it died.(252) A number of important authorities including Abu Ishaq Isfara’ini related that it spoke with the Prophet about a certain story.(253) In another instance, in an authentic narration, Jabir b. ‘Abd Allah’s camel became exhausted on a journey and could no longer continue. God’s Messenger gave it a slight prod. Such joy and nimbleness did the camel receive from that prod of the Prophet that due to its speed it could not be caught up with, nor could its reins be seized.(254)

The Fourth Incident: The authorities on Hadith and foremost Bukhari report that it was rumoured one night that the enemy was attacking outside Madinah. Brave horsemen went out to investigate. On the way they saw someone coming. They looked and saw that it was the Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace). He told them there was nothing. He had mounted Abu Talha’s famous horse, as his sacred courage impelled him to, and had gone before everyone else to investigate, then returned. He told Abu Talha: “Your horse is extremely swift and unfaltering.” Whereas previously it had been extremely slow. After that night, there was no horse to compete with it.(255) On another occasion, as related in an authentic narration, while on a

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(252) Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa: i, 313.
(253) Ali al-Qari, Sharh al-Shifa: i, 637.
(254) Muslim, Mithaqat 109 no: 715; al-Khafaji, Sharh al-Shifa: iii, 145.
(255) Bukhari, Jihad 46, 82; Adab 39; Muslim, Fada’il 48 no: 2307; Ibn Maja, Jihad 9; Abu Da’ud, Adab 87 no: 4988; Tirmidhi, Fada’il al-Jihad nos: 1685-7.