Volume 8, Book 74, Number 271:
Narrated ‘Urwa-bin Az-Zubair:
Usama bin Zaid said, “The Prophet rode over a donkey with a saddle underneath which there was
a thick soft Fadakiya velvet sheet. Usama bin Zaid was his companion rider, and he was going to pay
a visit to Sa’d bin Ubada (who was sick) at the dwelling place of Bani Al-Harith bin Al-Khazraj, and
this incident happened before the battle of Badr. The Prophet passed by a gathering in which there
were Muslims and pagan idolators and Jews, and among them there was ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Sa –
lul, and there was ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha too. When a cloud of dust raised by the animal covered that
gathering, ‘Abdullah bin Ubai covered his nose with his Rida (sheet) and said (to the Prophet), “Don’t
cover us with dust.” The Prophet greeted them and then stopped, dismounted and invited them to Al –
lah (i.e., to embrace Islam) and also recited to them the Holy Quran. ‘Abdullah bin Ubai’ bin Salul
said, “O man! There is nothing better than what you say, if what you say is the truth. So do not
trouble us in our gatherings. Go back to your mount (or house,) and if anyone of us comes to you,
tell (your tales) to him.” On that ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha said, “(O Allah’s Apostle!) Come to us and
bring it(what you want to say) in our gatherings, for we love that.” So the Muslims, the pagans and
the Jews started quarreling till they were about to fight and clash with one another. The Prophet kept
on quietening them (till they all became quiet). He then rode his animal, and proceeded till he
entered upon Sa’d bin ‘Ubada, he said, “O Sa’d, didn’t you hear what Abu Habbab said? (He meant
‘Abdullah bin Ubai). He said so-and-so.” Sa’d bin ‘Ubada said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Excuse and forgive
him, for by Allah, Allah has given you what He has given you. The people of this town decided to
crown him (as their chief) and make him their king. But when Allah prevented that with the Truth
which He had given you, it choked him, and that was what made him behave in the way you saw
him behaving.” So the Prophet excused him.