'A'isha reported that the Quraish had been anxious about the Makhzumi woman who had committed theft, and said: Who will speak to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about her? They said: Who dare it, but Usama, the loved one of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ? So Usama spoke to him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Do you intercede regarding one of the punishments prescribed by Allah? He then stood up and addressed (people) saying: O people, those who have gone before you were destroyed, because if any one of high rank committed theft amongst them, they spared him; and it anyone of low rank committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Allah, if Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would have her hand cut off. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Rumh (the words are): "Verily those before you perished."

'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) , reported that the Quraish were concerned about the woman who had committed theft during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) , in the expedition of Victory (of Makkah). They said: Who would speak to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about her? They (again) said: Who can dare do this but Usama b Zaid, the loved one of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ? She was brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Usama bin Zaid spoke about her to him (interceded on her behalf). The colour of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed, and he said: Do you intercede in one of the prescribed punishments of Allah? He (Usama) said: 'Messenger of Allah, seek forgiveness for me. When it was dusk. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up and gave an address. He (first) glorified Allah as He deserves, and then said: Now to our topic. This (injustice) destroyed those before you that when any one of (high) rank committed theft among them, they spared him, and when any weak one among them committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, even if Fatima daughter of Muhammad were to commit theft, I would have cut off her hand. He (the Holy Prophet) then commanded about that woman who had committed theft, and her hand was cut off. 'A'isha (further) said: Hers was a good repentance, and she later on married and used to come to me after that, and I conveyed her needs (and problems) to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) .

'A'isha reported that a woman from the tribe of Makhzum used to borrow things (from people) and then denied (having taken them). Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) commanded her hand to be cut off. Her relatives came to Usama bin Zaid and spoke to him (requesting him to intercede on her behalf). He spoke to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about her. The rest of the hadith is the same.

'Abdullah bin 'Abbas reported that 'Umar bin Khattab sat on the pulpit of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Verily Allah sent Muhammad (ﷺ) with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. Stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or if there is pregnancy, or a confession.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that a person from amongst the Muslims came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while he was in the mosque. He called him saying: Allah's Messenger. I have committed adultery. He (the Holy Prophet) turned away from him, He (again) came round facing him and said to him: Allah's Messenger, I have committed adultery. He (the Holy Prophet) turned away until he did that four times, and as he testified four times against his own self, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called him and said: Are you mad? He said: No. He (again) said: Are you married? He said: Yes. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Take him and stone him. Ibn Shihab (one of the narrators) said: One who had heard Jabir bin 'Abdullah saying this informed me thus: I was one of those who stoned him. We stoned him at the place of prayer (either that of 'Id or a funeral). When the stones hurt him, he ran away. We caught him in the Harra and stoned him (to death). This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through other chains of transmitters.

Abu Hurairah (RA) and Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani reported that one of the desert tribes came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, I beg of you in the name of Allah that you pronounce judgment about me according to the Book of Allah. The second claimant who was wiser than him said: Well, decide amongst us according to the Book of Allah, but permit me (to say something). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon ham) said: Say. He said: My son was a servant in the house of this person and he committed adultery with his wife. I was informed that my son deserved stoning to death (as punishment for this offence). I gave one hundred goats and a slave girl as ransom for this. I asked the scholars (if this could serve as an expiation for this offence). They informed me that my son deserved one hundred lashes and exile for one year and this woman deserved stoning (as she was married). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, I will decide between you according to the Book of Allah. The slave-girl and the goats should be given back, and your son is to be punished with one hundred lashes and exile for one year. And, O Unais (b. Zuhaq al-Aslami), go to this woman in the morning, and if she makes a confession, then stone her. He (the narrator) said: He went to her in the morning and she made a confession. And Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) made pronouncement about her and she was stoned to death.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) and Zaid bin Khalid al-Juhani in the same way as transmitted by Malik with this (difference) tnat there is a doubt whether her sale (that of the slave-girl committing adultery) was mentioned after the third or the fourth time.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira and Zaid b. Khalid al-Jubani, but in this no merition is made of the words of Ibn Shihab that dafir means rope.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira and Zaid b. Khalid al-Juhani in the same way as transmitted by Malik with this (difference) tnat there is a doubt whether her sale (that of the slave-girl committing adultery) was mentioned after the third or the fourth time.

