Abu Umayyah Proposes Arbitration by the First to Enter

Some transmitters relate that Abu Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah ibn Abdullah ibn ‘Umar ibn Makhzum, then the oldest man among Quraysh, said, “O Quraysh, let the first person to enter this mosque decide between you in the matter over which you disagree.” They agreed. The first to enter was the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When they saw him, they said, “This is al-Amin, the Trustworthy. We accept his judgment. This is Muhammad.” When he reached them and they told him what had happened, he said, “Bring me a garment.” They brought one. He took the Corner and placed it upon the garment with his own hand, then said, “Let each clan take one side of the garment.” They all lifted it together. When they had raised it to its place, he set it in place with his own hand, and the building continued above it.

[1] Another report says the man who proposed the arbitration was Muhashshim ibn al-Mughirah, also known as Abu Hudhayfah. [2] This was the gate of Banu Shaybah, called in pre-Islamic times the gate of Banu ‘Abd Shams and now known as Bab al-Salam. Another narration says it was the gate of al-Safa. [3] The text specifies the clans holding the four corners and reports that the Ka‘bah was completed eighteen years before the Hijrah, after agreement replaced discord and all accepted his judgment. Hubayrah ibn Abi Wahb alludes to the arbitration in a poem. [4] When Ibn al-Zubayr rebuilt the Ka‘bah, his son Hamzah placed the Corner while his father was praying in the mosque; he took advantage of the people’s distraction to avoid rivalry and dispute, and his father approved it. See al-Rawd al-Unuf.