Tamīm began to drive the flames back with his hands until they retreated into a gorge, and he followed them inside. ʿUmar kept saying, “The one who has seen is not like the one who has not,” repeating it three times (1).
This report contains a karāmah granted to a saint of this Ummah, and it is counted among the prophetic miracles, for whatever is confirmed for a walī is, in reality, a miracle of his Prophet.
Al-Ḥasan ibn ʿArafah said: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Idrīs narrated to us, from Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid, from Abū Sabrah al-Nakhaʿī, who said:
“A man from Yemen set out, and while he was on the road his donkey died. He rose, performed ablution, and prayed two rakʿahs, then said, ‘O Allah, I have come from al-Dathīnah (2) striving in Your path and seeking Your good pleasure. I testify that You give life to the dead and resurrect those in the graves. Do not allow anyone today to hold a favor over me; I ask You this day to bring my donkey back to life.’ The donkey then stood up, shaking its ears (3).”
Al-Bayhaqī said: This chain is sound, and an event of this nature is a karāmah for the follower of the Sacred Law.
He also said: Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā al-Dhuhlī and others transmitted it likewise, from Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd, from Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid, from al-Shaʿbī; it appears that, according to Ismāʿīl, it comes from both of them, and Allah knows best (4).
Another route:
Abū Bakr ibn Abī al-Dunyā said in his book “Those Who Lived After Death”: Isḥāq ibn Ismāʿīl, Aḥmad ibn Bujayr, and others narrated to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd narrated to us, from Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid, from al-Shaʿbī:
“A party of men came from Yemen volunteering in the cause of Allah. The donkey of one of them died, and they urged him to continue with them, but he refused. He performed ablution, prayed, and then said, ‘O Allah, I have come from al-Dathīnah striving in Your cause and seeking Your good pleasure. I testify that You give life to the dead and resurrect those in the graves. Do not let anyone have a favor over me; I ask You to revive my donkey.’ He then went to the animal, whereupon the donkey rose, shaking its ears. He saddled and bridled it, mounted, urged it on, and caught up with his companions.
“They asked, ‘What happened to you?’
“He replied, ‘What happened is that Allah resurrected my donkey.’ (5)