and behind him, to his right and to his left, and he will find nothing to shield his face from the scorching heat of Hell. So let each one of you protect his face from the Fire even with half a date; and if he cannot find that, then with a good word. I do not fear poverty for you, for Allah is your Helper and Provider until a lone woman traveler can set out between Yathrib and al-Hirah—or farther still—without fearing that her mount will be robbed. (1)

I began to say to myself, “But what about the thieves of Tayy?”

Adi enjoyed unquestioned authority among his people, to the point that he would take the mirbaʿ (a quarter share) of their spoils. (2)

Hammad ibn Zayd narrated from Ayyub, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, who said: Abu ʿUbaydah ibn Hudhayfah (3) related that Adi ibn Hatim said, “Allah sent Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—and I hated him more than anything I had ever hated. So I left and reached the furthest border of the Arabs toward the Byzantines. But I came to detest that place even more than the first, so I said, ‘Why not go to him and listen to him?’ I went to Medina, and the people craned their necks toward me, saying, ‘Adi ibn Hatim al-Tai has arrived! Adi ibn Hatim al-Tai has arrived!’

He said, ‘O Adi ibn Hatim al-Tai, (4) accept Islam and you will be safe.’ I replied, ‘I am already on a religion.’

He said, ‘I know your religion better than you do.’ I responded, ‘You know my religion better than I?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ and he repeated it three times. Then he said, ‘Are you not a Rakusiyy? (5)’ I said, ‘Indeed.’ He said: