the Jews and Christians became divided. (1)

Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us, from Zahir ibn Ahmad, from Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi, from Abu Mus'ab, from Malik, from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah, Exalted is He, approves of three matters for you and disapproves of three matters for you. He approves that you worship Him and do not associate anything with Him; that you all hold fast to the rope of Allah; and that you offer sincere counsel to those whom Allah has placed in authority over your affairs. And He disapproves for you idle talk, squandering wealth, and excessive questioning.” (2)

Regarding His words, Exalted is He: “And remember Allah’s favour upon you, when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together”: Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar and other authorities on historical reports said: “The Aws and the Khazraj were two brothers, sharing the same father and mother. Enmity arose between them because of a slain man, and that enmity and warfare continued between them for one hundred and twenty years, until Allah, Exalted is He, extinguished it through Islam and united them (3) through His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

“The cause of their reconciliation was that Suwayd ibn al-Samit, of Banu Amr ibn Awf, who was a nobleman whom his people called ‘the Perfect Man’ because of his fortitude and lineage, came to Mecca for the pilgrimage or the lesser pilgrimage. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had been sent and commanded to call people to Allah. When he heard of Suwayd, he approached him and called him to Allah, Exalted is He, and to Islam. Suwayd said to him, ‘Perhaps what you have is like what I have.’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, ‘What is it that you have?’ He replied, ‘The scrolls of Luqman’—meaning his wisdom. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, (4) ‘Present them to me.’ So he presented them to him, and he said, ‘This is fine speech. But I have something better than this: a Quran which Allah has sent down to me as a light and guidance.’ He then recited the Quran to him and called him to Islam. Suwayd did not turn away from it (5), and said, ‘This is indeed fine speech.’ (6) He then returned to Medina, but before the Day of Bu'ath the Khazraj killed him. His people would say, ‘He was killed as a Muslim.’

Then Abu al-Haysar Anas ibn Rafi came, along with ⦗65/a⦘ a group from Banu al-Ashhal, among whom was Iyas ibn Mu'adh, seeking an alliance from Quraysh against a group of the Khazraj. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, heard of them, he came to them and sat with them. He said, ‘Would you not prefer something better than that for which you have come?’ They asked, ‘What is that?’ He said, ‘I am the Messenger of Allah. He has sent me to His servants, calling them not to associate anything with Allah; and He has sent down to me the Book.’ He then explained Islam to them and recited the Quran to them. Iyas ibn Mu'adh, who was a young boy, said, ‘My people, by Allah, this is better than that for which you have come.’ Abu al-Haysar took a handful of gravel and struck Iyas in the face with it.