Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar said: The followers of the Gospel fell into disorder, sins became widespread among them, and their kings grew tyrannical, until they worshipped idols and offered sacrifices to false deities. Yet there remained among them some who adhered to the religion of the Messiah, holding fast to the worship of Allah and to His oneness.
Among the kings who did this was a Roman king called Decianus. He worshipped idols, sacrificed to false deities, and killed those who opposed him. He would travel through the towns of the Romans, and would not leave anyone in a town he entered without putting him to trial: either he worshipped idols and sacrificed to false deities, or he was killed.
Eventually, he came to the city of the People of the Cave, namely Ephesus. When he entered it, the believers were greatly distressed; they concealed themselves from him and fled in every direction. Upon arriving in the city, Decianus ordered that the believers be pursued and gathered before him. He appointed a force from among the disbelieving inhabitants to seek out the believers in their hiding places and bring them before Decianus. He would then give them the choice between death and worshipping idols and sacrificing to false deities. Some desired to preserve their lives, while others refused to worship any besides Allah, and so were killed.
When those firm in faith in Allah saw this, they began surrendering themselves to torture and death. They were killed and dismembered; then the parts cut from their bodies were hung upon the city walls on every side, and upon each of its gates, until the persecution became severe.
When the youths saw this, they grieved intensely. They devoted themselves to prayer, fasting, charity, glorification of Allah, and supplication. They were nobles among the Romans, and they were eight men. They wept and humbly implored Allah, saying: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We shall never call upon any god besides Him; indeed, if we were to worship another besides Him, we would then have spoken an outrageous falsehood. Remove this persecution from Your believing servants, and lift this affliction from them, so that they may openly worship You.”
While they were in this state, having entered a place of prayer belonging to them, the guards came upon them and found them prostrating with their faces to the ground, weeping and humbly imploring Allah. They said to them, “What has kept you from obeying the king’s command? Go to him!” Then they left and reported their case to Decianus, saying, “You gather the people to sacrifice to your gods, while these youths, who are from your own household, mock you and disobey your command!”
When he heard this, he sent for them. They were brought before him with their eyes overflowing with tears and their faces covered in dust. He said to them, “What prevented you from attending the sacrifice to our gods, which are worshipped throughout the land, and from setting yourselves as an example for the leaders of your city? Choose: either sacrifice to our gods, or I shall kill you.”
Maksalmina, who was the eldest among them, said: “We have a God whose majesty fills the heavens and the earth. We shall never call upon any god besides Him. To Him belong all praise, magnification, and glorification, offered sincerely by us forever. Him alone we worship, and from Him alone we seek deliverance and goodness. As for the false deities, we shall never worship them. So do with us whatever you see fit.” Maksalmina’s companions said to Decianus the same as he had said.