When morning came, my husband said to me, “Do you realize, Halimah, that you have been blessed with an extraordinary child?”

I replied, “Indeed, and I hope abundant good will come through him.”

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We then left Mecca. I mounted our elderly she-donkey, carrying him with me, and she set out at a lively pace, overtaking every mount in the caravan so that none of their animals could keep up with her.

My fellow wet-nurses began calling out, “Easy, daughter of Abu Dhu’ayb—slow down for us! Is this not the same old donkey you came on?”

I would answer, “Yes, by Allah, she is the very one.”

They exclaimed, “By Allah, something remarkable has happened to her!”

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