IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'~L IBN KATHfR 115"'So they did go off to the Jews. They brought out a book of scriptures they
had, put it down and studied. It made mention of the Messenger of God
(SAAS) as the ummi, unlettered, Arab prophet who would ride an ass, reward
himself with a piece of bread, a man neither tall nor short, neither curly nor
straight-haired, with a redness to his eyes, and light in complexion. "If," (the
Jews concluded) "it is he who appealed to you, then respond to him and enter his
religion. We envy him and will not follow him. We will suffer greatly from him.
AU Arabs will follow him or fight hi, so be among those who follow him."
"'Maysara said, "0 people, this matter is very clear."
"'His people replied, "We will return to the festival and meet hi." They
then went home to their lands, but their elders refused to allow their return, and
so none of them did follow him.
"'When the Messenger of God (SAAS) migrated to Medina and performed
the "farewell pilgrimage" Maysara met with him and he recognized him.
Maysara asked, "0 Messenger of God, I swear I've continued wanting to follow
you ever since that day you dismounted with us. But, as you see, God saw fit to
delay my accepting Islam. All those who were with me at that time have since
died; where have they been taken, 0 Messenger of God?"
"'The Messenger of God (SAAS) replied, "All those who died in any other
state than Islam are now in hell-tire."
"'Maysara commented, "Praise be to God who saved me!" He then accepted
Islam fully and he was treated with respect by Aha Bakr."'
Imzm Muhammad b. 'Amr d-Waqidi has examined closely and related indi-
vidually details about those tribes to which the Messenger of God (SAAS) pre-
sented himself. These included the tribes of 'Amir, Ghassm, the Faznra, the
Murra, the Hanifa, the Sulaym, the 'Ahs, the Nadr b. Hawzin, Tha'laba b.
Wba, Kinda, Ka'b, al-Harith b. Ka'b, 'Udhra, Qays b. al-Hatim, and others.
The accounts of all these are very extensive; we have given here a goodly part
of them, and to God belong all praise and credit.
Imw Ahmad also stated, "Aswad b. 'Amir related to us, quoting Isr~'i1, from
Wthmnn - meaning Ibn d-Mughira - from Snlim b. Aba al-Ja'd, from Jsbir b.
'Ahd Allah, who said, 'The Prophet (SAAS) used to present himself to the tribes
at the assembly at 'Arafa, and say, "Will any man of you take me to his own
people? For Qura~sh have prevented me from delivering the words of my Lord.
Almighty and Glorious is He!"
"'A man from Hamdnn ame to him thereafter and the Messenger of God
(SAAS) asked him, "From whom are you?"
""'From Hamdm," he replied.
"'"And do your people grant protection?"
"'"Yes."
"'Thereafter the man feared that his people might be watching him, so he
came to the Messenger of God (SAAS), and said, "I will go to them and tell
them, then I'll come to you next year."