So he left, and did not return until the following year. I asked him, “What have you accomplished?”
He said, “You are still here?”
I replied, “Yes.”
He said, “I do not know anyone on earth (1) more knowledgeable than a man who will emerge in the land of Taymāʾ. He is a prophet, and the time for his appearance is now. If you set out at once you will reach him. He can be recognised by three signs: the seal of prophethood; he does not eat from charity; and he accepts gifts. The seal of prophethood lies on the cartilage of his shoulder, looking like a dove’s egg, the colour of his own skin.”

I set out, but a group of Bedouins captured me, enslaved me, and sold me until I was brought to Madinah. There I heard the people mentioning the Prophet ﷺ, so I asked my masters to grant me a day’s leave, and they agreed.

I went out, gathered firewood, sold it for a small sum, bought some food with the proceeds, and placed it before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He asked, “What is this?”
I said, “Charity.”
He refused to eat from it and told his Companions to eat, for provisions were scarce in those days.
I said to myself, “This is the first sign.”

After the interval Allah willed, I again asked my masters for a day’s leave, and they granted it. I gathered firewood, sold it for more than I had the first time, bought food, and placed it before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He asked, “What is this?”
I said, “A gift.”
He said, “Eat,” and he ate.
I said, “This is the second sign.”

Then I stood behind him; he cast off his cloak, and I saw on the cartilage of his shoulder the seal of prophethood.
I declared, “I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.”
He asked, “What is this?”
I told him my story and said, “O Messenger of Allah, that monk—will he be in Paradise, for he claimed that you are Allah’s Prophet?”
He answered, “No soul will enter Paradise except one that has submitted to Allah.”
I said, “But he informed me that you are a prophet.”
He repeated, “No soul will enter Paradise except one that has submitted to Allah.” (2)