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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 9
I have given a lengthy account of CAmr's story, from 'Ikrima, as related by Ibn
Abi Hatim, in my Tafsir (Exegesis).
Not all of Saba' left Yemen when they were aftlicted with the torrent of al-'Arm;
the majority of them remained. The people of Ma'rib, who had the dam, moved
into different parts of the country. That is the gist of the previously mentioned
hadith coming down from Ibn 'Abbas to the effect that all the mbes of Saba' did
not leave Yemen, but four went to Syria while six remained. These were
Madhhij, Kinda, Anmar, and the Ash'aris. Anmzr was the father of Khath'am,
Bajila, and Himyar; so these were the six tribes from Saba' who remained in
Yemen. They continued retaining the rights of power and the tababzca kingship
until the king of Abyssinia took that position from them through the army he sent
under his two generals Abraha and AryXt. The Abyssinian rule lasted some 70
years until Sayf b. Dhn Yazan the Himyarite regained control, and that was a
short time before the birth of the Messenger of God (SAAS). This we will
recount in detail shortly, God willing, and upon Him is dl trust and dependence.
Later the Messenger of God (SAAS) sent 'Ali and KhSlid b. al-Walid to the
people of Yemen, then he sent Abii Miisa al-Ash% and Mu%dh b. Jabal. They
were calling people to worship God and making clear to them matters of
doctrine. After that al-Aswad alLcAnsi gained control over Yemen and he
expelled the deputies of the Messenger of God (SAAS). When al-Aswad was
killed, the power of Islam became firmly established over Yemen, during the
rule of Abii Bakr "the trusting", God be pleased with him.
The Story of Rabica b. Nasr b. Aba USritha b. 'Amr b. 'ilmir.
The man referred to in the above heading was of the Lakhm tribe; this is what
Ibn Ishaq related. Al-Suhayli stated that the genealogists of Yemen give his
name as Nasr b. Rabi'a; but he was really Rabi'a b. Nasr b. al-H*th b. Namara
b. Lakhm. Al-Zubayr b. Bakkitr gave his genealogy as Rabi'a b. Nasr b. Malik b.
Sha'wadh b. Malik b. [Ajam b. 'Amr b. Namzra b. Lakhm. Lakhm was the
brother of Judhitm; he was named Lakhm because he had lakhrned his brother
on the cheek, i.e. he had struck him there. The brother bit his hand in return so
jadhaming it; hence he was called Judha.
Rabi'a was one of the tubbackings of Himyar, and about him is told the tale of
his contacts with the two soothsayers Shiqq and Saph, and how they warned
him of the coming of the Messenger of God (SAAS).
Saph was named Rabi' b. Rabib b. Masciid b. Mein b. Dhi'b b. 'Ad! b.
Mein Ghassa. Shiqq was the son of Sa0 b. Yashkur b. Ruhm b. Afrak b. Qays b.