Thus, he and others of his kind were kept from choosing the path of guidance by their positions of authority and the stipends they received; they preferred instead the religion of their own people.

If this was the state of the leading figures whom the masses followed—their scholars and clerics—then the rest of the people would naturally trail behind them. It is hardly surprising that power, official posts, and monetary benefits should deter the leaders, while blind imitation restrains their followers. This is precisely what happens, and sound reason finds nothing puzzling about it.

Section

Among the Christian chiefs who embraced Islam once it became clear to them that it was the truth was the highly obeyed leader of his tribe, ʿAdiyy ibn Ḥātim al-Ṭāʾī. We shall now relate his story, transmitted by Imām Aḥmad, al-Tirmidhī, al-Ḥākim, and others (1).

ʿAdiyy ibn Ḥātim said: I came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was seated in the mosque. The people exclaimed, “This is ʿAdiyy ibn Ḥātim!” I had arrived without any guarantee of safety and without a letter. When I was brought before him, he took me by the hand—for he had earlier declared, “I hope that Allah will soon place his hand in mine.”

He stood up for me. A woman accompanied by a young boy met him and said, “We have a need from you.” He went with them until he had fulfilled their request, and then he took me by the hand until he brought me to his house, whereupon