He continued:

“Rise, Sawad ibn Qarib, listen to my words and understand, if you have any understanding. A Messenger from the line of Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib has been sent; he calls people to Allah and to worshipping Him.”

Then he began to chant:

I marvel at the jinn and the tales they relate,
at how they tighten the girths on their pale-humped camels;
They plunge toward Mecca in search of guidance—
the believing jinn are nothing like their unbelievers.
So travel to the Chosen One of Hāshim,
amid its hills and stones.

I replied, “Let me sleep, for drowsiness has overtaken me.”

When the third night came he visited me again, struck me with his foot, and said, “Rise, Sawad ibn Qarib; listen to my words and understand, if you have any sense. A Messenger from Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib has been sent, summoning people to Allah and to worshipping Him.” Then he recited:

I marvel at the jinn and their stealthy whispers,
at how they strap their camels with saddle-pads;
They race toward Mecca in quest of guidance—
the best of the jinn are nothing like their filthy ones.
So make for Hashim’s Elect,
and lift your eyes to where he stands.

He added, “So I rose and said, ‘Allah has tested my heart.’ I saddled my camel and set out for the City—meaning Mecca—where I found the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his Companions gathered around him.

“I drew near and said, ‘Hear my words, O Messenger of Allah.’

“He replied, ‘Speak.’ So I began to recite:

My confidant came to me after the stillness of night and a brief slumber,
and never, in all I have tried of him, did I find him to be a liar.
For three nights he repeated, each night the same:
‘A Messenger has been sent from Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib.’
So I tucked up the hem of my garment,
and my lean, swift she-camel cut through the dust-laden wastes.
I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah,
and that you are entrusted with every unseen matter.
And that, O son of the noblest and purest, you are
the messenger closest in rank to Allah.
Command us with whatever reaches you, O best of those who walk the earth,
even if what you bring should whiten our forelocks.
And be my intercessor on the Day when no intercessor—
save you—will avail Sawad ibn Qarib.