He then continued on his way, and when morning came he recounted what had taken place. When the idolaters heard his words, they went to Abu Bakr and said, “Abu Bakr, have you heard what your companion is claiming? He says that in a single night he travelled the distance of a month and returned before dawn!” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) answered, “If he said it, then it is true. We believe him in matters far greater than this—we believe him concerning news that comes from heaven.”

The idolaters next asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), “What sign can you give us of what you claim?” He replied, “I passed a Quraysh caravan at such-and-such a place. Their camels took fright at me, wheeled around, and one camel bearing two saddle-bags—one black and the other white—fell and its load was broken.”

When that caravan eventually reached Mecca, the people questioned its members, and they related the incident exactly as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had described. It was on this occasion that Abu Bakr was given the title al-Ṣiddīq, ‘the Ever-Truthful.’

They then asked the Prophet, “Were Moses and Jesus among those present with you?” He replied, “Yes.”

“Describe them to us,” they said. He answered, “Certainly. Moses is a dark-complexioned man, as though he were from the men of the Azd of ʿUmān. Jesus is of medium stature, with straight hair and a reddish complexion, as if pearls were dripping from his hair.”