and I shall grant them victory so long as they acknowledge it. It is the religion of truth: whoever turns away from it is abased, and whoever clings to it is ennobled.
Rustam said to him, “What, then, is it?”
He replied, “Its indispensable pillar—without which nothing else avails—is the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, together with affirming all that has come from Allah.”
Rustam said, “How excellent this is! And what else?”
He said, “To bring the servants out from worshipping servants to the worship of Allah alone.”
Rustam said, “That, too, is good. And what else?”
He answered, “People are all the children of Adam; they are brothers through one father and one mother.”
Rustam said, “That also is good.”
Then Rustam asked, “Tell me: if we enter your religion, will you withdraw from our land?”
He replied, “Indeed—by Allah. After that we shall not approach your territory except for trade or some need.”
Rustam said, “That, too, is good.”
(He said): When al-Mughīrah left him, Rustam conferred with the leaders of his people about Islam, but they found it beneath them and refused to embrace it—may Allah disfigure and disgrace them, and so He did.
[Rustam and Ribʿī ibn ʿĀmir]
They said (1): Saʿd then sent to Rustam another envoy at his request—Ribʿī ibn ʿĀmir. Ribʿī entered at a time when they had adorned the audience chamber with gilded cushions (2) and silk carpets (3), had displayed priceless rubies, pearls, and splendid ornaments. Rustam wore his crown and other precious regalia as he sat upon a throne of gold.
Ribʿī, however, came in wearing coarse garments (4), carrying a sword and shield, mounted on a short pony. He remained on horseback until he trampled the edge of the carpet, then dismounted, tied the animal to one of the cushions, and advanced, still in full armor, with his mail coat on and his helmet upon his head.
They said to him, “Put down your weapons.”
He replied, “I did not come to you of my own accord; rather, you summoned me. Leave me as I am, or I shall return.”
Rustam said, “Allow him.”
So Ribʿī stepped forward, leaning on his spear and piercing most of the cushions as he walked.
They asked him, “What has brought you here?”
He said, “Allah has sent us to bring forth whom He wills from worshipping servants to the worship of Allah, from the constriction of this world to its expanse, and from the tyranny of religions to the justice of Islam. He has dispatched us with His religion to His creation so that we may invite them to it. Whoever accepts, we accept him and leave him be; whoever refuses, we fight him continually until we attain the promise (5) of Allah.”
They asked, “And what is the promise of Allah?”
He said, “Paradise for the one who is killed while fighting those who refuse, and victory for the one who survives.”
Rustam said, “I have heard your words. Would you be willing to postpone this matter so that we may consider it and you likewise may consider?”
He replied, “Certainly. How long would you like—one day or two?”
Rustam said, “No; rather, until we write to the people of counsel and the leaders among our nation.”
He said, “The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—has not allowed us to defer the enemy at the point of encounter for more than three days. So examine your affair and theirs, and after the respite choose one of three options.”
Rustam asked, “Are you their leader?”
He replied, “No. But the Muslims are like a single body; the protection granted by their lowliest is binding upon their highest.”
Rustam then gathered with the chiefs of his people and said, “Have you ever heard speech more dignified or weightier than that of this man?”
They said, “Allah forbid that you incline to anything of this, abandoning your faith for the sake of that dog. Do you not see his clothes?”
He said, “Woe to you! Look not at the clothes…"