy emerged and prayed along with the man. I asked, '0 Ibn 'Abbas, what is this
religion? We don't know what religion this is.'
"He replied, 'This is Muhammad, son of 'Abd Allah. He claims that God has
sent him and that the treasures of Chosroe and Caesar will be opened up for
him. That is his wife, Khadija, daughter of Khuwaylid, and the boy is his
nephew 'Ali, son of Abti Tzlib, and he believes in him.'
"'Afif then commented, '0 bow I wish I had then believed in him; I would
then have been the second! "'
Ibrahim b. Sa'd gave a similar account, from Ihn Ishaq, which gives the
wording, "when a man came out of a tent near by. He looked up at the sky and
when he saw the sun declining to set, he began to pray." He then recounted bow
Khadija stood there behind him.
Ibn Ja.rir stated that M-ad b. 'Ubayd al-Mu@rihi related to him, quoting
Sa'id b. Khuthaym, from Asad b. 'Abda al-Bajali, from Y&y% h. 'Afif, who said,
"I went to Mecca before the coming of Islam and stayed with al-'Ahbzs b. 'Abd
al-Mugalib. When the sun rose and hung high in the sky as I was overlooking
the ka'ba, a young man approached. He looked up at the sky then went to the
ka'ba and stood there facing it. A boy soon arrived and stood there to his right,
and shortly thereafter a woman came and stood behind them. The man bowed
down and so did the boy and the woman. Then the man stood up straight and so
did the boy and the woman. Next the man made a prostration and they both did,
along with him.
"I said, '0 'Abbas, this is a strange business!'
"'It is,' he agreed. 'Do you know who that is?' 'No,' I replied. 'That is
Muhammad, son of 'Abd Allah, grandson of 'Ahd al-Mu~alih, my brother's
son. Do you know who the boy is?' 'No,' I answered. 'That is 'Ali son of Ahti
Talih, God he pleased with him. Do you know who the woman is standing
behind them?' 'No,' I replied. 'That is Khadija, daughter of Khuwaylid, my
nephew's wife.'
"This man told me that your Lord, the Lord of the heavens and the earth,
ordered hi to do what you see them performing. By God, I know of no other
on the face of the whole earth who engages in this religion except for these
three!"
Ibn Jarir stated that Ibn Humayd related to him, quoting 'is2 h. Sawada h.
Ahti al-Jn'd, quoting Muhammad b. al-Munkadar and Rabi'a b. Aha 'Abd