after which he will emerge. I protested, “That is impossible! If Allah were to send a messenger He would surely grant him advanced age and high nobility.” Umayya replied, “By the One to whom oaths are sworn, things will occur exactly as he said.”

We set out, and when only two nights lay between us and Mecca a rider caught up from behind us, crying out, “Since you departed (1) Syria has been struck by a quake that buried its people; terrible calamities have befallen them.” Umayya asked, “What do you think, Abu Sufyan?” I answered, “By Allah, I think your informant has spoken the truth.”

We reached Mecca, and later I travelled as a merchant to Abyssinia, where I stayed five months. When I returned to Mecca the people came to greet me; the last of them was Muhammad, while Hind was amusing her children. He greeted me warmly, welcomed me, and asked about my journey and my return, then went on his way. I said, “By Allah, this young man is remarkable: every Qurayshite who has merchandise with me asks about it and what profit it made, yet although he too has goods with me—he is not the richest of them—he did not ask about them.”

She said, “Do you not know what has happened to him?” Startled, I replied, “What is it?” She said, “He claims to be the Messenger of Allah.” I remembered the Christian’s words and fell silent.

I then went to Ṭāʾif and lodged with Umayya. I said, “Do you remember the Christian’s report?” He said, “I do.” I said, “It has come to pass.” He asked, “Who is it?” I replied, “Muhammad son of ʿAbd Allah.” Sweat poured from him. I said, “The matter of the man has begun—where do you stand?” He answered, “By Allah, I shall never follow (2) a prophet who is not from Thaqīf, ever (3).”