their rich and distribute it to their poor.

He said, “That is a fine moral trait. But what exactly is ṣadaqah (almsgiving)?” I then explained to him what the Messenger of Allah had prescribed as obligatory alms on various kinds of wealth, until I reached the rulings on camels. He asked, “ʿAmr, is it taken even from the freely grazing livestock (sawāʾim) of our herds that feed among the trees and drink at the watering places?” I replied, “Yes.” He said, “By Allah, given the remoteness of my people (1) and their large numbers, I do not think they will comply with that.”

I remained at his door for several days while he would visit his brother and relate to him everything about me.

One day he summoned me. I entered, and his attendants seized me by both arms. He said, “Leave him,” so they let go of me. I moved to sit down, but they refused to allow it, so I looked at him and he said, “State your request.” I handed him the letter, sealed. He broke the seal and read it through to the end, then passed it to his brother, who read it (2) in the same manner—though I found his brother gentler than he.

He then asked, “Will you not tell me what Quraysh have done?” I said, “They have followed him: some out of sincere desire for Islam, others subdued by the sword.” He said, “And who is with him?” I replied, “People have inclined toward Islam and preferred it over all else. With their own reason—together with Allah’s guidance—they have realized that they were in error. I know of no one left in this predicament but you; if you do not accept Islam today and follow him, cavalry will trample you and lay waste to everything green around you. Embrace Islam and you will be secure; he will install you over your people, and neither horses nor men will invade you.”

He said, “Give me this day, and return to me tomorrow.” So I went back to his brother, who said, “ʿAmr, I hope he will accept Islam, provided he is not too possessive (3) of his kingdom.”