We judged among the people...

We judged among the people, providing them understanding of their religion and issued legal opinions for them in the lawful and unlawful matters. All people sought assistance from us including the King. \n Once we discussed about the Rasool Allah -saww ( -saww ) and said that this Prophet who is mentioned in the books has remained unidentified to us. We must investigate about him -saww and lead a fact-finding task in his -saww affairs.

All agreed that I should go out and lead the fact-finding task. I then set out with a large amount of money and journeyed for twelve months until I reached near Kabul. Turkish bandits robbed and wounded me seriously. They sent me to Kabul where their King saved my life. When he learned about my case, he sent me to Balkh which was under the control of Dawud Ibn al\u2019Abbass ibn abu al-Aswad.

Information had reached him that I have come out of India in search of religion and that I have learned Persian and have debated the scholars of law and theology. \n Dawud ibn Al-Abbass summoned me to his presence. He gathered the scholars of law against me. They debated me. I then informed them that I have come in search of the Prophet -saww about whom we have learned in the books.

\n \u2018They asked, \u2018Who is he and what is his name?\u2019 I said, \u2018His name is Muhammad -saww .\u2019 They said, \u2018You are searching for our Prophet -saww .\u2019 I asked them about his laws and they provided me information. I said, \u2018I know that Muhammad -saww is the Prophet but I do not know the one you describe to me. Is he -saww the one I search for or not?

You should show where he is so I can go and find out whether the signs that I have are found about are in him -saww or not. If he -saww is the one -saww I am looking for I will accept his -saww religion.\u2019 \n \u2018They said, \u2018He -saww has passed away.\u2019 I asked them, \u2018Who is the executor of his -saww will and his -saww successor?\u2019 They said, \u2018Abu Bakr was his successor.\u2019 I asked them, \u2018Tell me about his name.

This is (Abu Bakr) his Kunya?\u2019 They said, \u2018It is \u2018Abd Allah ibn \u2018Uthman.\u2019 They ascribed him to Quraysh. I then asked them to tell me about the family tree of your Prophet, Muhammad -saww . \n They informed me of his -saww family history. I said \u2018This is not the person I am looking for.