1430 — Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Farisi informed us; Ahmad ibn Sa‘id al-Thaqafi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Dhuhali narrated to us; Muhammad ibn Kathir narrated to us, from Ma‘mar, from al-Zuhri, from Urwah, from Aisha, who said:

When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was taken by night from al-Aqsa Mosque, he spoke to the people about it the following morning. Some of those who had believed in him and affirmed his truth apostatized, and were tempted by it away from their religion. Some men among the idolaters hastened to Abu Bakr and said, “What do you say about your companion? He claims that he was taken by night to Jerusalem last night.”

He asked, “Did he say that?”

They replied, “Yes.”

He said, “If he said it, then he has spoken the truth.”

They said, “And you believe him when he says that he went to Jerusalem in a single night and returned before morning?”

He said, “Yes. Indeed, I believe him concerning something even more extraordinary than that: I believe him regarding news from heaven, morning or evening.” For this reason, Abu Bakr was named al-Siddiq, the Utterly Truthful.

Aisha said: “Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began to call people in secret and renounced the idols. Those young men and weak people whom Allah willed responded to him, until those who believed in him and affirmed his truth became numerous. ⦗853⦘ The disbelievers of Quraysh did not initially object to what he said. Whenever he passed by them in their gatherings, they would say, pointing to him, ‘This young man of Ibn Abd al-Muttalib speaks with dignitaries from heaven.’ They remained in that state until he denounced the idols they worshipped and spoke of the ruin of their forefathers who had died as disbelievers. Then they openly opposed the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and became his enemies.

“When faith became manifest and people began speaking openly of it, some of the idolaters rose against those from their own tribes who had believed, abusing and torturing them, seeking to turn them away from their religion. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to them, ‘Disperse throughout the lands.’

They asked, ‘Where should we go, O Messenger of Allah?’

He said, ‘There,’ and gestured with his hand toward Abyssinia. It was the land to which the Messenger of Allah most wished that they would emigrate. Thus, a considerable number emigrated: some emigrated alone, while others emigrated with their families.”