the letter of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. It was read aloud, and it contained the following:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Heraclius, the great leader of Rome.

Peace be upon whoever follows true guidance. To proceed: I invite you with the call of Islam—embrace Islam and you will be safe; embrace Islam and Allah will grant you your reward twice over. But if you turn away, then upon you rests the sin of the arisiyyīn (peasants).

And [Allah says]:

‘Say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, associate nothing with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims.’ (Qur’an 3:64)”

In another narration he asked, “What does he command you to do?”

He answered, “He commands us to worship Allah alone without associating anything with Him, forbids us from what our forefathers used to worship, and enjoins us to perform prayer, give charity, remain chaste, fulfill covenants, and return trusts.”

[Heraclius] then remarked, “These are the characteristics of a prophet.”

As for what King Heraclius, the ruler of the Christians, inferred from his knowledge of the Prophet’s characteristics, it is