Ubida bin as-Samit reported: While we were in the company of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upoi him) he said: Swear allegiance to me that you will not associate anything with Allah, that you will not commit adultery, that you will not steal, that you will not take any life which it is forbidden by Allah to take but with (legal) justification; and whoever among you fulfils it, his reward is with Allah and he who commits any such thing and is punished for it, that will be all atonement for it. And if anyone commits anything and Allah conceals (his faults), his matter rests with Allah. He may forgive if He likes, and He may punish him if He likes.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters with this addition: "He recited to us the verse pertaining to women, viz, that they will not associate anything with Allah."

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: No requital is payable for a wound caused by an animal, for (falling into) a well and a mine, and one-fifth (is the share of the government) in the buried treasure (treasure-trove).

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Zuhri.

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) .

Umm Salamah, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) , reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) heard the clamour of contenders at the door of his apartment. He went to them, and said: I am a human being and the claimants bring to me (the dispute) and perhaps some of them are more eloquent than the others. I judge him to be on the right, and thus decide in his favour. So he whom I, by my judgment, (give the undue share) out of the right of a Muslim, I give him a portion of Fire; he may burden himself with it or abandon it.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ma'mar with a slight variation of words.

A'isha reported that Hind came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, by Allah, there was no other household upon the surface of the earth than your household about which I cherished Allah bringing disgrace upon it, (and now) there is no other household upon the surface of the earth than your household about which I cherish Allah granting it honour. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: It is so, by Him in Whose Hand is my life She said: Allah's Messenger, Abu Sufyan (RA) is a niggardly person. Is there any harm for me if I spend upon his children out of his wealth without his permission? Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: There is no harm for you if you spend upon them what is reasonable.

A'isha reported that Hind, daughter of Utba h. Rabi', came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, by Allah, there was no household upon the surface of the earth than your household about which I cherished that it should be disgraced. But today there is no household on the surface of the earth than your household about which I cherish that it be honoured. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said. It will increase, by Him in Whose Hand is my life. She then said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyan (RA) is a niggardly person; is there any harm for me if I spend out of that which belongs to him on our children? He said to her: No, but only that what is reasonable.

Ibn 'Umar (RA) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: There will be a flag for every perfidious person on the Day of Judgment.

It is reported on the authority of Sa'b bin Jaththama that the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah (ﷺ) , when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: They are from them.

It is narrated by Sa'b bin Jaththama that he said (to the Holy Prophet): Messenger of Allah, we kill the children of the polytheists during the night raids. He said: They are from them.

Sa'b bin Jaththama has narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) asked: What about the children of polytheists killed by the cavalry during the night raid? He said: They are from them.

A hadith has been narrated by Salim who learnt it from his father and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave us an extra (camel) besides our share of Khums; (and in this extra share) I got a Sharif (and a Sharif is a big old camel).

Ibn Shihab reported: It reached me through Ibn 'Umar (RA) that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave a share of spoils to the troop. The rest of the hadith is the same.

It has been narrated on the authority of'Abdullah bin 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to give (from the spoils of war) to small troops sent on expeditions something more than the due share of each fighter in a large force. And Khums (one-fifth of the total spoils) was to be reserved (for Allah and His Apostle) (ﷺ) in all cases.

It has been narrated on the authority of Umar, who said: The properties abandoned by Banu Nadir were the ones which Allah bestowed upon His Apostle (ﷺ) for which no expedition was undertaken either with cavalry or camelry. These properties were particularly meant for the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) . He would meet the annual expenditure of his family from the income thereof, and would spend what remained for purchasing horses and weapons as preparation for Jihad.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri.

It is reported by Zuhri that this tradition was narrated to him by Malik bin Aus who said: Umar bin al-Khattab sent for me and I came to him when the day had advanced. I found him in his house sitting on his bare bed-stead, reclining on a leather pillow. He said (to me): Malik, some people of your tribe have hastened to me (with a request for help). I have ordered a little money for them. Take it and distribute it among them. I said: I wish you had ordered somebody else to do this job. He said: Malik, take it (and do what you have been told). At this moment (his man-servant) Yarfa' came in and said: Commander of the Faithful, what do you say about 'Uthman, Abdul Rabman bin 'Auf, Zubair and Sa'd (who have come to seek an audience with you)? He said: Yes, and permitted them, so they entered. Then he (Yarfa') came again and said: What do you say about 'Ali and Abbas (who are present at the door)? He said: Yes, and permitted them to enter. Abbas said: Commander of the Faithful, decide (the dispute) between me and this sinful, treacherous, dishonest liar. The people (who were present) also said: Yes. Commander of the Faithful, do decide (the dispute) and have mercy on them. Malik bin Aus said: I could well imagine that they had sent them in advance for this purpose (by 'Ali and Abbas). 'Umar said: Wait and be patient. I adjure you by Allah by Whose order the heavens and the earth are sustained, don't you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We (prophets) do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity"? They said: Yes. Then he turned to Abbas and 'Ali and said: I adjure you both by Allah by Whose order the heavens and earth are sustained, don't you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity"? They (too) said: Yes. (Then) Umar said: Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, had done to His Messenger (ﷺ) a special favour that He has not done to anyone else except him. He quoted the Qur'anic verse: "What Allah has bestowed upon His Apostle (ﷺ) from (the properties) of the people of township is for Allah and His Messenger". The narrator said: I do not know whether he also recited the previous verse or not. Umar continued: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) distrbuted among you the properties abandoned by Banu Nadir. By Allah, he never preferred himself over you and never appropriated anything to your exclusion. (After a fair distribution in this way) this property was left over. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would meet from its income his annual expenditure, and what remained would be deposited in the Bait-ul-Mal. (Continuing further) he said: I adjure you by Allah by Whose order the heavens and the earth are sustained. Do you know this? They said: Yes. Then he adjured Abbas and 'Ali as he had adjured the other persons and asked: Do you both know this? They said: Yes. He said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away, Abu Bakr (RA) said: "I am the successor of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ." Both of you came to demand your shares from the property (left behind by the Messenger of Allah) (ﷺ) . (Referring to Hadrat 'Abbas), he said: You demanded your share from the property of your nephew, and he (referring to 'Ali) demanded a share on behalf of his wife from the property of her father. Abu Bakr (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: "We do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity." So both of you thought him to be a liar, sinful, treacherous and dishonest. And Allah knows that he was true, virtuous, well-guided and a follower of truth. When Abu Bakr (RA) passed away and (I have become) the successor of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr (RA) , you thought me to be a liar, sinful, treacherous and dishonest. And Allah knows that I am true, virtuous, well-guided and a follower of truth. I became the guardian of this property. Then you as well as he came to me. Both of you have come and your purpose is identical. You said: Entrust the property to us. I said: If you wish that I should entrust it to you, it will be on the condition that both of you will undertake to abide by a pledge made with Allah that you will use it in the same way as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used it. So both of you got it. He said: Wasn't it like this? They said: Yes. He said: Then you have (again) come to me with the request that I should adjudge between you. No, by Allah. I will not give any other judgment except this until the arrival of the Doomsday. If you are unable to hold the property on this condition, return it to me.

The same hadith has been narrated by a different chain of transmitters with a slight variation in wording: 'Umar bin al-Khattab sent for me and said: Some families from your tribe have come to me (then follows the foregoing hadith) by Malik with the difference that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would spend on his family for a year. And sometimes Ma'mar said: He would retain sustenance for his family for a year, and what was left of that he spent in the cause of Allah, the Majestic and Exalted.

It is narrated on the authority of 'A'isha who said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away, his wives made up their minds to send 'Uthman bin 'Affan (as their spokesman) to Abu Bakr (RA) to demand from him their share from the legacy of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) . (At this), A'isha said to them: Hasn't the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We (Prophets) do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity"?

It is narrated on the authority of Urwa bin Zubair who narrated from A'isha that she informed him that Fatima, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) , sent someone to Abu Bakr (RA) to demand from him her share of the legacy left by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from what Allah had bestowed upon him at Madinah and Fadak and what was left from one-fifth of the income (annually received) from Khaibar. Abu Bakr (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We (prophets) do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity." The household of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) will live on the income from these properties, but, by Allah, I will not change the charity of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from the condition in which it was in his own time. I will do the same with it as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) himself used to do. So Abu Bakr (RA) refused to hand over anything from it to Fatima who got angry with Abu Bakr (RA) for this reason. She forsook him and did not talk to him until the end of her life. She lived for six months after the death of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) . When she died, her husband 'Ali bin Abu Talib, buried her at night. He did not inform Abu Bakr (RA) about her death and offered the funeral prayer over her himself. During the lifetime of Fatima, 'Ali received (special) regard from the people. After she had died, he felt estrangement in the faces of the people towards him. So he sought to make peace with Abu Bakr (RA) and offer his allegiance to him. He had not yet owed allegiance to him as Caliph during these months. He sent a person to Abu Bakr (RA) requesting him to visit him unaccompanied by anyone (disapproving the presence of Umar). 'Umar said to Abu Bakr (RA) : By Allah, you will not visit them alone. Abu Bakr (RA) said: What will they do to me? By Allah, I will visit them. And he did pay them a visit alone. 'Ali recited Tashahhud (as it is done in the beginning of a religious sermon); then said: We recognise your moral excellence and what Allah has bestowed upon you. We do not envy the favour (i. e. the Caliphate) which Allah nas conferred upon you; but you have done it (assumed the position of Caliph) alone (without consulting us), and we thought we had a right (to be consulted) on account of our kinship with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) . He continued to talk to Abu Bakr (RA) (in this vein) until the latter's eyes welled up with tears. Then Abu Bakr (RA) spoke and said: By Allah, in Whose Hand is my life, the kinship of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is dearer to me than the kinship of my own people. As regards the dispute that has arisen between you and me about these properties, I have not deviated from the right course and I have not given up doing about them what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do. So 'Ali said to Abu Bakr (RA) : This afternoon is (fixed) for (swearing) allegiance (to you). So when Abu Bakr (RA) had finished his Zuhr prayer, he ascended the pulpit and recited Tashahhud, and described the status of 'Ali, his delay in swearing allegiance and the excuse which he had offered to him (for this delay). (After this) he asked for God's forgiveness. Then 'Ali bin Abu Talib recited the Tashahhud, extolled the merits of Abu Bakr (RA) and said that his action was not prompted by any jealousy of Abu Bakr (RA) on his part or his refusal to accept the high position which Allah had conferred upon him, (adding:) But we were of the opinion that we should have a share in the government, but the matter had been decided without taking us into confidence, and this displeased us. (Hence the delay in offering allegiance. The Muslims were pleased with this (explanation) and they said: You have done the right thing. The Muslims were (again) favourably inclined to 'Ali since he adopted the proper course of action. ________ Book 019, Number 4353: It has been narrated on the authority of 'A'isha that Fatima and 'Abbas approached Abu Bakr, soliciting transfer of the legacy of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to them. At that time, they were demanding his (Holy Prophet's) lands at Fadak and his share from Khaibar. Abu Bakr (RA) said to them: I have heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) . Then he quoted the hadith having nearly the same meaning as the one which has been narrated by Uqail on the authority of al-Zuhri (and which his gone before) except that in his version he said: Then 'Ali stood up, extolled the merits of Abu Bakr (RA) mentioned his superiority, and his earlier acceptance of Islam. Then he walked to Abu Bakr (RA) and swore allegiance to him. (At this) people turned towards 'Ali and said: you have done the right thing. And they became favourably inclined to 'Ali after he had adopted the proper course of action.

It has been narrated on the authority of 'A'isha that Fatima and 'Abbas approached Abu Bakr, soliciting transfer of the legacy of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to them. At that time, they were demanding his (Holy Prophet's) lands at Fadak and his share from Khaibar. Abu Bakr (RA) said to them: I have heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) . Then he quoted the hadith having nearly the same meaning as the one which has been narrated by Uqail on the authority of al-Zuhri (and which his gone before) except that in his version he said: Then 'Ali stood up, extolled the merits of Abu Bakr (RA) mentioned his superiority, and his earlier acceptance of Islam. Then he walked to Abu Bakr (RA) and swore allegiance to him. (At this) people turned towards 'Ali and said: you have done the right thing. And they became favourably inclined to 'Ali after he had adopted the proper course of action.

It has been narrated by 'Urwa b Zubair on the authority of 'A'isha, wife of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) , that Fatima, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) , requested Abu Bakr, after the death of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (may peace he upon him), that he should set apart her share from what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had left from the properties that God had bestowed upon him. Abu Bakr (RA) said to her: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (may peace be npon him) said: "We do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is Sadaqa (charity)." The narrator said: She (Fatima) lived six months after the death of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and she used to demand from Abu Bakr (RA) her share from the legacy of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from Khaibar, Fadak and his charitable endowments at Madinah. Abu Bakr (RA) refused to give her this, and said: I am not going to give up doing anything which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do. I am afraid that if I go against his instructions in any matter I shall deviate from the right course. So far as the charitable endowments at Madinah were concerned, 'Umar handed them over to 'Ali and Abbas, but 'Ali got the better of him (and kept the property under his exclusive possession). And as far as Khaibar and Fadak were concerned 'Umar kept them with him, and said: These are the endowments of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to the Umma. Their income was spent on the discharge of the responsibilities that devolved upon him on the emergencies he had to meet. And their management was to be in the hands of one who managed the affairs (of the Islamic State). The narrator said: They have been managed as such up to this day.

It his been narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is a charitable endowment."

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas bin Malik (RA) who said: When the Muhajirs migrated from Makkah to Madinah; they came (in a state that) they had not anything (i. e. money) in their hands, while the Ansar possessed lands and date palms. They divided their properties with the Muhajirs. The Ansar divided and gave them on the condition that they would give half the fruit from the orchards every year, and the Muhajirs would recompense them by working with them and putting in labour. The mother of Anas bin Malik (RA) was called Umm Sulaim and she was also the mother of 'Abdullah bin Talha who was a brother of Anas from his mother's side. The mother of Anas had given the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) her date-palms. He bestowed them upon Umm Aiman, the slave-girl who had been freed by him and was the mother of Usama bin Zaid. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had finished the war with the people of Khaibar and returned to Madinah, the Muhajirs returned to the Ansar all the gifts which they had given them out of the fruits. (Anas bin Malik (RA) said:) The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) returned to my mother her date-palms and gave to Umm Aiman instead of them date-palms from his orchard. Ibn Shihab says that Umm Aiman was the mother of Usama bin Zaid who was the slave-girl of 'Abdullah bin 'Abd-ul-Muttalib and hailed from Abyssinia. When Amina gave birth to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) after the death of his father, Umm Aiman used to nurse him until he grew up. He (later on) freed her and married her to Zaid bin Haritha. She died five months after the death of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) .

