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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L
IBN KATH~R
Mutpmmad is a prophet and a proof; so who can oppose him?
Take action, have your people leave him alone, for I
think that some day his qualities will he clear to us.
In a matter you would wish to win, for all the people,
altogether will make peace with him."
Al-Umawi gave this poetry in his work on the military campaigns with a chain
of authorities from Aha Ishsq. Abo Nn'aym related it with a chain through
Ziysd, from Ihn Ishsq. His account gives more poetry from Aha Jahl with verses
that include overt disbelief.
Al-Bukhiiri stated, with a chain of authorities hack to Ibn Shihiih, who is quoted
as saying, "Wrwa h. al-Zuhayr informed me that the Messenger of God (SAAS)
met al-Zuhayr in a caravan of Muslims who were merchants coming in from
Syria, and that al-Znhayr clothed the Messenger of God (SAAS) and Aha Bakr
in white garments.
"The Muslims in Medina heard of the departure of the Messenger of God
(SAAS) from Mecca and would go each morning out to the rocky lava plain to
wait for him, until the heat of noon would force them back.
"One day after they had returned to their homes, having waited a long time,
one of the Jews went up on top of one of their forts for some reason, and he saw
the Messenger of God (SAAS) and his Companions dressed in white emerging
through the haze. The Jew felt compelled to shout out, '0 Arabs, here's your
great man you've been awaiting!'
"The Muslims leapt for their weapons and met up with the Messenger of God
(SAAS) beside the rocky lava plain. He turned off, along with them, to the right
to where the Bana 'Amr b. 'Awf were; this was Monday in the month of Rahi'
al-Awwal.
"Aha Bakr stood up before the group, while the Messenger of God (SAAS)
sat silently. The an@r who had come and who had not before seen the Messenger
of God (SAAS) began greeting Ahii Bakr. But then the sun began striking the
Messenger of God (SAAS), and AbQ Bakr went over and shielded him from it
with his cloak. And so everyone then knew which one was the Messenger of God
(SAAS).
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) remained there with the Bana 'Amr b. 'Awf
for some ten nights and founded the mosque Lwhose foundations were based on
piety'35 and the Messenger of God (SAAS) prayed there.
"He then rode upon his camel, the people walking beside him, until it knelt
down at the mosque36 in Medina of the Messenger of God (SAAS) where that
35. A reference to the Qur'sn, Swat a/-Tamba, IX, v.108, where the piety of its founders is
mentioned.
36. A reference to the site of the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina which had not yet been
conshucted.