—for they are our kin and live under our covenant (1).
The two monks replied, “It is a distant relationship—one that only the prophets can maintain—yet it is well known and noble. She was the daughter of our king, a woman of Memphis where the royalty resided. Then the people of Heliopolis overcame them, killed them, stripped them of their kingdom, and scattered abroad; that is how she came into the possession of Abraham (peace be upon him). We greet him with welcome and honour. Grant us safe-conduct until we return to you.”
ʿAmr said, “A man such as I is not to be deceived; nonetheless, I give you a respite of three days so that you may reflect and consult your people. After that I shall meet you in battle.”
They asked, “Add to it.” So he granted them another day. They said, “Add again,” and he extended it by yet one more day.
The two returned to al-Muqawqis, but Artabun refused to heed them and ordered preparations for war. They told the Egyptians, “We shall do our utmost to defend you and will not go back to them.” Four days of the truce remained, and Artabun advised them to launch a night attack against the Muslims. The notables, however, said, “Why fight a people who have killed Khosroes and Caesar and have taken their territories?” Even so, Artabun pressed them to strike the Muslims by night; they did so but achieved nothing—in fact, a number of them were killed, Artabun among them.
On the fourth day the Muslims laid siege to Heliopolis in Egypt. Al-Zubayr scaled the city wall; when the inhabitants realised this, they came out through another gate to ʿAmr and sued for peace. Al-Zubayr passed straight through the town until he emerged at the gate where ʿAmr stood, and the treaty was ratified. ʿAmr then wrote for them a document of security:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. This is what ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ grants to the people of Egypt: security for their lives, their religion, their property, their churches, their crosses, their land and their sea. None of these shall be entered, diminished, or violated, nor shall the Nubians dwell among them. The people of Egypt shall pay the jizyah when they have agreed to this pact and when the rise of their Nile reaches fifty million; they are also liable for the tax on the produce of their lands (5). If any one of them refuses to comply, the amount corresponding to him shall be lifted, and our covenant toward the one who refuses is void.
“If the Nile falls short of its normal height, a corresponding reduction shall be made. Whoever from the Byzantines or the Nubians enters their pact shall have the same rights and bear the same obligations. Whoever refuses and chooses to depart is safe until he reaches his place of security or leaves our dominion. Their dues are to be collected in three instalments, a third at each collection.
“These terms rest upon the covenant of Allah, the guarantee of His Messenger, the guarantee of the Caliph, Commander of the Believers, and the guarantees of the believers. The Nubians who have responded shall supply such-and-such number of heads (of livestock) and such-and-such horses, on condition that they neither raid nor obstruct trade, whether incoming or outgoing (6).
“Witnessed by al-Zubayr, and by his two sons ʿAbd Allah and Muhammad; written by Wardan, who was present.”
All the people of Egypt accepted these terms and entered the treaty. The cavalry gathered in Egypt, and al-Fusṭāṭ was settled. Abū Maryam and Abū Miryān then appeared and spoke with ʿAmr concerning the captives who had been taken after