1691 — Ibrāhīm ibn Mūsā al-Jawzī informed us, saying: Yūsuf ibn Mūsā al-Qattān narrated to us, saying: Ubayd Allāh ibn Mūsā narrated to us, saying: Abū Hamzah al-Thumālī informed us, from Shahr ibn Hawshab, who said:

Al-Masīh came to the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—accompanied by al-Āqib and by Qays, his brother. His son, al-Hārith ibn al-Masīh, who was still a boy, was also with him, along with forty powerful men. He asked, “Muhammad, what do you say concerning the Messiah? By Allah, we certainly reject what you say.” It was then revealed to him:

“Indeed, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is like that of Adam: He created him from dust” [Āl Imrān: 59]—to the end of the verse.

Out of reverence for him, he snorted and exclaimed, “What are you saying? Rather, he is Allah!” Allah, Mighty and Majestic, then revealed:

“Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after knowledge has come to you, say, ‘Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves’” [Āl Imrān: 61]—the verse.

When he heard the mention of sons, he became angry, took his son by the hand, and said, “Bring someone equal to this one!” The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—became intensely angry. He then summoned al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Alī, and Fātima—may Allah be pleased with them. He placed al-Hasan at his right, al-Husayn at his left, and Alī and Fātima directly before him, and said, “These are our sons, our women, and ourselves. Bring us their equals.”

Then al-Āqib—meaning his brother—sprang up and said, “I adjure you by Allah not to invoke mutual curses with this man. By Allah, if he is lying, there is no good for you in invoking curses against him; but if he is truthful, a year will not pass with even one of you left to blow upon a sarfah—or a sarf; Ubayd Allāh was unsure which word was used.”

They then concluded a complete peace settlement with him, and he returned.