until we reached the Ghūṭah of Damascus. There we sold our merchandise and remained for two months. When we set out again we stopped at one of the Christians’ villages. The moment its people saw him they gathered round, brought him gifts, and escorted him to their church. He re-joined us around midday, put on two black garments, and went off once more; he did not return until deep into the night. Then he cast off the two garments, threw himself onto his bedding, and—by Allah—he neither slept nor moved until morning, distraught (1) and gloomy. He would not speak to us, nor we to him.

We set off again and travelled for several nights. Then he said: ‘O Ṣakhr, tell me about ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah: does he keep away from what is forbidden and from injustice?’ I replied, ‘Indeed, by Allah.’ He asked, ‘Does he uphold the ties of kinship and enjoin others to uphold them?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘Is he noble on both sides of his lineage and of moderate standing within his clan?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘Do you know any Qurayshite more distinguished than he?’ I said, ‘No, by Allah.’ He asked, ‘Is he in need?’ I replied, ‘No; on the contrary, he possesses abundant wealth.’ He asked, ‘How many years has he lived?’ I answered, ‘He is seventy, or close to it.’ He said, ‘Has age and high rank then rendered him contemptible?’ I said, ‘By Allah, they have only increased his merit.’ He said, ‘That is so.

‘As for the condition you observed in me: I had gone to that scholar and asked him about the one who is awaited. He said, “A man from the Arabs, from a household to which the Arabs make pilgrimage.” I replied, “Among us is a House to which the Arabs make pilgrimage.” He said, “He will be from your brothers and near-neighbours, from Quraysh.” At that something overwhelmed me the like of which I had never felt before, for the triumph of this world and the next slipped from my grasp; I had hoped that I would be that man. I said, “Describe him to me.” He replied, “A young man just entering the prime of life (2): at the outset he avoids what is forbidden and all injustice, maintains the ties of kinship and commands that they be maintained; he is noble on both sides of his descent (3), of middling standing in his clan, and the majority of his forces are angels.” I asked, “What is the sign of that?” He said, “Since the death of Jesus son of Mary, Syria has experienced several tremors, each bringing calamity; one all-embracing quake still remains, bearing a calamity,