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

370 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Ihn Ishaq recounted that he presented four girls to the Messenger of God
(SAAS), one of whom was Mariya, Ihmhim's mother. Another was Sirin, whom
he gave to Hassan h. Thahit; to him she bore 'Ahd d-Rahmm h. Hassw.
I note that among these presents was a hlack eunuch named Malhnr, a pair of
plain hlack slippers, and a white female mule named al-Daldal.
This Malhnr was a eunuch. At first no one knew this, so when he began going
in to Mariya, as had been his habit in Egypt, people gossiped. They did not know
the truth of the matter, that he was a eunuch. Eventually someone noted that
he was the one the Messenger of God (SAAS) ordered 'Ali h. Ahn Talib to kill,
hut he let him go when he found hi to he a eunuch. The hadith relating this
is contained in the ~ahih collection of Muslim, with a line of transmission
through Hammzd h. Salama.
Muhammad b. Ishaq stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) sent Salit b.
'Amr h. 'Abd Wudd, brother of Bann 'Amir h. Lulayy, to Nawdha h. 'Ali, leader
of al-Yamiima. He sent d-'Ala] b. d-Hadrami to Jayfar h. d-Jalandi and 'Amma
b. d-Jalandi, both of Azd, rulers of 'Urn-."
THE EXPEDITION TO DHD AL-SALJSIL
The hd& al-Bayhaqi related it here, before the account of the conquest (of
Mecca). His line of transmission leads through Masa b. Wqha and Wrwa h.
d-Zuhayr, both of whom said, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) sent 'Am h.
al-'A$ to Dha d-Sdasil in the Syrian uplands, in territory of Bali and 'Ahd All&
and those of Quda'a allied to them."
Wrwa b. al-Zubayr stated, "Bann Bali were uncles of alLCAs h. Walil. When
he travelled there, he was afraid at the large numbers of the enemy. So he
sent word to the Messenger of God (SAAS) asking for reinforcements. The
Messenger of God (SAAS) assigned the first muhdjirin; Ahn Bakr and Wmar
volunteered, along with a group of muhdjrin leaders, may God he pleased with
them all. The Messenger of God (SAAS) appointed Ahti 'Ubayda b. d-Jarrah as
their leader."
Mnsa h. Wqha stated, "When they reached 'Amr, he told them, 'I am your
leader; it was I who sent to the Messenger of God (SAAS) to seek reinforcements.'
The muhdjirin replied, 'No; you are leader of your men, while Aha Wbayda is
in command of the muhdjirin.' 'Amr insisted, 'No; you're just reinforcements
provided to me.'
"When Abii Wbayda, who was a man of fine disposition and easy-going
nature, said, 'You know, 'Amr, that the last instruction he gave me was to say,
'When you reach your comrade, obey hi.' If you disobey me, then I will obey
you.' Ahfi Wbayda gave the leadership over to 'Am h. alLCAs."
Muhammad h. Ishaq stated, "Muhammad h. 'Abd al-Rahman h. 'Abd All&
b. al-Husayn al-Tamimi related to me, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS) sent