of the soothsayers, but it is not like their speech. I have compared his words with the metres of poetry, yet no one after me could make them fit on his tongue as poetry. By Allah, he is surely truthful, and they are certainly liars.”

He said: I said, “Look after my affairs until I go and see for myself.” So I came to Mecca and sought out one of their weaker men. I asked, “Where is this man whom you call the renegade?” He pointed at me and said, “The renegade!” At that, the people of the valley set upon me with every clod of earth and bone, until I fell unconscious.

He said: When I got up, I looked like a red idol. I went to Zamzam, washed the blood off myself, and drank from its water. I remained there, nephew, for thirty days and nights, having no food but the water of Zamzam. I grew stout until the folds of fat on my belly formed, and I felt no weakness from hunger.

Then, while the people of Mecca were asleep on a bright moonlit night and no one was circumambulating the House, two of their women were invoking Isaf and Na'ila. As they passed by me during their circumambulation, I said, “Marry one of them to the other.” But they did not stop their invocation. When they passed by me again, I said, “They are like a piece of wood”—though I did not phrase it euphemistically. They went away wailing and saying, “If only one of our people were here!”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and Abu Bakr met them as they were coming down. He asked, “What is the matter with you?” They replied, “The renegade is between the Kaaba and its coverings.” He asked, “What did he say to you?” They replied, “He said to us a remark too vile to repeat.”

Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came, touched the Black Stone, circumambulated the House with his companion, and then prayed. When he had finished his prayer, Abu Dharr said: I was the first to greet him with the greeting of Islam. I said, “Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah.” He replied, “And peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you.” Then he asked, “Who are you?” I said, “I am from Ghifar.” He lowered his hand and placed his fingers upon his forehead. I thought to myself, “Did he dislike my identifying myself as being from Ghifar?” I moved to take his hand, but his companion restrained me—for he knew him better than I did. Then he raised his head and asked, “How long have you been here?” I replied, “I have been here for thirty days and nights.” He asked, “Who has been feeding you?”