Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 6703

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ka'b al-Qurazi that he said: Once Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was sitting in the mosque when a man passed by in the rear part of the mosque. A man said: O Commander of the Believers! Do you know this passer-by? He said: No, who is he? He said: This is Sawad bin Qarib. He belongs to an honoured and high-ranking family of the people of Yemen, and he is the very man to whom his "ra'i" (a familiar jinn who brought him news) conveyed the news of the appearance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Call him to me. So he was called, and he asked: Are you Sawad bin Qarib? He said: Yes. He asked: Are you the one to whom your familiar jinn conveyed the news of the sending of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? He said: Yes. He asked: Are you still upon that old soothsaying (kahanah) of yours? At this he became extremely angry and said: O Commander of the Believers! No one has spoken to me like this since I accepted Islam. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Subhan Allah! By Allah, the polytheism we were upon was far graver than your soothsaying. (Well, let go of your anger and) tell me how your jinn conveyed to you the news of the appearance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? He said: Yes, O Commander of the Believers (listen!). One night I was in a state between sleep and wakefulness when that familiar jinn of mine came to me, kicked me with his foot and said: O Sawad bin Qarib! Get up and understand, if you have understanding. Indeed, a Messenger of Allah has been sent from the descendants of Lu'ayy bin Ghalib (Quraysh), who calls to Allah and to His worship. Then that jinn recited these verses: "I marvelled at the jinn and their searching, and at why they have tied the saddles on their camels; they are hastening towards Makkah seeking guidance, for the best of the jinn are not like their impure ones. So you too set out towards the chosen one of Hashim, and witness his greatness with your own eyes." Sawad says: I paid no attention to what he said, and said: Let me sleep, for I am tired. When the second night came, he came again, kicked me with his foot and said: O Sawad bin Qarib! Did I not tell you to get up and understand, if you have sense? A Messenger has been sent from the descendants of Lu'ayy bin Ghalib, who calls to Allah and to His worship. Then that jinn recited these verses: "I marvelled at the jinn and their seeking, and at why they have tied the pack-saddles on their camels; they are hastening towards Makkah seeking guidance, for the truthful among the jinn are not like their liars. So you too set out towards the chosen one of Hashim, who is (present) among their private quarters and their gatekeepers." Sawad says: This time too I paid no attention. When the third night came, he came again, kicked me and said: O Sawad bin Qarib! Did I not tell you to understand and use your reason, if you have sense? A Messenger of Allah has been sent from the descendants of Lu'ayy bin Ghalib, who calls to Allah and to His worship. Then that jinn recited these verses: "I marvelled at the jinn and their reports, and at why they have made ready the saddles on their camels; they are hastening towards Makkah seeking guidance, for the believers among the jinn are not like their disbelievers. So set out towards the chosen one of Hashim, every side of whom (outer and inner) is equally majestic." Sawad says: (On hearing this) love of Islam and longing for it arose in my heart. When morning came, I made my mount ready and set off towards Makkah. On the way I received the news that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had migrated to Madinah. So I came to Madinah and asked about him (peace and blessings be upon him), and I was told that he was in the mosque. I reached the mosque, tied my she-camel and went in, and saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was seated and the people were gathered around him. I said: O Messenger of Allah! Please listen to what I have to say. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Come close to him. So I kept drawing closer until I came in front of him (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Tell me! What news did your familiar jinn give you when he came to you?" I said: (O Messenger of Allah!) In the darkness of the night and the calm of sleep my confidant came to me, and in my experience he has never been a liar in what he said. For three nights in a row he told me the same thing: that a Messenger has come to you from the descendants of Lu'ayy bin Ghalib. (As soon as I heard this) I tucked up my waist-wrapper, and my swift she-camel set off with me towards you through the sandy tracts and plains. So I bear witness that there is no lord besides Allah, and that you are trustworthy over every report of the unseen. O descendant of honourable and pure forefathers! You are the nearest of all the messengers as a means of approach to Allah. So command us with whatever revelation comes to you, O best of mankind, even if carrying out that command should turn the locks of our hair white (that is, however great the hardship may be). And be my intercessor on that Day when no intercessor other than you will be of any avail to Sawad bin Qarib. (Sawad says:) The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were so delighted at my acceptance of Islam that their joy was evident on their faces. The narrator says: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) at once got up, embraced him and said: I very much wanted to hear this account from your own tongue.