20 THE NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS iv. ba. xxxiv.

XXXIV [So too] in the Tradition [it is said] "He who desires to be the noblest of men in God's sight, let him fear God."

XXXV Ibn 'Abbas. . .said "In this world honour is given to wealth,

in the next to piety." XXXVI On the authority of Samra ibn Gundub, the Prophet, , .

said " It is wealth that is reckoned, but piety is [the true] nobleness."

XXXVII This saying is quoted by el Termidhi, who also quotes a beautiful tradition, corroborated by Abu Hurayra. . . : the latter says

that the Prophet. . .was asked^ "Which of the people is the noblest?" He replied "The noblest of them in God's sight is the most pious of them." They said "It is not of this that we ask you." He replied "The noblest of the people is Yusef the Prophet of God, son of the prophet of God, son of the Friend of God." They said "It is not of this that we ask you." He replied "Is it of the original sources^ of the Arabs that you ask me?" They said "Yes." He replied "The best of them in the days of ignorance is the best of them in the days of

Islam, provided they are versed in knowledge {'fakukhu' or, it is said 'fakikhu'), that is provided they have mastered the rules of the

law." XXXVIII It is related on the authority of 'Omar. . .that the Prophet ... on the day of the conquest [of Mekka] made the circuit [of the temple] on his she-camel [ndka], and saluted the corners [of the sacred stone] with his staff [mahgan] ; and on leaving he found no place for his camel to kneel; so he dismounted [from it as it stood, helped] by the hands of the men, and then addressed them, and

praised and glorified Almighty God, saying "Praise be to God who hath redeemed you from the brutishness^ of the days of ignorance and pride. O people, I have created you in two types, the man of

piety and justice [who is] noble in God's sight, and the miserable infidel [who is] of no account in God's sight." Then he repeated the word of God "O people, I have created you of male and female."

XXXIX Then he said "I tell you this and I ask the protection of God for myself and for you, etc."

XL Now the mahgan was a stick with a bent handle, like a crook.

XLI By "the brutishness^ of the days of ignorance" is meant their pride and boasting, the intention being to warn people of being boastful as [the people of] the days of ignorance were from pride and conceit of their fathers and ancestors.

XLII Ye are the sons of Adam, and Adam was formed from mud,

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