Fath al-Rabbani

Harith bin Yazid Bakri narrates: He says, I set out towards the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to complain about Alaa bin Hadrami. When I passed by the place of Rabdhah, I saw an old woman from Banu Tamim there, whose means for travel had been cut off. She said to me, "O servant of Allah! I have a request from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Can you take me to him?" So I took her with me, and we reached Madinah Munawwarah. There I saw that the mosque was full of people, a black flag was waving, and Sayyiduna Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, was standing before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, with a sword hanging. I asked, "What is the matter with the people?" They said, "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, wants to send Sayyiduna Amr bin Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, on a military expedition." So I sat down, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered his house. Then I came to him and sought permission; he granted me permission, so I entered and greeted him with salam. He asked, "Is there any issue between you and Banu Tamim?" I said, "Yes." Then I (Harith) said, "We had dominance over them, and I passed by an old woman from Banu Tamim whose means for travel had been cut off. She requested me to take her to you; now she is at the door." Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, gave her permission, and she came inside. I said, "O Messenger of Allah! If you wish to set a boundary between us and Banu Tamim, then appoint the place of Dahna." Hearing this, the old woman became passionate and spoke so much that she took her full right. Then she said, "O Messenger of Allah! How far will you compel your own Mudar?" Hearing her words, I said, "My example is like the one about whom it was said before: 'The she-goat has carried her own death.' I brought this old woman, not realizing that she would start arguing with me. I seek refuge with Allah and His Messenger from becoming like the envoy of the people of 'Ad." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Yes, tell me, who was the envoy of the people of 'Ad?" The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, knew this better, but now wanted to hear it from him. I said, "The people of 'Ad were afflicted with drought, so they sent an envoy named Qayl. He passed by Muawiyah bin Bakr and stayed with him for a month. He would give him wine to drink, and two slave girls would sing for him; they were called Jaradatan. When a month had passed, the man set out towards the mountains of Tihamah and called out: 'O Allah! Surely You know that I have not come to treat any sick person, nor to free any captive. O Allah! Send down upon the people of 'Ad the same rain that You used to send before.' Then black clouds passed by him, and it was said to him, 'Choose one of these clouds.' He pointed to a black cloud, and it was said to him, 'Take it, for it is destruction with fire; it will not leave anyone from the people of 'Ad.' Then they said, 'It has reached me that such a wind was sent upon them that could pass through my ring, yet even that destroyed them.'" Abu Wa'il says: Harith spoke the truth. For this reason, when any woman or man would send their envoy, they would say, "Do not be like the envoy of the people of 'Ad."