280 – ʿAbdullāh narrated to us; he said: Khālid ibn Khidāsh narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad al-Darāwardī narrated to us, from Suhayl ibn Abī Ṣāliḥ, from his father, from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ, and from Kaʿb al-Aḥbār, who said:

“Allah revealed to the Western Sea when He created it: ‘I have created you and perfected your creation; I have filled you with abundant water, and I shall carry within you servants of Mine who will magnify Me, glorify Me, declare My oneness, and sanctify Me. How then will you treat them?’

It replied, ‘I shall drown them.’ ⦗184⦘ He, Exalted is He, said, ‘Then I will bear them upon My palm and confine your might to your borders.’

He then said to the Eastern Sea: ‘I have created you and perfected your creation; I have made your waters plentiful, and I shall carry within you servants of Mine who will magnify Me, declare My oneness, and glorify Me. How will you deal with them?’

It answered, ‘I will magnify You together with them, declare Your oneness with them, praise You with them, and carry them upon my back and in my depths.’ So Allah granted it adornment, game, and pleasant fragrance.”