Ḍimām ibn Thaʿlabah

The next delegation: they sent one man as the representative of the tribe, and this man's name was Ḍimām ibn Thaʿlabah. There are quite a few narrations of the conversation, some of them in al-Bukhārī and other books of hadith, with some differences in wording; this narration is the one mentioned by Imām Aḥmad. It is narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās. The tribe of Banū Saʿd ibn Bakr sent Ḍimām ibn Thaʿlabah as their representative to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting with his Companions. So he came, tied up his camel, and then walked into the masjid while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting with the Companions. And Ḍimām was a strong man, and he had long hair, in two braids. So he came and stood in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his Companions, and he said: which one of you is Ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib? — who among you is the son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib?

And notice here that he did not say the son of ʿAbdullāh; he said the son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib. Because ʿAbdullāh was not famous, but ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib was famous all around Arabia: remember that the important incident of the elephant occurred when he was the leader of his people, and he is the one who went and met Abrahah. So ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib had a very high status among the Arabs, and he was very well known and famous. So he said: where is the son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib? He said: I am the son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib. He said: are you the son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib? He said: yes. He said: I am going to ask you, and I am going to be strict in my questions, so do not be angry. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: I am not going to be angry; ask whatever you want.

I ask you by Allah, your God, and the God of those before you, and the God of those after you: did He send you as a messenger? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allāhumma naʿam — yes, by Allah. He said: I ask you by Allah, your Lord, and the Lord of those before you, and the Lord of those after you: did Allah order you to tell us to worship no one but Him, and to leave these gods we used to worship? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: yes, by Allah. He said: then I ask you by Allah, your Lord, and the Lord of those before you, and the Lord of those after you: did Allah order you that we should pray these five daily prayers? He said: by Allah, yes. And then he kept on repeating the same thing with all of the five pillars of Islam, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would give him the same answer.

And then he said: I testify that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah, and I testify that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah; and I am going to fulfil these obligations, and I am going to leave what you have warned me against, and I am not going to add anything or subtract anything. When he left, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: if the man with the two braids is truthful, then he will enter Paradise. And then he got on his camel and left. He went to his people, and as soon as he got there, they said: what are you saying, man? You will be afflicted with leprosy, or you will become insane. He said: woe to you; they do not harm, and they do not benefit. Allah has sent a messenger, and has revealed to him a book that will save you from what you used to do. And I testify that there is no god but Allah, with no partner, and that Muḥammad is His servant and messenger; and I have come to you from him, and I am ordering you to do what he ordered me, and I warn you against the things he warned me against. By the time that day ended, everyone in his tribe, men and women, had become Muslim. Ibn ʿAbbās says: we never knew of a delegate who was more blessed for his people than Ḍimām ibn Thaʿlabah.