Al-Suhaylī relates in his book al-Taʿrīf wa-l-Iʿlām (1) that Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt was the first to utter the formula, “In Thy Name, O God” (2). On that occasion he records a remarkable tale: a party of Quraysh once set out on a journey, among them Ḥarb ibn Umayyah, the father of Abū Sufyān.
Along the road they came upon a snake and killed it. That evening a female jinni appeared, reproached them for slaying the serpent, and, holding a staff, struck the ground with it so that every camel stampeded and scattered far and wide. They pursued the beasts until they had rounded them up; but when they had gathered again she returned, struck the earth with her staff, and the camels bolted a second time, so that they had to go after them and bring them back (3).
When they were worn out by all this they said to Umayyah, “By God, is there any way out of what we are in?” He replied, “By God, I know none, but I shall see what can be done.” He then made his way through the encampment in hopes of finding someone who could advise him about their trouble. Presently he saw a fire flickering in the distance; he approached and found an old man at the entrance of a tent, tending the flames—a jinni, diminutive and hideous. Umayyah greeted him and told him what had befallen them. The old jinni said, “When she comes to you, say: ‘In Thy Name, O God,’ and she will flee.”
When the party had assembled once more and the jinniyah appeared for the third—or perhaps the fourth—time, Umayyah faced her and pronounced, “In Thy Name, O God.” She fled and found no rest. Nevertheless, the jinn attacked Ḥarb ibn Umayyah and killed him with that very serpent. His companions buried him there in that desolate spot, where there was neither neighbor nor dwelling (5).
Concerning this the jinn recited:
(from rajaz)
“Harb’s grave lies in a barren waste—
Near Harb’s grave no other grave is placed.” (6)
Some have further reported that Umayyah could, at times, discern the languages of animals (7). As he travelled he would pass by a bird and say to his companions, “It is saying such-and-such,” to which they would reply, “We cannot tell whether what you say is true.”
They once came upon a flock of sheep from which a ewe had become separated; her lamb was with her. She turned toward Umayyah and bleated (8) as though urging him on. He asked, “Do you know what she is saying to him?” They said, “No.” He replied, “She is saying, ‘Hurry on, lest the wolf come and eat you as it ate your brother the year before last’ (9).”
They hurried ahead and questioned the shepherd: “Did a wolf devour a lamb in this very place the year before last?” He answered, “Yes.” (10)