The earth adorned itself for a newborn whose radiance
Lit every path, east and west alike.
All idols everywhere fell prostrate before him,
And the hearts of every king on earth quaked with fear.
The Persians’ sacred fire sputtered and went dark,
While the Shah of Persia spent the night in dire distress.
The jinn were barred from bringing news of the unseen to soothsayers—
No informant remained, whether truthful or false.
So, O descendants of Quṣayy, abandon your error
And hasten to Islam, the wide and welcoming abode.
He said: When they heard these words, they withdrew to speak in secret. One said to the others, “Let us be frank with one another, and let each keep the matter hidden.” They answered, “Agreed.”
Waraqah ibn Nawfal then said to them, “By Allah, you know our people have no true religion. They have strayed from the clear path and abandoned the faith of Abraham. Is a lifeless stone you circumambulate—one that neither hears nor sees, that can neither benefit nor harm—worthy of worship? My people, seek a religion for yourselves.”
Thereupon they scattered through the lands, inquiring after al-Ḥanīfiyyah, the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him.
Waraqah ibn Nawfal accepted Christianity and studied the scriptures until he gained deep knowledge. ʿUthmān ibn al-Ḥuwayrith went to Caesar, became a Christian, and enjoyed high standing with him. Zayd ibn ʿAmr ibn Nufayl tried to leave but was detained; later he set out again, traveled far, and reached al-Raqqah in Upper Mesopotamia, where he met a learned monk and told him what he was seeking.
The monk said, “You are looking for a religion that no one can now impart to you, but the time is near when a Prophet will arise from your homeland, sent with the religion of al-Ḥanīfiyyah.” Hearing this, Zayd turned back toward Mecca, but a band of Lakhm attacked and killed him on the way. ʿUbayd Allah ibn Jahsh remained in Mecca until the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent; he then migrated with others to Abyssinia, where he adopted Christianity and left Islam, remaining there until he died as a Christian.
A corroborating report has already been cited in the biography of Yazīd ibn ʿAmr ibn Nufayl.
Al-Kharāʾiṭī also relates: “Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq ibn Ṣāliḥ Abū Bakr al-Wazzān narrated to us; ʿAmr ibn ʿUthmān narrated to us …”