—the king handed him over to a group of his men and said:

Attempt to Throw Him from the Mountain—and His Rescue
“Take him to such-and-such a mountain. Go up with him, and when you reach its summit¹, if he recants his faith, let him be; otherwise, hurl him down.”

They took him and climbed the mountain. The boy prayed, “O Allah, protect me from them in whatever manner You will.” The mountain quaked beneath them² and they all fell, while he walked back to the king.

The king asked, “What became of your companions?”

He answered, “Allah spared me from them.”

Attempt to Drown Him in the Sea—and His Rescue
The king then handed him to another party of his men and said, “Take him and put him in a small boat³. Sail to the middle of the sea; if he recants his faith, let him be, but if not, throw him overboard.”

They set out with him. The boy prayed, “O Allah, protect me from them in whatever manner You will.” The boat capsized with them⁴ and they drowned, while he walked back to the king.

The king asked, “What became of your companions?”

He replied, “Allah spared me from them.”

Then he said to the king, “You will never be able to kill me unless you do what I order you to do.”