He said: “In the Days of Ignorance I thought that people were in error, that they possessed nothing of the truth, for they worshipped idols. I heard of a man in Mecca who was relating remarkable news, so I mounted my riding-beast and travelled to him. I found the Messenger of Allah ﷺ keeping himself hidden, his people hostile to him. I approached quietly until I entered upon him in Mecca and asked, ‘What are you?’ He replied, ‘I am a prophet.’ I said, ‘What is a prophet?’ He answered, ‘Allah has sent me.’ I asked, ‘With what has He sent you?’ He said, ‘He has sent me to uphold family ties, to break the idols, and that Allah be declared One with no partner.’
I asked, ‘Who is with you in this?’ He said, ‘A freeman and a slave.’ At that time Abu Bakr and Bilal—may Allah be pleased with them both—were with him. I said, ‘I will follow you.’ He replied, ‘You will not be able to do that today. Do you not see my condition and that of the people? Rather, return to your family; and when you hear that I have prevailed, then come to me.’
“So I went back to my people. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached Medina I was still among my family, constantly seeking news and asking people about him until some members of my clan returned from Medina. I asked, ‘What has that man who went to Medina done?’ They said, ‘People are flocking to him; his own tribe wanted to kill him but could not.’ I set out for Medina, entered upon him and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, do you recognise me?’ He said, ‘Yes—you are the one who met me in Mecca.’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me what Allah has taught you, of which I am ignorant. Tell me about the prayer.’ He said:
‘Pray the dawn prayer, then refrain (1) from prayer until the sun rises the height of a spear (2), for it rises then between the horns of Satan, and at that moment the unbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, for prayer is witnessed and attended (3) until the shadow stands directly beneath the spear (4). Thereafter refrain from prayer, for at that hour Hell is stoked (5). When the shadow lengthens, pray, for prayer is witnessed and attended until you perform the afternoon prayer. Then refrain from prayer until the sun sets, for it…’