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and prisoners (1), selling them to the Christian unbelievers (2) in Cyprus. They also seized any soldiers who passed through their territory. They were more harmful to the Muslims than all their other enemies. One of their emirs carried the Christians’ banner. They asked him, “Which (3) are better: the Muslims or the Christians?” He replied, “The Christians.” They then asked him, “With whom will you be gathered on the Day of Resurrection?” He replied, “With the Christians.” They also handed over to them (4) some Muslim lands.
(1) H and B: *wa-l-usārā* (“and the captives”).
(2) H and B: “to the unbelievers and the Christians.”
(3) N and M: *min* (“who”).
(4) H: *lahum* (“to them”).
وَالْأَسْرَى
(١)
وَبَاعُوهُمْ لِلْكُفَّارِ النَّصَارَى
(٢)
بِقُبْرُصَ، وَأَخَذُوا مَنْ مَرَّ بِهِمْ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ، وَكَانُوا أَضَرَّ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْأَعْدَاءِ، وَحَمَلَ بَعْضُ أُمَرَائِهِمْ رَايَةَ النَّصَارَى،
وَقَالُوا لَهُ:
أَيُّمَا
(٣)
خَيْرٌ: الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَوِ النَّصَارَى؟
فَقَالَ:
بَلِ النَّصَارَى.
فَقَالُوا لَهُ:
مَعَ مَنْ تُحْشَرُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؟
فَقَالَ:
مَعَ النَّصَارَى. وَسَلَّمُوا إِلَيْهِمْ
(٤)
بَعْضَ بِلَادِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ.
(١) ح، ب: وَالْأُسَارَى.
(٢) ح، ب: لِلْكُفَّارِ وَالنَّصَارَى.
(٣) ن، م: مِنْ.
(٤) ح: لَهُمْ.