Imam Ahmad (1) recorded it from Yaʿqūb, from his father, from Ibn Isḥāq (2); al-Bayhaqī (3) likewise cited it from al-Ḥākim, through his chain, by way of Yūnus ibn Bukayr.

Abū Nuʿaym, in Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah (4), transmitted—through ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUmar ibn Qatādah, from Maḥmūd ibn Labīd, from Salamah (5)—who said: “There was only one Jew among the clan of Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal, a man called Yūshaʿ. While I was still a boy clad only in a waist-wrapper, I heard him declare: ‘The appearance of a Prophet who will be sent from the direction of this House is at hand’—and he pointed toward the House of God. ‘Whoever lives to see him must believe in him.’ When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was indeed sent, we embraced Islam; yet, though Yūshaʿ was living among us, he refused to submit—out of envy and spite.

“We have already cited the report of Abū Saʿīd, from his father, regarding this same Yūshaʿ—his foretelling of the coming of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his description and identifying marks—as well as the account of al-Zubayr ibn Baṭā concerning the star that appeared at the Prophet’s birth (6).

Ibn Isḥāq (7) said: ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUmar ibn Qatādah related to me, from an elder of Banū Qurayẓah, who told me: ‘Do you know what led Thāʿlabah ibn Saʿyah, Usayd ibn Saʿyah, and Asad ibn ʿUbayd—men of Banū Hadl, kinsmen of Banū Qurayẓah, companions in the Age of Ignorance who later became their leaders in Islam—to embrace the faith?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said: ‘A Jewish man from the land of Syria, known as Ibn al-Hayyabān, came to us several years before Islam and settled among us. By Allah, we had never seen anyone perform the five daily prayers better than he did. He stayed with us, and whenever we were afflicted by drought we would say, “Come, Ibn al-Hayyabān, pray for rain on our behalf.” He would answer, “No, by Allah, not until you give charity before you go out.” We would ask, “How much?” and he would say, “A sâʿ of dates or two mudd of barley.” We would present it, and he would lead us to the outskirts of our farmland and supplicate for rain. By Allah, he would not leave his spot before the clouds gathered and we were drenched. He did this not once, not twice, but many times.’ He continued: