Quss ibn Sa'ida, Christian preacher at the 'Ukaz fair
c. c. 550 – c. 600
Place: ukaz · coming soon
21.400, 40.600 · Approximate location. · On the map
Known only from Islamic-era literature (e.g., al-Jahiz). Treat his sermons as later literary composition. 'Ukaz coordinates are approximate.
Arabic tradition remembers Quss of the Iyad tribe — sometimes called bishop of Najran — preaching about one God and the coming judgment from his camel at the 'Ukaz market fair, with the young Muhammad said to be in the audience. He became the model of pre-Islamic Arab eloquence.
People named here
- Quss ibn Sa'ida al-Iyadi
Links
Influence
Out
Tradition calls Quss a bishop of Najran.
associated_with
traditional
People and office
Out
Tradition says the young Muhammad heard Quss preach at 'Ukaz.
heard_by
traditional
Sources
- Wikipedia: Quss Ibn Sa'ida al-Iyadi
Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Arabic Wikipedia: قس بن ساعدة الإيادي
Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-11-11.