The Prophet in Makkah

Ibn Ishaq, the Banu Sa’d tribe sent Damam ibn Tha’labah to the Prophet on their behalf. He arrived in Madinah, sat his camel near the mosque gate, and tied it up. Then he went inside. The Prophet was sitting there with his companions. Damam was a brave and intelligent man. He stood before the gathering and asked: “Who among you is the son of ‘Abdul Muttalib?” “I am,” the Prophet replied. “Muhammad,” Damam said, “I will ask you a few questions and be quite severe in my questioning. I hope you won’t mind.” “Not at all,” the Prophet replied. “You can ask what you like.” “Will you swear to me by the name of your God and the God of those before you, and the God of those who will come after you, that God has sent you as His Prophet?” “By God, yes,” the Prophet replied. “Will you swear to me,” Damam continued, “by the name of your God, and the God of those before you, and the God of those who will come after you, that God has told you to exhort us to worship Him alone and ascribe no partners to Him; that He has commanded you to tell us to forsake idol worship, and all the things that our forefathers used to worship?” “By God, yes,” the Prophet replied. “I ask you to swear to me,” Damam said once again, “by the name of your God and the God of those before you, and the God of those who will come after you that has God commanded that we should pray five times a day.” Damam then asked about zakat (alms), fasting, Hajj (pilgrimage) and all the other injunctions of Islam, framing each question similarly.