We complained to Messenger of Allah ﷺ (of the persecution inflicted on us by the infidels) while he was sitting in the shade of the Kaʿba, leaning over his Burd (i.e. covering sheet). We said to him, "Would you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?" He said, "Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him give up his religion. His body would be combed with iron combs that would remove his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him abandon his religion. By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty.  

شَكَوْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً لَهُ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ قُلْنَا لَهُ: أَلاَ تَسْتَنْصِرُ لَنَا أَلاَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ لَنَا؟ قَالَ: «كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيهِ فَيُجَاءُ بِالْمِنْشَارِ، فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ لَحْمِهِ مِنْ عَظْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ۔ وَاللَّهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ لاَ يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ أَوِ الذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ۔»  

I came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was leaning against his sheet cloak in the shade of the Kaʿba. We were suffering greatly from the pagans in those days. i said (to him). "Will you invoke Allah (to help us)?" He sat down with a red face and said, "(A believer among) those who were before you used to be combed with iron combs so that nothing of his flesh or nerves would remain on his bones; yet that would never make him desert his religion. A saw might be put over the parting of his head which would be split into two parts, yet all that would never make him abandon his religion. Allah will surely complete this religion (i.e. Islam) so that a traveler from Sana to Hadra-maut will not be afraid of anybody except Allah." (The sub-narrator, Baiyan added, "Or the wolf, lest it should harm his sheep.")  

سَمِعْتُ خَبَّابًا يَقُولُ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَهْوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً وَهْوَ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ وَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ شِدَّةً فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ فَقَعَدَ وَهْوَ مُحْمَرٌّ وَجْهُهُ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ كَانَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ لَيُمْشَطُ بِمِشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ عِظَامِهِ مِنْ لَحْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَيُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلَى مَفْرِقِ رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَيْنِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَلَيُتِمَّنَّ اللَّهُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ مَا يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ زَادَ بَيَانٌ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ  

We complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (about our state) while he was leaning against his sheet cloak in the shade of the Kaʿba. We said, "Will you ask Allah to help us? Will you invoke Allah for us?"

He said, "Among those who were before you a (believer) used to be seized and, a pit used to be dug for him and then he used to be placed in it. Then a saw used to be brought and put on his head which would be split into two halves. His flesh might be combed with iron combs and removed from his bones, yet, all that did not cause him to revert from his religion."

"By Allah! This religion (Islam) will be completed (and triumph) till a rider (traveler) goes from Sanʿa' (the capital of Yemen) to Hadramout fearing nobody except Allah and the wolf lest it should trouble his sheep, but you are hastey."  

شَكَوْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً لَهُ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقُلْنَا: «أَلاَ تَسْتَنْصِرُ لَنَا أَلاَ تَدْعُو لَنَا؟

فَقَالَ: «قَدْ كَانَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُؤْخَذُ الرَّجُلُ فَيُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيهَا، فَيُجَاءُ بِالْمِنْشَارِ فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُجْعَلُ نِصْفَيْنِ، وَيُمَشَّطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ لَحْمِهِ وَعَظْمِهِ، فَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ۔

وَاللَّهِ! لَيَتِمَّنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرُ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، لاَ يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ۔»  

Khabbab said “We came to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ while he was reclining on an outer garment in the shade of the Ka’bah. Complaining to him we said “Do you not ask Allaah for help for us? And do you not pray to Allaah for us? He sat aright turning red in his face and said “A man before you (i.e., in ancient times) was caught and a pit was dug for him in the earth and then a saw was brought placed on his head and it was broken into two pieces but that did not turn him away from his religion. They were combed in iron combs in flesh and sinews above the bones. Even that did not turn them away from their religion. I swear by Allaah, Allaah will accomplish this affair until a rider will travel between San’a and Hadramaut and he will not fear anyone except Allaah, Most High(nor will he fear the attack of) a wolf on his sheep, but you are making haste.  

أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ فَشَكَوْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا أَلاَ تَسْتَنْصِرْ لَنَا أَلاَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ لَنَا فَجَلَسَ مُحْمَرًّا وَجْهُهُ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُؤْخَذُ الرَّجُلُ فَيُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى بِالْمِنْشَارِ فَيُجْعَلُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِرْقَتَيْنِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ عَظْمِهِ مِنْ لَحْمٍ وَعَصَبٍ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَاللَّهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ اللَّهُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مَا بَيْنَ صَنْعَاءَ وَحَضْرَمَوْتَ مَا يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَعْجَلُونَ  

[Machine] We approached the Prophet ﷺ while he was leaning against a cloak in the shade of the Kaaba, and we faced severe persecution from the polytheists. So I said, "O Messenger of Allah, why don't you supplicate to Allah for us?" He sat down in anger and his face turned red, then he said, "Verily, those before you used to be asked for a word, and when they were unable to give it, they would be sawn in half. They would be combed with iron combs, tearing their flesh and veins, but this would not divert them from their religion. By Allah, this matter will be completed until a rider can travel from Sana'a to Hadramaut without fearing anyone but Allah and the wolf over his sheep."  

أَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ وَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ شِدَّةً فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَا تَدْعُو اللَّهَ لَنَا فَجَلَسَ مُغْضَبًا مُحْمَرًّا وَجْهُهُ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ لِيُسْأَلُ الْكَلِمَةَ فَمَا يُعْطِيهَا فَيُوضَعُ عَلَيْهِ الْمِنْشَارِ فَيَشُقُّ بِاثْنَيْنِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَاكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ أَحَدُهُمْ لَيُمْشَطُ مَا دُونَ عِظَامِهِ مِنْ لَحْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ وَمَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَاكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَعْجَلُونَ وَلَيُتِمَّنَّ اللَّهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ لَا يَخَافُ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ»  

Khabbab said “We came to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ while he was reclining on an outer garment in the shade of the Ka’bah. Complaining to him we said “Do you not ask Allaah for help for us? And do you not pray to Allaah for us? He sat aright turning red in his face and said “A man before you (i.e., in ancient times) was caught and a pit was dug for him in the earth and then a saw was brought placed on his head and it was broken into two pieces but that did not turn him away from his religion. They were combed in iron combs in flesh and sinews above the bones. Even that did not turn them away from their religion. I swear by Allaah, Allaah will accomplish this affair until a rider will travel between San’a and Hadramaut and he will not fear anyone except Allaah, Most High(nor will he fear the attack of) a wolf on his sheep, but you are making haste. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2649)   

أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بِرِدَاءٍ لَهُ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَلَا تَدْعُو اللهَ أَلَا تَسْتَنْصِرُ؟ فَجَلَسَ مُحْمَرًّا وَجْهُهُ غَضْبَانًا ثُمَّ قَالَ «لَقَدْ كَانَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ وَإِنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ لَتُحْفَرُ لَهُ الْحُفْرَةُ ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ فِيهَا ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ يُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ عَظْمِهِ فَمَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَعْجَلُونَ وَاللهِ لَيُتَمَّنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ لَا يَخَافُ إِلَّا اللهَ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ»  

[Machine] I came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was sitting in the shade of the Kaaba, wrapped in a cloak. We had faced severe hardship from the polytheists, so I said, "O Messenger of Allah, why don't you supplicate to Allah for us?" He sat down angrily, his face red, and said, "Verily, those who came before you used to be asked for something, but they would not be given it unless they were tortured with saws, splitting them apart in two. This did not divert them from their religion. Indeed, one of them would have his flesh or nerves combed with iron combs, yet he would not be diverted from his religion. However, you people are hasty, and Allah will complete this matter until a traveler from Sana'a to Hadramaut will fear only Allah." Then he added, "Or until a wolf can pass by his sheep."  

أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ وَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ شِدَّةً فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَلَا تَدْعُو اللهَ لَنَا؟ فَجَلَسَ مُغْضَبًا مُحْمَرًّا وَجْهُهُ وَقَالَ «إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ لِيُسْأَلُ الْكَلِمَةَ فَمَا يُعْطِيهَا فَيُوضَعُ عَلَيْهِ الْمِنْشَارُ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ أَحَدُهُمْ لَيُمْشَطُ مَا دُونَ عِظَامِهِ مِنْ لَحْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَعْجَلُونَ وَلَيُتِمَّنَّ اللهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ لَا يَخَافُ إِلَّا اللهَ وَزَادَ فِيهِ بَيَانُ أَوِ الذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ»  

Khabbab said “We came to the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ while he was reclining on an outer garment in the shade of the Ka’bah. Complaining to him we said “Do you not ask Allaah for help for us? And do you not pray to Allaah for us? He sat aright turning red in his face and said “A man before you (i.e., in ancient times) was caught and a pit was dug for him in the earth and then a saw was brought placed on his head and it was broken into two pieces but that did not turn him away from his religion. They were combed in iron combs in flesh and sinews above the bones. Even that did not turn them away from their religion. I swear by Allaah, Allaah will accomplish this affair until a rider will travel between San’a and Hadramaut and he will not fear anyone except Allaah, Most High(nor will he fear the attack of) a wolf on his sheep, but you are making haste. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2649)   

شَكَوْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً لَهُ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقُلْنَا أَلَا تَدْعُو اللهَ لَنَا أَلَا تَسْتَنْصِرُ اللهَ لَنَا قَالَ فَجَلَسَ مُحْمَرًّا وَجْهُهُ قَالَ وَاللهِ إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ لَيُؤْخَذُ الرَّجُلُ فَيُحْفَرُ لَهُ الْحُفْرَةُ فَيُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ عَنْ دِينِهِ أَوْ يُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا بَيْنَ عَصَبِهِ وَلَحْمِهِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَلَيُتِمَّنَّ اللهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ لَا يَخْشَى إِلَّا اللهَ أَوِ الذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَعْجَلُونَ أَخْرَجَاهُ فِي الصَّحِيحِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ  

"كَانَ الرَّجُل فيمنَ كانَ قبْلَكُمْ يُؤْخَذُ فَيُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيه فيُجَاءُ بالْمِنْشَارِ فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأَسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنين مَا يَصُدُّه ذَلِكَ عَن دينِيه، ويُمْشَطُ بَأَمْشاطِ الْحَديدِ ما دون لحمه من عظم أو عصب ما يصده ذلك عن دينِيه، والله لَيُتمنَّ اللهُ هَذا الأَمْرَ، حَتَّى يَسيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِن صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضرَ مُوَتَ لا يَخَافُ إلا اللهَ والذِّئْبَ عَلَى غنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّكُم تَسْتعْجِلُونَ".