following him; for he is indeed the Arab Prophet (1) of whom Jesus son of Mary gave glad tidings—and, by Allah, he is expressly recorded in our Gospel (2).

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Al-Waqidi relates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched Shujaʿ ibn Wahb to al-Harith ibn Abi Shamir while the latter was in the Ghouta of Damascus, and that on his return from al-Hudaybiyyah he wrote him this letter:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to al-Harith ibn Abi Shamir. Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance, believes in it, and affirms it. I invite you to believe in Allah alone, without partner, and your sovereignty shall remain yours.” He then sealed the letter.

Shujaʿ ibn Wahb set out with it and said: I reached his chamberlain and found him (3) that day occupied with preparing lodgings and gifts for Caesar, who was travelling from Hims to Aelia—where Allah had repelled from him the hosts of Persia—in thanksgiving to Allah. I stayed at the gate for two or three days and said to the chamberlain, “I am the envoy of the Messenger of Allah to him.” The chamberlain replied, “You will not be admitted until he comes out on such-and-such a day.”

That chamberlain—he was a Roman named Muri—kept questioning me about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and what he was calling people to. I would answer him, and his heart would soften until tears overpowered him, and he would say, “I have read in the Gospel and find the very description of this Prophet. I used to think he would arise in Syria, and now I see that he has (2)