“Write (1): ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.’” Suhayl said, “As for ‘the Most Merciful,’ I do not know (2) what that is. Rather, write: ‘In Your name, O Allah,’ as you used to write.” The Muslims said, “By Allah, we will write nothing but ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.’” The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “Write: ‘In Your name, O Allah.’”

Then he said, “This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has agreed to.” Suhayl said, “By Allah, if we knew that you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not have barred you from the House or fought you. Rather, write: ‘Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh.’” The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “By Allah, I am indeed the Messenger of Allah, even if you deny me. Write: ‘Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh.’”

Al-Zuhrī said: This was because he had said, “If they ask me for any arrangement that honors what Allah has made sacred, I will grant it to them.”

The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “On condition that you allow (3) us access to the Sacred Mosque to circumambulate it” (4). Suhayl said, “By Allah, the Arabs must not say that we were coerced. Rather, that (5) will be next year (6).” So he wrote it down.

Suhayl said, “And on condition that (7) no man from among us comes to you, even if he follows your religion, without your returning him to us.” The Muslims said, “Glory be to Allah! How can he be returned to the polytheists when he has come as a Muslim?” While they were thus engaged, there came (8) Abū Jandal ibn Suhayl