Bukayr, who received it from Ibn Ishaq, from al-Zuhri—who had heard it firsthand—from al-Miswar ibn Makhramah and Marwan ibn al-Hakam.

Ibn Ishaq went on: Budayl ibn Waraqa then arrived with a number of men from Khuza‘ah and informed the Prophet ﷺ of what had happened. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I can almost see Abu Sufyan coming to you now to reaffirm the pact and ask for an extension of its term.”

Budayl and his companions set off and encountered Abu Sufyan ibn Harb at ‘Usfan; he too had come to shore up the treaty and prolong the truce, alarmed by what his people had done. When he met Budayl ibn Waraqa he asked, “From where have you come, Budayl?”—suspecting that he had visited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Budayl replied, “I travelled with Khuza‘ah along the coast.” “Did you not go to Muhammad?” Abu Sufyan pressed. “No,” he answered.

When Budayl later returned to Mecca, Abu Sufyan said, “If he went to Medina, his camel’s fodder-bag will show the date-stones.” He went to the place where the camel had knelt, scattered the dung, and found date-stones within it. “By Allah,” he swore, “he did go to Muhammad.”

Abu Sufyan then proceeded to Medina and entered the house of his daughter Umm Habibah, Mother of the Believers. As he moved to sit on the bedding of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, she folded it away. “My daughter,” he said, “did you think me unworthy of this couch, or the couch unworthy of me?” She replied, “It is the bedding of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and you are an idolatrous man—impure.” He retorted, “By Allah, my daughter, evil has come to you after I left.”

He went out and came before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but the Prophet gave him no reply. He then approached Abu Bakr, asking him to intercede with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but Abu Bakr said, “I will not.” Next he went to ‘Umar with the same request. ‘Umar exclaimed, “Shall I plead for you with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? By Allah, if I had nothing but ants to fight you with, I would do so!”

Abu Sufyan left and went to ‘Ali—may Allah honor his face—who was sitting with Fatimah while their young son al-Hasan toddled nearby. “O ‘Ali,” he said, “of all the people you are the closest to me by blood. I have come with a need, so do not let me return disappointed; intercede for me with the Messenger of Allah.” ‘Ali replied, “Woe to you, Abu Sufyan! The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has already resolved