are the exalted gharānīq (lofty cranes), whose intercession is indeed to be hoped for.”

The phrase settled in the heart of every idolater in Mecca; their tongues yielded to it and they rejoiced, saying, “Muḥammad has returned to our religion.” When he reached the close of Sūrah al-Najm, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrated, and everyone present—Muslim and idolater alike—prostrated with him. Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, however, was an aged man; he filled his two hands with dust and bent to prostrate upon it. Each of the two groups marvelled at the sight of all of them bowing together with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: the Muslims were astonished that the idolaters had prostrated with them, for they had not heard what Satan had insinuated; the idolaters, on the other hand, felt reassured toward the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions because of what had been slipped into his recitation. Satan had whispered to them that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had uttered those words in the verse of prostration, so they prostrated in veneration of their gods.

News of that statement spread among the people, magnified by Satan, until it reached Abyssinia and the Muslims residing there—ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn and his companions. They were informed that all the people of Mecca had embraced Islam and performed the prayer, and that the Muslims now lived in safety in Mecca; so they hastened home. Yet Allah nullified what Satan had cast and revealed: “We never sent a messenger or a prophet before you but that, when he recited, Satan cast something into his recitation; nevertheless, Allah abolishes what Satan casts, then Allah establishes His revelations. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (al-Ḥajj 52) and the verses that follow. Once Allah clarified His decree and vindicated His Prophet from Satan’s rhymed insinuation, the idolaters turned back