977 — Al-Firyābī also narrated to us, saying: Ibrāhīm ibn al-Alā al-Zubaydī al-Himsī narrated to us, saying: Ismāīl ibn Ayyāsh narrated to us, from Yahyā ibn Abī Amr al-Saybānī, from Abū Sallām al-Dimashqī and Amr ibn Abd Allah al-Saybānī, that they both heard Abū Umāma al-Bāhilī relate the account of Amr ibn Abasa al-Sulamī, who said:

During the Jāhiliyya, I turned away from the gods of my people, for I saw that they were false gods. They worshipped stones, and I saw that stones could neither harm nor benefit. I then met a man from the People of the Scripture and asked him about the best religion. He replied, “A man from Mecca will arise who will turn away from the gods of his people and call people to something other than their worship. He will bring the best religion. When you hear of him, follow him.”

Thereafter, my sole concern was Mecca. I would go there and ask, “Has anything happened here?” They would reply, “No.” I would then return to my family, who lived not very far from the road, and I would stop riders coming out of Mecca and ask them, “Has there been any news or event there?” They would reply, “No.”

While I was sitting by the road, a rider passed me. I asked, “Where have you come from?” He replied, “From Mecca.” I asked, “Has there been any news there?” He replied, “Yes. A man has turned away from the gods of his people and is calling people to something other than their worship.” I said, “That is the man I have been seeking!”

I prepared my mount and went to the lodging where I used to stay. I asked about him and found that he was keeping his mission secret, while Quraysh were acting boldly and overbearingly toward him. I proceeded discreetly until I gained access to him. I greeted him and then asked, “What are you?”

He replied, “A prophet.”

I asked, “What is a prophet?”

He replied, “A Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”

I asked, “Who sent you?”

He replied, “Allah.”

I asked, “With what has He sent you?”

He replied, “That ties of kinship be maintained, blood be spared, the roads be made safe, idols be shattered, and Allah alone be worshipped without anything being associated with Him.”

I said, “How excellent is that with which He has sent you! I call you to witness that I believe in you and affirm your truthfulness. Should I remain with you, or what do you advise?”

He replied, “You can see how people hate what I have brought. ⦗1449⦘ Remain with your family, and when you hear that I have departed, follow me.”

When he departed for Medina, I journeyed until I reached him. I then asked, “O Prophet of Allah, do you recognize me?”

He replied, “Yes. You are the Sulamī who came to me in Mecca. I said such and such to you, and you said such and such to me.” He then related the hadith. ⦗1450⦘