ʾAMR-IBN-MAʾADY-KÁRIB'S STORY.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFATORY NOTE.
In the tenth year of the Hijrah, many of the pagan tribes of Arabs sent deputies to Muhammad tendering their submission. Amongst these deputies was ʾAmr-ibn-Maʾady-Kárib, chief of the ez-Zabîdîn. But considering himself to have been slighted by the Prophet, he joined himself the following year to el-Aswad, one of three false prophets who arose simultaneously against Muhammad. For some time he was successful in his rebellion; but during the reign of Abu-Bekr was taken prisoner and brought before the Khalîfah, who, however, on receiving his oath of allegiance, pardoned and released him. From henceforth he fought nobly for el-Islám, and is celebrated in history as one of the bravest of warriors, his worth in battle being, according to the figure of speech used by the Arabs, equal to a thousand men. When the Kalîfah ʾOmar sent him and another to join Saʿad-ibn-Abi-Wakkâs, in ʾIrâk, he wrote to Saʾad, saying, "I send to thee two thousand men, Tulaiha-ibn-Khuwailid and ʾAmr-ibn-Maʾady Kárib." He died of paralysis during the reign of ʾOmar, at a very advanced age—according to some historians more than a hundred years.
IT is said that upon one occasion when ʾAmr-ibn-Maʾady-Kárib, ez-Zabîdy, was visiting ʾOmar-ibn-el-Khattâb, the latter said to him, "Tell me of the most
