So Muṣʿab moved on to Saʿd ibn Muʿādh, preaching there without fear, and Allah guided people through him. ʿAmr ibn al-Jamūḥ embraced Islam, their idols were shattered, and the Muslims became the most respected community in Medina. Muṣʿab was also the first to assemble the Friday congregation in the city, after which he returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Such is the report of Ibn Shihāb: that Muṣʿab was the first to hold the Friday gathering in Medina.
Al-Bakkāʾī relates—on the authority of Ibn Isḥāq—that ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mughīrah ibn Muʿayqīb and ʿAbdullāh ibn Abī Bakr ibn Ḥazm told him: Asʿad ibn Zurārah went out with Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr intending to take him to the quarters of Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal and Banū Ẓafar. Saʿd ibn Muʿādh was Asʿad’s maternal cousin. They entered an orchard belonging to Banū Ẓafar and sat beside the well of Marq, where a number of people gathered around them. Saʿd and Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr were the two chieftains of Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal. When they heard of this, Saʿd said to Usayd, “Go to those two men, rebuke them, and forbid them from coming to our dwellings. Were it not for Asʿad ibn Zurārah being my cousin, I would have spared you the trouble myself.”
Usayd took up his spear and headed toward them. When Asʿad saw him he said, “Here comes the chief of his people; be true to Allah concerning him.” Muṣʿab replied, “If he sits down, I will speak to him.” Usayd halted before them and said, “What has brought the two of you here, misleading our weak ones? Keep away from us if you value your safety.” Muṣʿab answered, “Why not sit down and listen? If you are pleased with what you hear, accept it; and if you dislike it, we will desist from whatever you dislike.” He replied, “That is fair.”
Planting his spear in the ground, he sat with them. Muṣʿab spoke to him about Islam and recited the Quran. The narrators say: “By Allah, before he even spoke we could see Islam in his face, brightening and softening it.” He then said, “How excellent and beautiful this is! What must a person do to enter this religion?” They said, “You wash, purify yourself, cleanse your garments, then testify to the truth, and finally perform the prayer.” So he rose, bathed, embraced Islam, and prayed two rakʿahs. He then said to them, “There is a man behind me; if he follows you, no one of