Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him), while he was relating the incident of returning from the expedition of Dhi Qarad to Madinah Munawwarah. He says: There was a distance between us and Madinah of about half a day’s journey. In that army, there was an Ansari man; no one could compete with him in running. During this journey, he began to call out: Is there anyone to compete? Is there anyone who will race me to Madinah? He repeated this several times. I was behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had made me his companion on the ride. I said to that man: Do you not respect any noble person? Do you not have any awe for a person of honor? He said: No, except for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I said: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, allow me to go, I will compete with him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If you wish, then do so. Then I said to him: I am coming, now get down from your mount. He jumped down from his mount, and I also bent my legs and jumped down from the camel. The race began. For the first one or two hills, I avoided running fast so that my breath would not be cut off. Then I ran fast until I caught up with him and struck him between his shoulders and said: By Allah, I have surpassed you. He laughed in response and said: I thought so too, until we reached Madinah.