The arrival of Wāʾil ibn Ḥujr ibn Rabīʿah ibn Wāʾil ibn Yaʿmur al-Ḥaḍramī, Abū Hunaydah—one of the kings of Yemen—at the court of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Abū ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Barr said: He was one of the chieftains of Ḥaḍramawt, and his father had been among their kings. It is reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave his Companions glad tidings before Wāʾil’s arrival, saying, “There shall come to you the last remnant of the sons of the kings.” When Wāʾil entered, the Prophet welcomed him warmly, drew him close, seated him near himself, and spread out his cloak for him, supplicating:
“O Allah, bless Wāʾil, his children, and his children’s children.”
The Prophet then appointed him over the chieftains of Ḥaḍramawt and entrusted him with three letters, one of them to al-Muhājir ibn Abī Umayyah and another to the chieftains and the noble families (al-aqyāl wa-l-ʿabāhila). He also granted him a tract of land and sent Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān to accompany him. Muʿāwiyah set out on foot, but the scorching heat troubled him. Wāʾil advised, “Walk in the camel’s shade.” Muʿāwiyah replied, “What use is that? Let me ride pillion behind you.” Wāʾil answered, “Be silent; you are not one of the kings’ riding companions.”
Wāʾil lived on until he visited Muʿāwiyah after the latter had become Commander of the Believers. Muʿāwiyah recognized him, welcomed him, brought him close, reminded him of the earlier incident, and offered him a handsome gift, but Wāʾil refused, saying, “Give it to someone who needs it more than I.”
Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī related part of this story and noted that al-Bukhārī also recorded something about it in his History.
Imām Aḥmad said: Ḥajjāj narrated to us; Shuʿbah narrated to us; from Simāk ibn Ḥarb; from ʿAlqamah ibn Wāʾil; from his father, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ granted him a piece of land and sent Muʿāwiyah with him, instructing him, “Give it to him,” or, “Show it to him.” Muʿāwiyah said, “Let me ride behind you.” I replied, “You are not one of the kings’ riding companions.” He said, “Then give me your sandals.” I said, “Take the camel’s shadow for sandals.”
When Muʿāwiyah later assumed the caliphate, I came to him. He seated me beside him on the throne and reminded me of the incident. Simāk added, “Muʿāwiyah said, ‘I wish I had carried him in front of me.’”
Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī likewise transmitted this narration through Shuʿbah, and al-Tirmidhī declared it authentic.