the Jews of Yathrib? Are they not the people of the Torah?’

We replied, ‘They opposed him, so he struck them: he killed some, took others captive, and they scattered in every direction.’

He said, ‘They are a jealous folk who begrudged him. Yet they know about him what we know.’

Al-Mughīrah continued, ‘We rose from his presence having heard words that rendered us humble before Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, and inclined our hearts toward him. We said to one another, “The kings of distant nations believe in him and fear him even though they share no kinship with him, while we—his own relatives and neighbors—have not joined him, though he has come calling at our very homes.”

‘So I returned to my residence and stayed for a time in Alexandria. I would not pass a church without entering it, questioning its bishops—Copts and Byzantines alike—about what they found concerning the description of Muhammad, peace be upon him. Among them was a Coptic bishop, the head of the Church of John; the people would bring their sick to him and he would pray for them. Never have I seen anyone exert himself in worship more than he did.

‘I went to him and asked, “Is there yet another prophet to come?”

‘He answered, “Yes. He is the last of the prophets; there is no prophet between him and Jesus, son of Mary. He is a messenger, and Jesus commanded us to follow him. He is the unlettered Arab prophet whose name is Ahmad. He is neither tall nor short; there is a slight redness in his eyes; he is neither pale nor dark. He lets his hair grow, wears coarse garments, and is satisfied with what…"