The Conversion of Ḍimād
Muslim and al-Bayhaqī relate(1)—through the chain of Dāwūd ibn Abī Hind, from ʿAmr ibn Saʿīd, from Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ʿAbbās—that he said:
Ḍimād, a man of Azd Shanūʾah who used to perform ruqyah for people afflicted by what were called “the winds,”(2) once came to Mecca. He overheard some of the city’s rabble saying, “Muhammad is mad.” He remarked, “Where is this man? Perhaps Allah will heal him through me.”
He met Muhammad and said, “I treat those afflicted by these winds, and Allah cures whom He wills through my hands. Come, let me treat you.” Muhammad replied:
“All praise is due to Allah; we praise Him and seek His help. Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whomever He allows to stray, none can guide. I testify that there is no deity but Allah alone, without partner.”
He repeated this three times. Ḍimād said, “By Allah, I have heard the words of soothsayers, sorcerers, and poets, yet I have never heard anything like these words. Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you upon Islam.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted his pledge and then asked him, “And your people as well?” He replied, “And my people as well.”
Later the Prophet ﷺ dispatched a force,(4) and they passed by the people of Ḍimād. The commander asked one of the advance troops, “Did you take anything from these people?” He answered, “I took a wash-vessel from them.” The commander said, “Return it to them, for they are the people of Ḍimād.”
In another wording, Ḍimād said to him, “Repeat those words of yours to me, for they have reached the very depths of the sea.”(5)
Abū Nuʿaym, in Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah,(6) devoted a lengthy chapter to the notable individuals who embraced Islam, covering the matter with commendable thoroughness—may Allah have mercy on him and reward him. Ibn Isḥāq likewise listed the earliest Companions to enter Islam—may Allah be pleased with them—saying: “Then Abū ʿUbaydah, Abū Salamah, al-Arqam ibn Abī al-Arqam,(8) ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn, and ʿUbaydah ibn al-Ḥārith accepted Islam.”