the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. While I was in Syria he went on to cite Ibrāhīm’s version of the report.
Yūnus ibn Bukayr also related it, from Ibn Isḥāq, from az-Zuhrī with his chain. In that wording Abū Sufyān says:
“When the truce of al-Ḥudaybiyah was in force between us and the Prophet ﷺ, I set out for Syria on a trading journey. By Allah, there was not a man or woman in Mecca who did not entrust some merchandise to me. I reached Gaza at the very time when Caesar had just defeated the Persians who were in his territories and had expelled them, and when his greatest Cross had been restored to him. His residence was in Ḥimṣ, yet he left it in gratitude and travelled to the Holy House (Jerusalem); carpets were spread before him and sweet herbs scattered upon them until he arrived at Īliyāʾ, where he performed the prayer.
One morning he awoke troubled, repeatedly lifting his gaze toward the sky. His courtiers said, ‘O king, you have awakened distressed.’ He replied, ‘Indeed.’ They asked, ‘And why is that?’ He said, ‘This night I was shown that the kingdom of the circumcised has become dominant.’
They said, ‘By Allah, we know of no nation that practises circumcision except the Jews, and they are under your hand and within your realm. If they are the cause of what preoccupies you, then issue orders throughout your dominions so that no Jew remains without his neck being struck, and you will be rid of this anxiety.’
While they were engaged in this discussion, a messenger from the governor of Buṣrā arrived, bringing with him an Arab who had fallen into their hands. The messenger said, ‘O king, this man is an Arab, a herder of sheep and camels, who can tell you about an event that has occurred in his land; question him about it.’
When the man was brought before him, Heraclius said to his interpreter, ‘Ask him: what is this affair that has taken place in his country?’ The interpreter asked, and the man replied, ‘A man from Quraysh has appeared, claiming to be a prophet. Some people have followed him while others have opposed him, and fierce battles have ensued between them.’
Heraclius said, ‘Strip him.’ When they stripped him, he was found to be circumcised. Heraclius exclaimed, ‘By Allah, this is the one I was shown, not what you imagine.’
He then summoned the chief of his police and ordered, ‘Search Syria, high and low, until you bring me a man from this fellow’s people so that I may question him about his matter. By Allah…’