there they stood, praying in the mosque facing the east. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Leave them be.” Later they came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, but he turned away from them and spoke not a word. ʿUthmān said to them, “He did that because of the way you are dressed.” They therefore withdrew for the rest of that day.

The next morning they returned in the dress of monks, greeted him with peace, and he returned their greeting. He then invited them to Islam, but they refused, and lengthy discussion and debate followed. He recited the Quran to them and said, “If you reject what I say, then come—let us invoke Allah’s curse upon the liars.” They left in that state.

The following morning ʿAbd al-Masīḥ and two of their leading men came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “It has become clear to us that we should not engage in mutual imprecation with you. Judge us as you see fit; we shall give you what you ask and make peace.”

He concluded a treaty with them: two thousand garments to be delivered in Rajab, one thousand in Ṣafar—or the equivalent value of each garment in awāqī of silver—and the loan of thirty coats of mail, thirty spears, thirty camels, and thirty horses should any hostilities arise in Yemen.

Najrān and its retinue were granted the protection (jiwār) of Allah and the covenant of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, over their persons, their religion, their land, their wealth, those present and those absent, and their churches: no bishop shall be removed from his episcopal office, no monk from his monastic life, and no custodian from his custodianship. Witnesses from among them attested to this.