and supplicated: “O Allah, rip their dominion to pieces—tear it completely apart!” From then on, no sovereignty remained in their hands.

Ibn ʿAbbās said: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥudhāfah with his letter to Chosroes. ʿAbdullāh handed it to the governor of Bahrain, who in turn delivered it to Chosroes. When Chosroes read it, he tore it up, whereupon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, invoked against them that they be torn utterly to shreds.”

Ibn Isḥāq relates: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, wrote to both Chosroes and Caesar. Chosroes, upon reading the letter, ripped it apart, whereas Caesar, after reading his, folded it and laid it beside him. When this reached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he said: ‘As for these—meaning Chosroes—they shall be rent asunder, but as for those, a remnant of their rule will endure.’”

Ibn Isḥāq further said: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, dispatched…”