Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 13987

It is reported about Imran bin Husayn al-Dabbi that he came to Basrah, where Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) was the governor. There, in the shade of the palace, a man was standing and saying: "Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have spoken the truth; Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have spoken the truth," and he said nothing besides that. The narrator says: I went up to him and said: "You are saying this very often: 'Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have spoken the truth.' (What is the reason for this?)" He said: "By Allah, if you wish, I will tell you about it." I said: "Very well." He said: "Then sit down." He related: "Once I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Madinah, having come from such-and-such a place. The son of two old men of our tribe had gone off and joined the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The two of them said: 'You are going to Madinah. Our son has gone and joined this man; go to this man and ask him for the boy. If he wants a ransom, then pay him the ransom too.' So I came to Madinah and presented myself before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, two old men of our tribe have instructed me to seek their son with you.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'Do you recognise him?' The narrator said: 'I know his lineage.' Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had the boy called, and he came. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Here is the boy; take him to his father.' I said: 'O Prophet of Allah, what will his ransom be?' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'It is not proper for us, that is, the family of Muhammad, to consume the price of anyone from the descendants of Isma'il.' Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) struck my shoulder with his hand and said: 'I fear for Quraysh only from themselves.' I said: 'O Prophet of Allah, why is that?' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'If your life is long, you will see them (Quraysh) here (as rulers), and you will see the other people among them like a goat between two watering troughs: at one time it goes this way, at another time that way.'" The narrator says: I saw some people seeking permission to enter upon Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and then I saw those same people seeking permission to enter upon Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), and I remembered the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Ahmad recorded it. I do not know the narrator named Imran, and the remaining narrators of this narration are thiqat (trustworthy).