The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 237
"When he went to him, he began talkimg to the Prophet (SAAS), who said
to him approximately what he had told Budayl. Wrwa at that point said, 'Hey
now, Muhammad, haven't you considered that you are ruining your people?
Have you ever heard of any Arab who ruined his people before yourself? And
if that doesn't happen, I swear I don't see faces here; I just see a hodge-podge
of people who are quite capable of fleeing and abandoning you.'
"Abn Bakr said to hi, 'Go suck al-Lat's tits! Would we flee and abandon
him!'
"Wrwa asked, 'Who is that?' 'Abn Bakr,' people told him. Wrwa commented,
'Well, by Him who has my soul in His hand, if I weren't obligated to you, I'd
give you a reply all right!'
"He then went on speaking to the Prophet (SAAS) and while doing so would
take hold of the latter's beard. Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba, who was standing at the
head of the Messenger of God (SAAS), wearing a sword and a helmet, would
tap his hand with the hilt of his sword each time Wrwa stretched it out to touch
the beard of the Messenger of God (SAAS) saying, 'Keep your hands off the
beard of the Messenger of God!' Wrwa raised his head and asked, 'And who
is that?' 'That is al-Mughira h. Shu'ba,' they replied. Wrwa then said, 'You
wretch! I couldn't match your treachery!'
"Before Islam, al-Mughira b. Shu'ba had stayed with a family and had
murdered them and taken their property. Thereafter, he came and accepted
Islam, whereupon the Messenger of God (SAAS) told him, 'As for Islam, do
accept it. As for money, I've nothing to do with that.'
"Then Wrwa began watching closely the Companions of the Messenger of
God (SAAS). He said (later), 'I swear that if the Messenger of God (SAAS)
spat, the phlegm would fall into the hand of one of them and that person would
rub it on to his face or skin. If he gave them a command, they would carry it out
immediately. If he performed the ablutions, they would almost kill one another
trying to get to the water he had used. Ifhe spoke, they lowered their voices. And
they never looked directly at hi, out of their reverence for him.'
"Wrwa returned to his companions and told them, 'Well, I've gone in to
kings, had audiences with Caesar, Chosroe and the Negus and I swear by God
I've never seen the subjects of any king venerate him the way Muhammad's
people venerate him! I swear, if he spits, the phlegm always falls into the palm
of one of them and he will then rub it on to his face or skin. If he gives them a
command, they hurry to carry it out. If he performs the ablutions, they almost
kill one another for the water he used. If he speaks, they lower their voices in his
presence. And they never look directly at hi, out of their veneration for him.
He has made you an appropriate offer; accept it."'
"A man of Bana Kinma then asked to be allowed to go to see him and Quraysh
agreed. As he was approaching, the Mcsse~iger of God (SAAS) commented,