until he sat with Safwan ibn Umayyah in the Hijr (the semi-circular enclosure of the Kaʿba).

Safwan exclaimed, “May Allah make life wretched after those who fell at Badr!”

ʿUmayr replied, “Indeed—by Allah, there is no good left in living after them. Were it not for a debt I cannot settle and dependants I would leave penniless, I would set out to Muhammad and kill him the moment my eyes fell upon him. I have a pretext: I can say that I have come on behalf of my son to ransom this prisoner.”

Safwan was overjoyed at his words and said, “I will take care of your debt, and your family will be treated like mine in terms of provision.” He outfitted him for the journey, ordered that ʿUmayr’s sword be polished and its blade poisoned, and sent him on his way.

ʿUmayr travelled on until he reached Medina. He stopped at the entrance of the Mosque, tethered his mount, took hold of his sword, and headed toward the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him. ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab noticed him while he was sitting with a group of the Ansar, and said, “Watch out! Here comes the dog—the enemy of Allah who incited hostility between us….”