The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

80 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Al-Bayhaqi stated, "Abii 'Abd Allsh the ha& informed us, quoting Abii
al-'Abbis, quoting al-'Ahbas b. Mubammad al-Diiri, that Sacid h. Sulaymzn
related to us, that Hushaym related from Mughira, from Abii al-Duha, from
Masriiq, from 'Abd Allah, who said, 'The moon split asunder in Mecca, into
two parts.'
"And the unbelievers of Quraysh told the people of Mecca, 'This is magic.
The son of Abn Kabsha has tricked you by it. Look to travellers arriving. If they
saw what you say, then he is correct, hut if they did not see what you did, then
it is magic he has tricked you with.'
"He went on, 'So travellers were questioned, and,' he said, 'they came from
all directions. And they reported, "We did see it.""'
Aba Nu'aym reported this the same way from a hadith of Jabir, from
al-A'mash, from Aha al-Duha, from Masriiq, from 'Abd All&.
Imam Ahmad stated, "Mu'ammil related to us, that 1sra)il related, from
Simak, from Ibrahim, from al-Aswad, from 'Ahd All&, he being Ibn Masciid,
who said, 'The moon split in the time of the Messenger of God (SAAS); I could
see the mountain between the two splits in the moon.'"
Ibn Jarir related it thus from a hadith of Asbat from Simak.
The h~fi? Abii Nu'aym stated, "Abii Bakr al-Talhi related to us, quoting Abii
Husayn Muhammad b. al-Husayn al-W%diCi, as did Y&ya al-Himmzni, as did
Yazid, from 'A@), from Sim&, from Ibrahim, from 'Alqama, from 'Abd Allah,
who said, 'We were with the Prophet (SAAS), at Mina, when the moon split
until it was in two parts, one of which was behind the mountain. The Prophet
(SAAS) then said, "Bear testimony! Bear testimony!"'"
Abii Nu'aym stated, "Sulayman b. Ahmad related to us, quoting Ja'far b.
Muhammad al-Qalmisi, as did Adam b. Aha Iyas, as did al-Layth h. Sag, as did
Hisham b. Sa'd, from Wtba, from 'Abd Allah b. Wtba, from Ibn Mascad, who
said, 'The moon split while we were in Mecca. I saw one of its two pieces over
the mountain at Mina while we were at Mecca.'
'"Abad b. Ishaq related to us, as did Abii Bakr b. Aba 'Asim, Muhammad
b. Hatim, and Mu'awiya b. 'Amr, from ZPida, from 'Asim, from Zirr, from 'Abd
Allah, who said, 'The moon split at Mecca and I saw it in two parts."'
He then related from a hadith of 'Ali b. Sa'id b. Masriiq, Mesa b. Wmayr
related to us, from Mansiir b. al-Muctamir, from Zayd b. Wahb, from 'Ahd Ail&
b. Mas'iid, who said, "I saw the moon, I swear by God, split in two parts, with
Mt. Hira) between them both."
Aba Nu'aym related, through al-Suddi al-Saghir, from al-Kalbi, from Abii
Sxlih, from Ihn (Abbas, who said, "The moon split into two halves, one of which
left while the other remained."
Ibn Masriid stated, "I saw Mt. Hira' between the two halves of the moon. One
half left and the people of Mecca were amazed at this, and said, 'This is just some
faked-up trick; it will pass.'"