Volume 5, Book 58, Number 250:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah’s Apostle arrived at Medina with Abu Bakr, riding behind him on the same camel. Abu Bakr
was an elderly man known to the people, while Allah’s Apostle was a youth that was unknown. Thus,
if a man met Abu Bakr, he would day, “O Abu Bakr! Who is this man in front of you?” Abu Bakr
would say, “This man shows me the Way,” One would think that Abu Bakr meant the road, while in
fact, Abu Bakr meant the way of virtue and good. Then Abu Bakr looked behind and saw a horse-
rider persuing them. He said, “O Allah’s Apostle! This is a horse-rider persuing us.” The Prophet
looked behind and said, “O Allah! Cause him to fall down.” So the horse threw him down and got up
neighing. After that the rider, Suraqa said, “O Allah’s Prophet! Order me whatever you want.” The
Prophet said, “Stay where you are and do not allow anybody to reach us.” So, in the first part of the
day Suraqa was an enemy of Allah’s Prophet and in the last part of it, he was a protector. Then Allah’s
Apostle alighted by the side of the Al-Harra and sent a message to the Ansar, and they came to Al –
lah’s Prophet and Abu Bakr, and having greeted them, they said, “Ride (your she-camels) safe and
obeyed.” Allah’s Apostle and Abu Bakr rode and the Ansar, carrying their arms, surrounded them.
The news that Allah’s Prophet had come circulated in Medina. The people came out and were eagerly
looking and saying “Allah’s Prophet has come! Allah’s Prophet has come! So the Prophet went on till
he alighted near the house of Abu Aiyub. While the Prophet was speaking with the family members
of Abu Aiyub, ‘Abdullah bin Salam heard the news of his arrival while he himself was picking the
dates for his family from his family garden. He hurried to the Prophet carrying the dates which he
had collected for his family from the garden. He listened to Allah’s Prophet and then went home.
Then Allah’s Prophet said, “Which is the nearest of the houses of our Kith and kin?” Abu Aiyub
replied, “Mine, O Allah’s Prophet! This is my house and this is my gate.” The Prophet said, “Go and
prepare a place for our midday rest.” Abu Aiyub said, “Get up (both of you) with Allah’s Blessings.” So
when Allah’s Prophet went into the house, ‘Abdullah bin Salaim came and said “I testify that you (i.e.
Muhammad) are Apostle of Allah and that you have come with the Truth. The Jews know well that I
Volume 5 – 921 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 5 > BOOK 58: MERITS OF THE HELPERS IN MADINAH (ANSAAR)
am their chief and the son of their chief and the most learned amongst them and the son of the most
learned amongst them. So send for them (i.e. Jews) and ask them about me before they know that I
have embraced Islam, for if they know that they will say about me things which are not correct.” So
Allah’s Apostle sent for them, and they came and entered. Allah’s Apostle said to them, “O (the group
of) Jews! Woe to you: be afraid of Allah. By Allah except Whom none has the right to be worshipped,
you people know for certain, that I am Apostle of Allah and that I have come to you with the Truth,
so embrace Islam.” The Jews replied, “We do not know this.” So they said this to the Prophet and he
repeated it thrice. Then he said, “What sort of a man is ‘Abdullah bin Salam amongst you?” They said,
“He is our chief and the son of our chief and the most learned man, and the son of the most learned
amongst us.” He said, “What would you think if he should embrace Islam?” They said, “Allah forbid!
He can not embrace Islam.” He said, ” What would you think if he should embrace Islam?” They said,
“Allah forbid! He can not embrace Islam.” He said, “What would you think if he should embrace Is –
lam?” They said, “Allah forbid! He can not embrace Islam.” He said, “O Ibn Salaim! Come out to them.”
He came out and said, “O (the group of) Jews! 8e afraid of Allah except Whom none has the right to
be worshipped. You know for certain that he is Apostle of Allah and that he has brought a True Reli –
gion!’ They said, “You tell a lie.” On that Allah’s Apostle turned them out.