Book: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala by Ad-Dhahabi - سير أعلام النبلاء ـ الإمام الذهبي

The Narrative of Al-Walid bin Mazyad Al-Udhari

Al-Walid bin Mazyad Al-Udhari narrated from Abdul Rahman bin Yazid bin Jabir, from Ibn Miskin Al-Ansari, who said: While Umar was seated... This narration is considered incomplete. Hajjaj bin Artat narrated it from Mujahid, and it is also narrated from Ibn Kathir, one of the reciters, from Mujahid as a stopped narration.

The Story of Suwad bin Qarib

It is suggested that this soothsayer is Suwad bin Qarib, as mentioned in the account of Ahmad bin Musa Al-Himar Al-Kufi, who said: Ziyad bin Yazid Al-Qasri narrated to us, saying: Muhammad bin Taras Al-Kufi narrated to us, saying: Abu Bakr bin Ayyash narrated to us, from Abu Ishaq, from Al-Bara, who said: While Umar was giving a sermon, he asked, "Is Suwad bin Qarib among you?" No one answered that year. When the following year came, he asked again, "Is Suwad bin Qarib among you?" They replied, "And who is Suwad bin Qarib?"

He said: "The beginning of his Islam was a wondrous thing. While we were in that state, Suwad bin Qarib appeared, and Umar said to him: Tell us about the beginning of your Islam, O Suwad." He replied: "I was residing in India and had a companion from the jinn. While I was sleeping one night, he came to me in my dream and said: Rise and understand, if you can comprehend. A Messenger from the descendants of Lu'ay bin Ghalib has been sent." Then he recited:

I marveled at the jinn and its ignoble ones,
And its untamed ones fastened with saddles,
Rushing towards Mecca seeking guidance;
Not are its believers like its ignoble ones.

Arise towards the chosen ones of Hashim,
And gaze upwards towards its leader.

O Suwad! Verily, Allah has sent a Prophet;
Rise to him, you will be guided and rightly led.

On the following night, he came again and awakened me, then said:

I marveled at the jinn and their inquisitiveness,
And their untamed ones bound with burdens,
Rushing towards Mecca seeking guidance;
Not are those at the forefront like those at the rear.

Arise towards the chosen ones of Hashim,
And gaze upwards towards its leader.

On the third night, he came and awakened me, then said:

I marveled at the jinn and their news,
And their untamed ones bound with their packs,
Rushing towards Mecca seeking guidance;
Not are the wicked like the righteous.

Arise towards the chosen ones of Hashim,
For the believers among the jinn are not like its disbelievers.

The love for Islam entered my heart, and I prepared my journey until I came to the Prophet ﷺ, who was in Medina. Around him, the people were like the mane of a horse. When he saw me, he said, "Welcome, Suwad bin Qarib, we know what brought you." I said: O Messenger of Allah, I have composed some poetry, so listen to it from me: