and met Ubayy, who said, “Perhaps you have regretted it?” Abu Bakr replied, “No. Come, then: I shall increase the stake and extend the term.” He said, “Make it one hundred young she-camels [and one hundred young she-camels] (1), with a term of nine years”—though it is also said, seven years. Abu Bakr said, “I have done so.”
When Ubayy ibn Khalaf feared that Abu Bakr might leave Mecca, he came to him and held him fast, saying, “I fear that you may leave Mecca, so provide me with a guarantor.” Abu Bakr gave his son, Abd Allah ibn Abi Bakr, as his guarantor. Then, when Ubayy ibn Khalaf wished to leave for Uhud, Abd Allah ibn Abi Bakr came to him and held him fast, saying, “By Allah, I shall not let you go until you provide me with a guarantor.” So he gave him a guarantor.
Ubayy ibn Khalaf then went out to Uhud and later returned. He died in Mecca from the wound inflicted upon him by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he faced him in single combat. The Romans overcame Persia on the day of al-Hudaybiyyah, at the beginning of the seventh year from the time of their wager. It is also said that this took place on the day of Badr.
Al-Sha'bi said: Before the term agreed upon for the wager between the people of Mecca—whose betting representative was Ubayy ibn Khalaf—and the Muslims—whose representative was Abu Bakr—had elapsed, and this was before gambling was prohibited, the Romans defeated Persia. They tethered their horses at al-Mada'in and built al-Rumiyyah. Thus Abu Bakr won his wager against Ubayy and took the stake-money from Ubayy’s heirs. He brought it, carrying it to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said to him, “Give it in charity.”
According to what Ikrimah and others related, the reason for the Roman victory over Persia was that, after the Romans had been defeated, Shahrayaraz continued to overrun them and lay waste to their cities until he reached the Gulf. One day, while his brother Farakhan was sitting and drinking, he said to his companions, “I saw in a dream that I was sitting upon Kisra’s throne.” His words reached Kisra, who wrote to Shahrayaraz: “When my letter reaches you, send me Farakhan’s head.”
Shahrayaraz wrote back: “O King, you will not find anyone like Farakhan. He has great effectiveness and renown against the enemy, so do not do this.” Kisra wrote back: “Among the men of Persia there are others to take his place, so send his head without delay.” Shahrayaraz appealed to him again, whereupon Kisra became angry and did not reply. Instead, he dispatched a courier to the people of Persia, announcing: “I have removed Shahrayaraz from authority over you and appointed Farakhan the king over you.” He then gave the courier a small document commanding him to kill Shahrayaraz, and said, “When Farakhan assumes the kingship and his brother submits to him, give it to him.”
When Shahrayaraz read the letter, he said, “I hear and obey.” He descended from his throne, and Farakhan sat upon it. The document was then handed to him, and he said, “Bring Shahrayaraz to me.” Shahrayaraz was brought forward to have his head struck off, but he said, “Do not be hasty with me until I write my will.” Farakhan said, “Very well.” Shahrayaraz called for a casket and gave him three documents, saying, “In every one of these, I pleaded your case with Kisra, yet you wish to kill me on the basis of a single letter?” So Farakhan restored the kingdom to his brother.
Shahrayaraz then wrote to Caesar, king of the Romans: “I have a matter to discuss with you which couriers cannot carry and letters cannot convey. Meet me, but meet me only with fifty Romans, for I shall meet you with fifty Persians.” Caesar set out with five hundred thousand Romans, placing scouts ahead of him along the roads, for he feared treachery. At last, his scouts informed him that Shahrayaraz had no more than fifty men with him. A carpet was spread out for the two of them, and they met in a brocade tent erected for them. Each of them had a knife, and they summoned an interpreter to stand between them,