We reached the Ghūṭah plain of Damascus, sold our goods, and stayed there for two months. We then moved on until we stopped at a Christian village. When its people saw him they came, presented him with gifts, and took him to their church. He did not return until after midday. He then put on his two garments and went back to them, only to come back after deep nightfall. He cast off his clothes, threw himself onto his bedding, and—by Allah—neither slept nor rose. At dawn he was sad and downcast; he did not speak to us, nor did we speak to him.
He later said, ‘Shall we break camp?’
I replied, ‘Yes, if you wish.’
So we set out, his distress and sorrow accompanying us for several nights.

Then he said to me, ‘Abū Sufyān, would you like to push on ahead and outstrip our companions?’
I asked, ‘What benefit would that bring me?’
He said, ‘Yes, there is benefit!’ So we rode on until we had left our companions behind for about an hour.

He then said, ‘Come, Ṣakhr.’
I asked, ‘What do you want?’
He said, ‘Tell me about ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah: does he avoid wrongdoing and the forbidden?’
I replied, ‘By Allah, he does.’
He asked, ‘Does he keep the ties of kinship and urge that they be kept?’
I replied, ‘By Allah, he does!’
He said, ‘Is he noble on both sides of his lineage and a mediator within his clan?’
I answered, ‘Yes.’
He asked, ‘Do you know any Qurayshite more distinguished than he?’
I said, ‘No, by Allah, I do not.’
He said, ‘Is he needy?’
I replied, ‘No; rather, he possesses abundant wealth.’
He asked, ‘How old is he now?’
I said, ‘He has passed one hundred.’
He said, ‘Have his nobility, age and wealth become a blemish on him?’
I replied, ‘Why should they blemish him? No, by Allah, they only add to his merit.’
He said, ‘Just so. Shall we spend the night here?’
I asked, ‘What would that involve for me?’
So we lay down until the main body of the caravan had moved on.

We then travelled until we halted at a way-station where we passed the night, and afterwards set out again. When night fell he said to me, ‘Abū Sufyān.’
I replied, ‘What do you want?’
He said, ‘Would you care to do as we did last night?’
I said, ‘What would there be for me in it?’
So we rode on two Bactrian she-camels; and when we had gone some distance he said, ‘Come, Ṣakhr—again about ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah.’
I said, ‘Again about him?’
He asked, ‘Does he avoid the forbidden and wrongdoing, keep the ties of kinship and enjoin that they be kept?’
I replied, ‘Yes, by Allah, he certainly does.’
He asked, ‘And he is wealthy?’
I said, ‘Indeed, he is.’
He asked, ‘Do you know any Qurayshite whose standing surpasses his?’
I replied, ‘No, by Allah, I do not.’
He asked, ‘How old is he now?’
I said, ‘He is over one hundred.’
He said, ‘Then have his age, status and wealth diminished him?’
I said, ‘By no means, by Allah; that has not diminished him at all. If you have something to say, then say it.’
He said, ‘Do not speak of what I have told you until what is destined to happen comes to pass.’

He then said, ‘For the one who…’