I reached Busra, where a group of Christians came to me and asked, “Are you from the Sacred Precinct?” I replied, “Yes.” They said, “Then you must know the man who has claimed prophethood among you.” I answered, “Yes.”

They took me by the hand and led me into one of their monasteries that contained various statues and portraits. “Look,” they said, “do you see a portrait of the Prophet who has been sent among you?” I looked but did not see his likeness and replied, “I do not see it.”

They then brought me into a monastery larger than the first, filled with even more portraits. “Look,” they said, “do you see his portrait now?” I looked, and there before me was the very likeness of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and his image, and beside it the likeness of Abu Bakr, holding on to the heel of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him.

They said to me, “Look—do you see his likeness?” I replied, “Yes.” They asked, “Is it this one?” and they pointed to