Narrated `Amr bin Salama:We were at a place which was a thoroughfare for the people, and the caravans used to pass by us and we would ask them, "What is wrong with the people? What is wrong with the people? Who is that man?. They would say, "That man claims that Allah has sent him (as an Apostle), that he has been divinely inspired, that Allah has revealed to him such-and-such." I used to memorize that (Divine) Talk, and feel as if it was inculcated in my chest (i.e. mind) And the 'Arabs (other than Quraish) delayed their conversion to Islam till the Conquest (of Mecca). They used to say." "Leave him (i.e. Muhammad) and his people Quraish: if he overpowers them then he is a true Prophet. So, when Mecca was conquered, then every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace Islam before (the other members of) my tribe. When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said, "By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet (ﷺ) for sure!" The Prophet (ﷺ) afterwards said to them, 'Offer such-and-such prayer at such-and-such time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who knows Qur'an most should, lead the prayer." So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'an than I because of the Qur'anic material which I used to learn from the caravans. They therefore made me their Imam ((to lead the prayer) and at that time I was a boy of six or seven years, wearing a Burda (i.e. a black square garment) proved to be very short for me (and my body became partly naked). A lady from the tribe said, "Won't you cover the anus of your reciter for us?" So they bought (a piece of cloth) and made a shirt for me. I had never been so happy with anything before as I was with that shirt.
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 4302
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 335
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 595
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
It is related from 'Amr ibn Salima. Ayyub said, "Abu Qilaba said to me, 'Will you not meet him and question him?' So I met him and questioned him and he said: 'We were at a water place much-frequented by people, and the caravans would pass by us and we would ask the people, "What is wrong with the people? What is wrong with the people? Who is this man?" They would say, "He claims that Allah has sent him and has revealed to him (or "that Allah has revealed such-and-such") .I used to memorise those words and it was as if that was fixed in my heart, The Arabs waited until the Conquest to become Muslim. They used to say, "Leave him and his people. If he overcomes them, then he is a truthful Prophet." When the Conquest took place, all the people rushed to become Muslim, and my father rushed to become Muslim before his people. When he arrived back, he said, "By Allah, I have truly come to you from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,. He said, "Pray such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time, and pray such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time. When the time of the prayer comes, then let one of you announce it, and let the one of you who has the most Qur'an lead you." They looked and there was no one who had more Qur'an than me since I used to learn it from the caravans. They put me in front of them when I was only about six or seven years old, wearing a cloak. When I prostrated, I was exposed. A woman of the tribe said, "Will you not cover the ass of your recitor?" So they bought and made a shirt for me. I have never so happy with anything as I was with that shirt.'"
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 4302
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 335
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 595
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih