before that; they had only compelled me.”

He answered, “Allah knows best about your affair. If what you claim is true, Allah will reward you for it. Yet, outwardly, you were fighting against us, so ransom yourself.” (The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had already taken twenty ounces of gold from him.)

Al-‘Abbas said, “Messenger of Allah, count that toward my ransom.”

He replied, “No. That is something Allah has granted us from you.”

Al-‘Abbas said, “But I have no other wealth.”

The Prophet said, “Then where is the money you left in Mecca when you departed—the sum you entrusted to Umm al-Fadl, while no one but the two of you was present? You said, ‘If I am killed on this journey, then al-Fadl is to receive such-and-such, Qutham such-and-such, and ‘Abd Allah such-and-such.’”

Al-‘Abbas exclaimed, “By the One who sent you with the truth, no one on earth knew of this except me and her. I now know for certain that you are the Messenger of Allah.”