2694 — “When a long time had passed over the Children of Israel and their hearts had hardened, they devised a book of their own. Their hearts were captivated by it, and their tongues declared it lawful. Yet the truth stood between them and many of their desires, until they cast the Book of Allah behind their backs as though they knew nothing. They said—[the original reads: ‘Then he said’]—‘Present this book to the Children of Israel. If they follow you in accepting it, leave them be; but if they oppose you, kill them.’

He said, ‘No. Rather, send for a certain man—a scholar among them. If he follows you, no one will disagree with you thereafter.’ So they sent for him and summoned him. He took a sheet of paper and wrote on it the Book of Allah. He then placed it inside a horn, hung it around his neck, and put his clothes on over it. Then he came to them, and they presented the book to him, saying, ‘Do you believe in this?’ He pointed to his chest—meaning the Book that was inside the horn—and said, ‘I believe in this. Why should I not believe in this?’ So they let him go.

He said: He had followers who used to visit him. When death approached him, they came to him. When they removed his clothes, they found the horn, with the Book inside it. They said, ‘Do you not see what he meant when he said, “I believe in this. Why should I not believe in this?” By “this,” he only meant this Book that was inside the horn.’ He said: The Children of Israel then split into more than seventy sects; the best of their sects were the followers of Abu al-Qarn (Father of the Horn).”

Al-Bayhaqi recorded it in Shu'ab al-Iman (The Branches of Faith) (2/439/1-2): Abu Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Asbahani reported to us; Abu Sa'id ibn al-A'rabi narrated to us; Sa'dan ibn Nasr narrated to us; Abu Mu'awiyah narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from Umarah, from Rabi' ibn Umaylah, who said: Abd Allah narrated to us, “We have not heard