the rabbis declared, “Abraham was nothing but a Jew,” while the Christians retorted, “He was nothing but a Christian.” Then Allah revealed: “People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were only sent down after him?” [Q 3:65].
Abū Rāfiʿ al-Qurazī thereupon said, “Muhammad, do you want us to worship you just as the Christians worship Jesus son of Mary?” A man from Najrān called al-Rubays added, “Is that what you seek, Muhammad— is that what you are inviting us to?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “Allah forbid that I should command worship of anyone besides Allah.” So the verse was revealed: “It is not for any human being to whom Allah has given the Scripture and judgement…” [Q 3:79] up to His words, “…among the witnesses” [Q 3:81].
Israel and others related from Abū Isḥāq, from Ṣilah, from Ibn Masʿūd—and Shuʿbah and Sufyān also transmitted it from Abū Isḥāq but named Hudhayfah instead of Ibn Masʿūd—that al-Sayyid and al-ʿĀqib came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he intended to invoke mutual imprecation against them. One of the two said to the other, “Do not engage in imprecation with him. By Allah, if he is truly a prophet and we do so, neither we nor our descendants will ever prosper.” They then said to the Prophet, “Grant us what you have asked for, but send with us a trustworthy man—only someone truly trustworthy.” He answered, “I will certainly send with you a trustworthy man, a man who is indeed trustworthy.” All of the Companions hoped to be chosen. He then said, “Stand up, Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ.” When he rose, the Prophet added, “This is the trustworthy man of this community.” Al-Bukhārī recorded this on the authority of Hudhayfah.
Idrīs al-Awdi related from Simāk ibn Ḥarb, from ʿAlqamah ibn Wāʾil, from al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Najrān. Among the things they said was, “You recite: ‘O sister of Aaron’ [Q 19:28], yet you know how many years lie between Jesus and Moses.” I returned to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him, whereupon he said, “Have they not …”