him—said, “O Messenger of Allah, let me strike off his head.” The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—replied, “If he is indeed the one, you will never be given power over him; and if he is not, there is no good for you in killing him.” (1)
According to another narration, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—asked him, “What do you see?” He replied, “I see a throne upon the water.” The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “You see the throne of Iblīs upon the sea. What else do you see?” He replied, “I see two truthful ones and a liar—or two liars and a truthful one.” The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “He has become confused; leave him alone.” (2)
Ibn ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with them both—said: After that, the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and Ubayy ibn Kaʿb went to the palm grove where Ibn Sayyād was. The Prophet was stealthily trying to hear something from Ibn Sayyād before Ibn Sayyād saw him. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—saw him reclining, wrapped in a velvet cloak and making a gesture—or a murmuring sound (3). Ibn Sayyād’s mother then saw the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—concealing himself behind the date-palm trunks, so she said to Ibn Sayyād, “O Sāf”—which was Ibn Sayyād’s name—“Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—is here!” Ibn Sayyād sprang up, whereupon the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “Had she left him alone, he would have made the matter clear.” (4)
Abu Dharr—may Allah be pleased with him—said: The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—sent me to his mother. He said: