We set out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from Mecca, intending to go to Medina. When we were near Azwara', he alighted, then raised his hands and supplicated to Allah for a while. Then he fell down prostrate and remained so for a long time. Then he stood up, raised his hands, and supplicated to Allah for a while. Then he fell down prostrate and remained so for a long time. Then he stood up, raised his hands for a while, and fell down prostrate — Ahmad mentioned it three times — and said, "Indeed, I asked my Lord and interceded for my community, and He granted me one-third of my community. So I fell down prostrate in gratitude to my Lord. Then I raised my head and asked my Lord for my community, and He granted me one-third of my community. So I fell down prostrate in gratitude to my Lord. Then I raised my head and asked my Lord for my community, and He granted me the remaining third. So I fell down prostrate in gratitude to my Lord."
Abu Dawud said: Ahmad ibn Salih omitted Ash'ath ibn Ishaq when he narrated it to us, but Musa ibn Sahl al-Ramli narrated it to me from him.