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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA> ISMA'IL IBN KATHZR 363
certainly question all of them concerning what they have been doing" (sarat
al-Hvr, XV, v.92-3).
And I comment that God Almighty also stated, indicating their ignorance and
lack of wisdom, "And they even said, 'A jumble of dreams! He just made it up!
He's a poet! So let him bring us a sign, like those that former (prophets) were
dispatched with"' (sayat al-Anbiyz', XXI, v.5). And so they were at a loss what
to say of him; everything they did say was false. For he who deviates from the
truth is mistaken in all he says. God Almighty stated, "See how they made
comparisons to you! They have gone astray, and they will find no path" (+at
al-lsrz", XVII, v.48).
Iman 'Abd b. Humayd stated in his musnad collection of Eadith that Abn Bakr
b. Aho Shayha related to him, quoting 'Ali b. Mishar, from al-Ajlah, the son of
'Abd All& al-Kindi, from alDhayyzl b. Harmala al-Asadi, from Jab'u b. 'Ahd
Allah, who said, "Quraysh met one day and agreed to determine who among
them was the most knowledgeable in magic, sorcery, and poetry. That person
would then approach the man who had caused dissension and division amongst
them and had found fault with their religion, talk to him and decide how to
respond to him. They agreed that Wtba b. Rabi'a was the obvious choice, and
they approached him and told him, 'It is to be you, 0 Ahn al-Walid.'
" Wtba then went to the Messenger of God (SAAS) and said, '0 M&ammad,
who is better, you or 'Abd All&?' The Messenger of God (SAAS), remained silent.
"Then he said, 'Who is better, you or 'Abd al-Munalib?' The Messenger of
God (SAAS) remained silent.
"Wtba then said, 'If you claim those men to be better than you, the fact is
they worshipped the gods you have criticized. If you claim to be better than
them, then speak so we can hear what you say. By God, we've never seen any
fool more harmful to his people than you; you have caused division and dissension
among us, criticized our religion and so disgraced us in the eyes of the Arabs
that the rumour is current among them that there is a magician or a sorcerer
amidst Quraysh. By God, fellow, it seems all we have to await is the cry of a
pregnant woman for us all to be at one another with swords till we wipe ourselves
out! If it is need that is your problem, we'll make a collection for you till
you're the wealthiest man in Quraysh; if it is status you want, choose any women
of Quraysh you like and we'll marry you to ten of them.'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) responded, 'Are you done?' 'Yes,' replied
Wtha. The Messenger of God (SAAS) then spoke: 'In the name of God, the
Most Merciful and Beneficent. Hz Mim. A revelation from the Most Merciful
and Beneficent. A book whose verses have been detailed in an Arabic Qur'm for
a people who are aware . . .' and so on until he reached the verse, 'But if they
turn aside, say: "I warn you of a terrible punishment like that which destroyed
'Ad and Thamod"' (sarat Mim, also called scml a(-Fugilat, XLI, v. 1-13).