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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHiR 327
He went on, "Anis commented, 'I've heard soothsayers and he does not speak
like them. And I've checked his utterances against the measures of poetry and,
by God, it doesn't fit anyone's tongue as poetry. And, I swear, he is truthful,
whereas the rest are liars.'
"I asked him, 'Could you stand in for me while I leave?' 'Yes,' he replied, 'but
watch out for the Meccans. They have pilloried and berated hi.'
"So I left and went to Mecca, where I asked a weak-looking man, 'Where is
the one people refer to as the heretic?' But he pointed at me and the people of
that valley pelted me with clods of earth and bones until I was injured with
wounds and fainted. When I got up later, I was like a red pole. I made my way to
zamzam, drank its water and washed the blood off myself. I then positioned
myself between the kacba and its hangings. And there I stayed, 0 nephew, for
30 days and nights without sustenance except for water from zamzam. But I
gained weight and developed folds of fat on my belly, finding no evidence on my
body of the emaciation of starvation.
"One night when the moon was very bright and the Meccans were fast asleep,
there were only two women circumambulating the kacba. As they came past me
they were saying prayers to the gods Issand Nz'ila. I commented, 'Make one of
them have intercourse with the other!' This did not deter them, so I then said,
'They're just like bits of wood, but I'd not lean on them!'
"At this they scurried away, wailing, 'If only one of our menfolk were here!'
"'The Messenger of God (SAAS) and Aba Bakr, on their way down from the
mountain, met these women and asked them what was the matter. 'It's that
heretic between the kacba and its hangings.' They asked them what I had said,
and the women replied, 'He said a real mouthful to us!'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) and his Companion then came along, kissed
the stone, circumambulated the ka'ba, then prayed. I went over to him and was
the first person to address him with the greeting of the community of Islam. He
replied, 'Peace be upon you, and God's mercy. Who are you?' I told him I was
from the Ghifa mbe. He brought his hand to his forehead in a gesture of surprise
and I told myself, 'He dislikes my being from Ghifa!'
"I made as if to take him by the hand, but his Companion pushed me away,
knowing him better then I did.
"The Prophet (SAAS) then asked, 'How long have you been here?' 'I've been
here for 30 days and nights,' I answered.
'"And who has been feeding you?' he asked.
"'There's been nothing except zamzam water, but I've gained so much weight
that I developed folds of fat on my belly. And I feel no emaciation from hunger.'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) then said, 'It's blessed! Wonder food!'
"Abii Bakr then asked, 'Please, 0 Messenger of God, permit me to give him
some food tonight.' And he agreed.