When the Prophet (peace be upon him) talked to people about Islam, he often employed the sort of language that appeals to his interlocutor. Sometimes he said things concerning the person speaking to him or his affairs, which he could only have learned from God. The conversation develops in such a way that we can only assume that the Prophet was given some accurate briefing about the person addressing him, his affairs, people, or religion. In the encounter between him and Adiy ibn Hatim, a Christian Arab who was chief of his people, we see a good example of that.
Adiy tells the story: “When I heard that the Prophet has migrated (to Madinah), I immensely hated that. Therefore, I left my place and traveled to the land that was under the Byzantines, but I hated my stay there more than I hated the Prophet’s mission. I thought that if I met the Prophet I could not lose. If he were a liar, he could not cause me any harm. If, on the other hand, he spoke the truth, I would soon find out. Therefore, I went to him, and when people saw me, they recognized me and said, ‘Here is Adiy ibn Hatim! Here is Adiy ibn Hatim!’
“When I entered where the Prophet was, he said to me, ‘Adiy ibn Hatim! Accept Islam and you will be safe.’ He repeated this three times. I said, ‘I have my religion.’ He said to me: ‘I know your religion better than you.’ Surprised, I said: ‘You know my faith better than me?’ He said: ‘Yes, indeed. Are you not a Rakoosi, but you take for yourself one quarter of your people’s war booty?’ I answered in the affirmative. He said: ‘But this is not lawful for you in your religion.’ I confirmed that it was not, but as soon as he said this I felt my position lower. He then said to me: ‘I know what prevents you from accepting Islam. You think to yourself that this man (meaning himself) has only been followed by the weak and the poor who have no real power, while all the Arabs have been hostile to them. Do you know Al-Heerah (the main base of the Persian Empire in Iraq)?’ I told him that I did not see it although I heard of it. He said: ‘By Him Who holds my soul in His hand, this matter of ours will be successful, by God’s will, so that a woman could travel alone from Al-Heerah until she does the tawaf around God’s House in Makkah, without any need for her to be under anyone’s protection. Indeed, the treasures of Kisra ibn Hurmuz (the Persian Emperor) will be laid open.’ I said: ‘Kisra ibn Hurmuz?’ He said: ‘Yes, Kisra! And money will be offered freely to all, but none will take it.’
Adiy then added: “We see now how a woman travels alone from Al-Heerah to Makkah where she does the tawaf without need for protection by anyone. I was with the army which laid Kisra’s treasures open. By Him Who holds my soul in His hand, the third event will come true, because God’s Messenger said it will.” (Related by Ahmad)
We need to explain that Adiy was in a highly privileged position as the chief of his tribe. Although he was a Christian of the Rakoosi sect, he implemented certain Arabian traditions which were not permissible in his faith, such as the one which the Prophet mentioned. Arabian tribal chiefs held for themselves one quarter of any booty the tribe gained, plus other privileges. The Prophet could not have known that this was unlawful in Adiy’s faith unless he was told of it by God. When the Prophet pointed this out to him, he could not but feel that the Prophet advocated the true faith. Had he been a false prophet, he would not have had any means of knowing such an intimate matter of Adiy’s faith. Thus the Prophet established the proper atmosphere in which Adiy would be more receptive of the Islamic message. His assertion of future events was immediately believed by Adiy, particularly since the Prophet swore to their truth. He was then ready to accept Islam.
There are several reports and Hadiths that speak about the Prophet’s encounter with Adiy ibn Hatim. Although some of them appear to speak about different situations, they in fact relate what Adiy mentioned at different times to different audience. Hence, he might have highlighted different aspects on different occasions. In one of these reports he mentions that after he fled the Muslims took captive some of his family including his aunt. Adiy’s aunt appealed to the Prophet saying: “God’s Messenger, our helpers are gone, and support is no longer available. I am an old woman who is of little use to anyone. Be kind to me, may God be kind to you.” He asked her who was her helper, and she mentioned Adiy’s name. He remarked: “The one who is fleeing from God and His Messenger!” She again repeated her plea for his kindness, but he passed on. She reports: “When he returned, with a man walking by his side, whom we believe was Ali, the man said: ‘Ask him to give you a mount.’” The Prophet granted her request.
Adiy reports: “When my aunt returned, she said to me: You have done something your father would not have done.” This was a reproach by an old aunt who felt she should not have been abandoned by her nephew so as to be taken by an army. Then she said to Adiy: “Go and meet the Prophet, whether you hope for his kindness or you are in fear of him. People have gone to him and they all got something good from him.”
Adiy reports: “I went to him and saw with him a woman and two kids, and they were close to him. I knew then that he was unlike kings such as the Persian or Byzantine emperors. He then said: ‘Adiy ibn Hatim! What caused you to run away? Did you run away because it is declared that there is no deity other than God? Is there another deity besides God? Or did you run away because it is declared that God is Great? Is there anyone greater than God Almighty?’ I declared my acceptance of Islam, and I saw his face beaming. People then asked him, and he praised God and glorified him before saying: ‘You may give out of what you have in excess of your needs. Any person may give in good measure or a smaller one; or may give a handful or less than that; or indeed he may give a date or half a date. Anyone of you may be brought before God and He will ask him: ‘Have I not given you hearing and eyesight, as well as property and children? What have you done with these for your present life?’ He will look forward and backward, to his right and left, but he finds nothing. He will not have anything to protect his face from the fire. Protect yourselves from the fire, even though you give half a date for charity. If you do not have that, then with a kind word. I do not fear poverty for you. God will grant you victory, and he will give you plenty, until a woman will be able to travel alone from Al-Heerah to Madinah, or even farther, fearing no thief.’”
It was such undoubted trust which the Prophet placed in God that radiated to his interlocutors and encouraged those who were hesitant to accept Islam. When they did, they realized that everything the Prophet spoke of, concerning future events, came true.
