27 – Al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Ḥasan narrated to me, saying: ʿĀṣim ibn ʿAlī related to us; he said: ʿUthmān ibn Muʿāwiyah narrated to us, from Thābit, from Anas ibn Mālik, who said:

The Prophet ﷺ was once surrounded by his wives, and he began to speak in the casual way a man converses with the members of his household. ⦗76⦘ One of them remarked, “This sounds like the tale of Khurafa!” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Do you know what the tale of Khurafa is? Khurafa was a man from Banū ʿUdhra whom the jinn seized. He stayed among them for a time, then returned to humankind and began telling them about events that occur among the jinn—marvels never seen among human beings.

“He related that there was a jinn man who had a mother who ordered him to marry. He said, ‘I fear that this might trouble you or bring about something you dislike.’ She kept after him until she married him off, and he took a wife who also had a mother. He would divide his nights between his wife and his own mother: one night here and one night there.

“It happened to be his wife’s night and he was with her, while his mother was alone. Two travelers came, greeted the two women, and she returned their greeting. Then one of them asked, ‘Is there lodging for the night?’ She answered, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘And supper?’ She answered, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘And someone who can sit and talk with us?’ She replied, ‘Yes. I shall send for my son and he will come and entertain you.’ He asked, ‘What is that rustling sound we hear in your courtyard?’ She said, ‘Those are camels and sheep.’ ⦗77⦘ Whereupon one of the two said to his companion, ‘Grant the wisher whatever he has wished, if it is good,’ and her courtyard was filled with camels and sheep.

“Later she noticed that her son was downhearted and said, ‘What is the matter? Has your wife perhaps asked you to move into my house and move me into hers?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ She replied, ‘Very well.’ So she moved into his wife’s house, and his wife moved into his mother’s house.

“Some time passed, and the two travelers came upon her—while the young man was with his own mother—greeted her, but she did not return the greeting. They asked, ‘Is there lodging for the night?’ She said, ‘No.’ ⦗78⦘ They asked, ‘Then supper?’ She said, ‘Nor that.’ They asked, ‘Is there anyone who can converse with us?’ She replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Then what is this rustling sound we hear in your courtyard?’ She answered, ‘Wild beasts.’ One of the two said to his companion, ‘Grant the wisher whatever he has wished, even if it is harmful,’ so her courtyard was filled with beasts of prey, and by morning they had devoured