that was revealed to Moses; it is not in the later sections we ourselves have introduced.”

Kaʿb ibn Asad said to him, “What prevents you, Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, from following him?”

He replied, “You do.”

Kaʿb asked, “Why? By the Torah, I have never stood between you and him!”

Al-Zubayr answered, “You are the guardian of our covenant and pact; if you follow him, we will follow him, and if you refuse, we will refuse.”

ʿAmr ibn Saʿd then turned to Kaʿb and went over what had been said between them, until Kaʿb declared, “I have nothing beyond what I have already stated; my soul will not agree to become a follower.” (1)

This same obstacle is what kept Pharaoh from following Moses—peace be upon him. When true guidance became clear to him he resolved to follow Moses, but his minister Hāmān said, “Only yesterday you were a god who was worshipped, and today you would worship a Lord other than yourself?” (2) Pharaoh replied, “You are right.”

Ibn Isḥāq related from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Bakr, who said: I was told by Ṣafiyya bint Ḥuyayy that she said, “I was the child most beloved by my father and by my uncle Abū Yāsir. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Medina, they went to see him early in the morning and returned at dusk. I heard my uncle (3) say to my father, ‘Is it he?’ He replied, ‘Yes, by Allah.’ He asked, ‘Do you recognise him and confirm him?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He then asked, ‘So what is in your heart toward him?’ He answered, ‘Enmity toward him, by Allah, for as long as I live.’ (4)”

Thus, this nation upon whom wrath has been incurred has long been known for its hostility toward the prophets.