The Prophet in Makkah

THE PROPHET IN MAKKAH “These people are intellectuals, men of letters,” the Prophet said when he heard this. “They are cast in the mould of prophets. How wonderful their words.”100 Damad, a practising exorcist belonging to the tribe of Banu Azdashanuah, once came to Makkah. People there told him about the Prophet. “An evil spirit possesses him,” they said. So Damad went to see the Prophet, thinking that he might be able to cure him. But when he heard the Prophet’s words, his attitude changed. “I have heard soothsayers and conjurors,” he said. “I have seen the works of poets. But I have never come across anything of this nature. Give me your hand,” he said to the Prophet. “Let me swear allegiance to you.” As was his custom, the Prophet did not give a long talk on this occasion. This was all he said: Praise be to God. We praise Him and seek help from Him. One whom God guides, no one can send astray, and one whom God sends astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that none is worthy of being served to save God. He has no equal.101 In these few words, Damad found a wealth of meaning. “Say that again,” he requested the Prophet. “Your words are as deep as the ocean.”102 For an Arab, there was no discrepancy between words and deeds. He was true to his word and expected others to be the same. He accepted the truth of a matter as soon as he comprehended it. According to the Prophet’s biographer,