Muammar informed us from Zuhri, who narrated from Ubaidullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah, and he narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him face to face, saying: During the period of the truce that was between me and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I went on a journey. He said: During this time, when I was in Syria, a letter from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was brought to Heraclius, the ruler of Rome in Syria. He said: Dihyah Kalbi (may Allah be pleased with him) brought it and handed it over to the governor of Busra, and the governor of Busra delivered it to Heraclius. So Heraclius said: Is there anyone here from the people of this man who claims to be a prophet? They said: Yes. He said: So I was called along with some men from Quraysh. We came to Heraclius, and he made us sit before him and asked: Who among you is closest in lineage to this man who claims to be a prophet? Abu Sufyan said: I replied: I am. So they made me sit in front of him and my companions behind me. Then he called his interpreter and said to him: Tell them that I am going to ask this man about the one who claims to be a prophet. If he lies to me, then you all should deny him. He said: Abu Sufyan said: By Allah! If I had not been afraid that they would attribute a lie to me, I would have lied. Then he said to his interpreter: Ask him: How is his lineage among you? He said: I replied: He is of noble lineage among us. He asked: Was there any king among his ancestors? I replied: No. He asked: Did you ever accuse him of lying before he said what he said (about prophethood)? I replied: No. He asked: Who are his followers? Are they the noble or the weak? I replied: Rather, they are the weak. He asked: Are they increasing or decreasing? I replied: No, rather they are increasing. He asked: Does anyone among them, after entering his religion, dislike it and apostatize? I replied: No. He asked: Have you fought him? I replied: Yes. He asked: How was your fighting with him? I replied: The fighting between us and him is like the filling of a bucket—sometimes he harms us and sometimes we harm him. He asked: Does he break his promises? I replied: No, we are in a truce with him, and we do not know what he will do in it. He said: By Allah! Except for this one word, I could not add anything else. He asked: Has anyone said this (claim of prophethood) before him? I replied: No. He said to his interpreter: Tell them: I asked you about his lineage, and you said he is of noble lineage among you. That is how the messengers are sent, among the noblest of their people. And I asked: Was there any king among his ancestors? You claimed: No. I thought: If there had been a king among his ancestors, I would have said: He is a man seeking to reclaim the kingdom of his forefathers. And I asked you about his followers: Are they the weak or the noble? You said: Rather, they are the weak. The followers of the messengers are always the weak. And I asked you: Did you ever accuse him of lying before he said what he said? You said: No. So I knew that it is not possible for him to refrain from lying to people and then lie about Allah. And I asked you: Does anyone, after entering his religion, dislike it and leave it? You said: No. When faith enters the heart, it settles there. And I asked you: Are they increasing or decreasing? You said: They are increasing. Faith is like that until it is complete. And I asked you: Have you fought him? You said: Yes, and that the fighting between you and him is like the filling of a bucket—he kills from among you and you kill from among his people. That is how the messengers are tested, then the outcome is in their favor. And I asked you: Does he break his promises? You said: He does not break his promises, and that is how the messengers are; they do not betray. And I asked you: Has anyone said this before him? You said: No. I thought: If someone had said this before him, I would have said: He is a man repeating what was said before. He said: Then he asked: What does he command you to do? I replied: He commands us to pray, to give zakat, to maintain ties of kinship, and to be chaste. He said: If what you say about him is true, then he is indeed a prophet, and I knew that he was about to appear, but I did not think he would be from among you. And if I knew that I could reach him, I would love to meet him, and if I were with him, I would wash his feet, and his kingdom will reach the land beneath my feet. He said: Then he called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and read it. In it was written: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Heraclius, the ruler of Rome. Peace be upon him who follows guidance. To proceed: I invite you with the call of Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe. Accept Islam and Allah will give you your reward twice. But if you turn away, then upon you will be the sin of the peasants (your followers). And: "O People of the Book! Come to a word that is just between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who submit to Allah)." When he finished reading the letter, voices were raised and there was much commotion. He ordered that we be expelled. He said: When we went out, I said to my companions: The matter of the son of Abu Kabshah has become great; even the king of Banu Asfar (the Romans) fears him. He said: After that, I was always certain about the matter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would prevail, until Allah entered Islam into me by overpowering me.