Thauban reported God's messenger as saying, "God gathered together the earth for me and I saw its eastern and western parts. My people will attain to rule over it so far as it was gathered together for me. I have also been given the two treasures, viz. gold and silver[*]. I asked my Lord not to destroy my people by a general famine, or to allow an enemy from another people to rule over them and uproot them, and my Lord replied, `When I decree something, Muhammad, it cannot be averted, but I have granted you for your people that I shall not destroy them by a general famine, or allow an enemy from another people to rule over them and uproot them, even though those in all quarters of the earth were to unite against them in order that they might destroy one another and take one another captive'." *Literally, "the red and the white." Muslim transmitted it.