and we become the first Arabs to strike him in the eye and overturn his cause, neither he nor his people will ever let it rest until they visit us with a calamity.(1) We are, after all, the Arab tribe that lives closest to them. On the other hand, if this man is a Prophet sent by God and we engage him in mutual imprecation, not a single hair or fingernail of ours would remain on the face of the earth—we would all be destroyed.

His two companions said to him, “What do you advise, Abū Maryam? Circumstances have put you on the spot, so give us your opinion.” He replied, “My view is that we recognise him as arbitrator, for I see that the man never issues an unjust ruling.” They answered, “Very well, it is up to you.”

Shuraḥbīl then met the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “I have found something better than conducting mutual imprecation with you.” He ﷺ asked,(2) “What is it?” Shuraḥbīl said, “I appoint you as arbitrator from now until nightfall, and through the night until dawn; whatever judgment you pass concerning us shall stand.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Is there perhaps someone behind you who will fault you for this?” Shuraḥbīl replied, “Ask my two companions.” So he questioned them, and they said, “We neither set out nor return except in accordance with Shuraḥbīl’s judgment.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ therefore withdrew and did not proceed with the mutual imprecation. The next day they came to him, and he wrote for them a treaty of peace and non-aggression;(3) they received their document and set off for Najran.

The bishop and the leading men of Najran met them at a distance of one night’s journey from the town,(4) accompanied by the bishop’s half-brother—who was also his cousin—named Abū ʿAlqamah. The delegation handed the bishop the letter from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. While he was reading it, with Abū ʿAlqamah riding beside him, Abū ʿAlqamah’s camel stumbled and threw him; he cursed himself, making no attempt to disguise that he was speaking about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.