54 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD!
Ibn Ishzq at this point recounted the story of the man from Irash and how he
appealed to the Messenger of God (SAAS) against Aba Jahl over the price of a
camel he had sold him, and how God abased Aba Jahl and forced him to make
payment for it at the agreed time.
We recounted this in the material relating to the beginning of the revelation
and the consequent harm done by the polytheists.
The Story of the contest with Rukana and how the Prophet (SAAS)
showed him a tree that he summoned and it came to him.
Ibn Ishaq quoted his father, Ishaq b. Yasar, as having related to him as follows:
"Rukana b. 'Abd Yazid b. Hashim b. al-Mu~alib b. 'Abd Manzf was the
strongest man of Quraysh.
"Once he was alone in one of the defiles of Mecca with the Messenger of God
(SAAS), who asked him, 'Rukana, won't you fear God and accept my invitation
to you? '
"He replied, 'If I knew that what you say is true, I would follow you.'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) then asked him, 'If I were to wrestle you
down would you know that what I say is true?'
"'Yes, I would,' Rukma replied.
"'Come on then, let's wrestle,' the Messenger of God (SAAS) said.
"And so Rukxna did wrestle with him and when the Messenger of God
(SAAS) went after him, he threw him down, powerless.
"Rukma then said, 'Another round, Muhammad!'
"Once again he threw him. Rukwa then said, 'Muhammad, I swear,
Muhammad, this is amazing! Can you really throw me?'
"He replied, 'I'll show you something even more amazing, if you like, if you
will fear God and follow me.'
"'What is it?'
"'I'll call out to that tree you see and it will come to me.'
"'Call for it then.'
"He did so and it came and stood there right before the Messenger of God
(SAAS). Then he told it, 'Go back to your place!' And it did so.
"And so Rukwa went to his people and told them, '0 Banii 'Abd Manzf, you
could have your man compete in magic with the whole world. I swear I've never
seen a better magician than hi.' He then recounted to them what he had seen
and what he had done."
Ibn Ishaq related this story thus, with an incomplete line of transmission.
Abii Dz'ad al-Tirmidhi related, from an account of Aba al-@asan
alLCAskalai, from Aha Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Rukma, from his father, Rukma,
who said he had wrestled the Prophet (SAAS) who had defeated him. Then
al-Tirmidhi commented, "Strange! We know nothing of Aba al-Hasan, nor of
Rukiina's son."