“By the father?” They answered, “Yes.”

“And am I not the son?” “Yes.”

“So do you think I would deceive you?” “No.”

“Are you not aware that I summoned the people of ʿUkāẓ, and when they failed me I came to you with my own family, my children, and those who obeyed me?” “Indeed.”

“Then this man has offered you a sound course—accept it and let me go to him.”

They said, “Go to him.” So he went and spoke with the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ repeated to him what he had said to Budayl.

ʿUrwah then said, “Muhammad, suppose you should annihilate your people—have you ever heard of any Arab who wiped out his own tribe before you? And if the other outcome occurs, by Allah I see only a motley crowd likely to take fright and abandon you.”

Abū Bakr retorted, “Go suck the clitoris of al-Lāt! Would we ever turn our backs on him and leave him?”

ʿUrwah asked, “Who is that?” They replied, “Abū Bakr.” He said, “By Him in whose hand is my soul, were it not for a favor you once did me for which I have not yet repaid you, I would have answered you.”

ʿUrwah kept speaking with the Prophet ﷺ, and whenever he spoke he would reach out and grasp the Prophet’s beard. Al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah was standing over the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, sword in hand and wearing a helmet. Each time ʿUrwah extended his hand toward the Prophet’s beard, al-Mughīrah struck it with the flat of his sword, saying, “Take your hand away from the beard of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

ʿUrwah lifted his head. “Who is this?”

They said, “Al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah.”

He said, “You traitor! Was it not I who interceded regarding your treachery?” (Al-Mughīrah had once accompanied a party in the pre-Islamic period, killed them, and taken their wealth, after which he embraced Islam.)

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Islam I accept; as for the money, I have nothing to do with it.”

ʿUrwah then began watching the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He later said, “By Allah, whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat, the spittle fell into the palm of one of them, who would rub it over his face and skin. When he commanded them they hastened to obey; when he performed ablution they nearly fought over the water; when he spoke they lowered their voices; and they did not stare at him out of reverence for him.”

ʿUrwah returned to his people and said, “My people, by Allah, I have visited kings—Caesar, Chosroes, and the Negus—and I have never seen a king so revered by his subjects as Muhammad is by his Companions. By Allah, whenever he spits it falls into the hand of one of them who rubs it over his face and skin; when he commands they rush to obey; when he performs ablution they almost fight over the water; when he speaks they lower their voices; and they do not fix their gaze upon him out of reverence. He has presented you with a wise plan—accept it.”

A man from Banū Kinānah said, “Let me go to him.” They said, “Go.” When he approached the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “This man is so-and-so; his people venerate the sacrificial animals—show the camels to him.” So they were sent, and the people received him chanting the talbiyah. When he saw that he said, “Glory be to Allah! Such people should not be barred from the House.” [Upon returning he said, “I saw the sacrificial animals garlanded and marked; I do not think they should be prevented from the House.”]

Then a man among them named Mikraz ibn Ḥafṣ stood up and said, “Let me go to him.” They said, “Go.” When he came into view the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “This is Mikraz, a depraved man.” He began talking with the Prophet ﷺ, and while he was still speaking Suhayl ibn ʿAmr arrived.

Maʿmar said: Ayyūb related to me, on the authority of ʿIkrimah, that when Suhayl ibn ʿAmr came, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Your affair has now been made easy for you.”

Maʿmar also said: al-Zuhrī stated in his account that Suhayl came and said, “Come, let us write an agreement between us and you.” The Prophet ﷺ called for the scribe and said, “Write: In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” Suhayl objected, “As for ‘the Most Compassionate,’ by Allah I do not know what it is; rather write, ‘In Your name, O Allah,’ as you used to write.” Then he said