Umayya Ibn Abī Al-Salt and Balaam: A Tale of Deviation and Divine Intervention

 Umayya Ibn Abī Al-Salt was a poet from the Arab tribe Thaqīf. He is often referred to as one of the "true seekers of God" (Ḥanīf, pl. Ḥunafāʾ) who are mentioned several times in the Koran. Umayya was an older contemporary of Muhammad. According to Muslim tradition, he desired to be the apostle, the prophet to the Arabs. However, Muhammad regarded him as a deviationist who led others astray and did not accomplish his mission. There is an allusion to him in Sura 7:175–6, which, according to most commentators, refers to Balaam.

وَٱتۡلُ عَلَیۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِیۤ ءَاتَیۡنَـٰهُ ءَایَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنۡهَا فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَاوِینَ

And O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) recite to them the case of the one to whom We gave Our revelations, and in response he departed from them completely – so Satan went after him – he therefore became of the astray.

وَلَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَرَفَعۡنَـٰهُ بِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّهُۥۤ أَخۡلَدَ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُۚ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡكَلۡبِ إِن تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَیۡهِ یَلۡهَثۡ أَوۡ تَتۡرُكۡهُ یَلۡهَثۚ ذَّ ٰ⁠لِكَ مَثَلُ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِینَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِنَاۚ فَٱقۡصُصِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَتَفَكَّرُونَ

And had We willed We could have raised him because of the revelations, but he clung to the earth and followed his own desires; his condition therefore is like that of a dog; if you attack him he hangs out his tongue and if you leave him he hangs out his tongue; this is the state of the people who denied Our signs; therefore preach, so that they may give thought.

Balaam was a man who had knowledge of Allah's signs and His greatest name, which could grant any supplication.He was asked by his people to pray against Moses and the Children of Israel, who were threatening to invade their land. He refused at first, but then he gave in to their pressure and worldly temptations, and went to a mountain to curse Moses and his followers. However, Allah prevented him from doing so, and made his tongue bless Moses and his people instead of cursing them. He also lost the knowledge and the favor that Allah had given him, and became an example of a person who rejected the truth and followed his own vain desires. He was likened to a dog, which is greedy, lustful, and does not benefit from guidance or advice. 

The story of the man who rejected Allah’s revelations is meant to make the Children of Israel reflect and avoid his behavior. The document also says that Allah gave the Jews knowledge and made them superior to others, and they should follow Muhammad, who was prophesied by their own prophets. Whoever defies or hides the knowledge in their Books will face disgrace and humiliation.