at Nahavand, Bandar—the Persian—sent word to them: “O Arabs, send us one of your men so that we may speak with him.” The people chose al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah. My father said: It is as though I can see him now: a tall, hairy, one-eyed man. He went to him, and when he returned to us, we asked him about it. He said:
“I found that the Persian had consulted his companions: ‘In what manner shall you allow this Arab to see us? Shall it be with our finery, splendour, and royal power, or shall we affect austerity before him, so that he will lose interest in what we possess?’ They said: ‘Rather, let him see us in the finest adornment and with the greatest display of arms.’
“When I saw them, I saw spears and shields whose gleam dazzled the eye, and I saw them standing over his head. There he was, seated upon a golden throne, with a crown upon his head. I proceeded just as I was, and lowered my head to sit beside him on the throne, but I was pushed away and rebuked. I said, ‘Envoys are not treated in this way.’ They said to me, ‘You are only a dog! Would you sit with the king?!’ I replied, ‘I hold a nobler rank among my people than this man holds among you.’ He rebuked me and said, ‘Sit down.’ So I sat down.
“His words were interpreted for me. He said: ‘O Arabs, you were the most afflicted by hunger, the most miserable of people, the filthiest in condition, the most remote in dwelling, and the furthest from every good. The only thing that has prevented me from ordering these Persian horsemen around me to pierce you with arrows is my aversion to being defiled by your carcasses, for you are impure. If you leave, you will be left alone; but if you refuse, we shall show you where you will fall dead.’
“Al-Mughirah said: ‘I praised Allah and extolled Him, then said: By Allah, you have not missed anything in your description and portrayal of us. We were indeed the most remote in dwelling, the most afflicted by hunger, the most miserable of people, and the furthest from every good—until Allah sent us a Messenger and promised us victory in this world and Paradise in the Hereafter. Ever since His Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—came to us, we have continued to receive success and victory from our Lord, until we came to you. By Allah, we see that you possess a kingdom and a life of ease, and we shall never return to that misery until we overcome you and take what is in your hands, or are killed in your land.’
“He said: ‘As for the one-eyed man, he has truthfully told you what is in his heart.’ I rose and left him, and by Allah, I had frightened the Persian as much as I could. The Persian then sent word to us: ‘Either cross over to us at Nahavand, or we shall cross over to you.’ Al-Numan said: ‘Cross over.’