She was accustomed to feed wayfarers and give them drink. The travelers therefore asked her whether she had any meat or milk they might buy, but found that she had none.

She answered, “Had we possessed anything, you would not have lacked hospitality; yet the people are destitute and this is a hard, barren year.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ noticed a ewe standing in the corner of her tent and said,

“What is this ewe, O Umm Maʿbad?”

She replied, “A sheep so weakened by hardship that it was left behind by the flock.”

He asked, “Does she have any milk?”

She said, “She is far too exhausted for that.”

He said, “Will you permit me to milk her?”

She answered, “If you are able to milk her, then do so.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ brought the ewe forward, passed his hand over her while invoking the name of Allah, then stroked her udder, again mentioning the name of Allah. He called for a vessel large enough to satisfy the company (1). The ewe spread her legs, milk flowed freely, and she began to chew the cud (2). He milked until the vessel brimmed and foam rose to the top (3). He gave her to drink, then his companions, and they drank in turn, cup after cup, until their thirst was quenched.

When all had finished, he drank last of them and said,

“The one who serves a people drinks last.”

He then milked a second time, filling the vessel as before, left it with her, and continued on his way.

The narrator says: It was not long before her husband Abū Maʿbad arrived, driving a few scrawny goats that could scarcely walk from weakness (4); there was no marrow in their bones (5) and very little flesh upon them. When he saw the milk he was astonished and said, “Where did this milk come from, O Umm Maʿbad? There is no milk-animal in the house and the flock is away!”

She replied, “No, by Allah, a blessed man passed by us, and this is what occurred—such and such.”

He said, “Describe him to me, for by Allah I think he is the man of Quraysh whom they are seeking.”

She said, “I saw a man radiant of countenance, fine in manner, handsome of face. He was not disfigured by corpulence (6) nor made contemptible by gauntness (7); perfectly proportioned and comely. His eyes were wide and very dark, his eyelashes long, and his voice deep and resonant (8). The whites of his eyes were bright and the pupils intensely black (9); it was as though kohl lined his eyes. His eyebrows were arched and almost joined. A graceful brightness showed in his neck, and his beard was full. When silent, dignity enveloped him; when he spoke, glory rose about him. His speech was sweet, distinct—neither too brief nor too long—as though his words were pearls smoothly strung together. From afar he was the most striking and beautiful of men, and up close the fairest and loveliest. Of medium stature—an eye would not find him overly tall, nor dismiss him as short. He was like a branch among two branches: the freshest and most pleasing of the three in appearance and the best in form. Companions surrounded him; when he spoke they listened attentively, and when he commanded they hastened to obey. He is honored, well-served, neither sullen nor arrogant.”

Her husband said, meaning himself, “This, by Allah, is the man of Quraysh whom they are seeking. If I were to meet him I would strive to accompany him, and I would spare no effort to find a way to that.”

He continued: “And the next morning a voice…”