The delegations of Adhra and Bala

In Safa, 9 A.H., twelve men of the tribe Banu Adhra came to the Prophet . They mentioned their tribe’s affiliation with Qusayy, the founder of the Prophet’s clan, and how they had helped him oust Banu Bakr and Banu Khuzaa from Makkah. They embraced Islam and the Prophet forbade them from preserving any of their polytheistic traditions, such as approaching soothsayers and slaughtering animals at pagan temples. A delegation from Bala also came to the Prophet in the same year. They also embraced Islam.

The delegation of Banu Asad bin Khuzaymah

In the beginning of 9 A.H., a delegation of three people from the Banu Asad bin Khuzaymah visited the Prophet . When they arrived, they found the Prophet sitting in the mosque along with some of his Companions. After they had all greeted the Prophet , their spokesman said: “O Prophet: we bear witness that Allah is One and that He has no associates or equals, and that you are His slave and Messenger. O Prophet, we embraced Islam without your having to send an envoy to us. We did not fight against you like so many other tribes. We are messengers of peace for the people following us.”

In reply to the claims made by Banu Asad bin Khuzaymah, Allah revealed the following verse to His Prophet: “They believe that they have done you a great favour, O Muhammad, because they have embraced Islam. Say to them: You have done me no favour by becoming Muslim. Indeed, Allah has conferred upon you a great blessing by guiding you and giving you faith.” (49: 17).

Later, the delegation asked about fortune-telling, soothsaying, and diving omens from birds – all of which the Prophet informed them were forbidden. When asked about interpreting omens, the Prophet said, “There was a prophet who could do this. If anyone has knowledge equal to that prophet, then he may do it.” In other words, any attempt to predict the future was forbidden in Islam. The delegation stayed in Madinah for a short time and continued to learn the fundamentals of Islam.