the mosque. With this the caliph was greatly pleased. Later they brought their case before him and told him of their paucity in number and of their treatment by ʿUmar ibn-ʿAbd-al-ʿAzîz and Yûsuf ibn-ʿUmar. To this they added, "We are somehow related to thy uncles (on the mother's side), the banu-l-Ḥârith ibn-Kaʿb." ʿAbdallâh ibn-ar-Rabîʿ al-Ḥârithi spoke in their favor; and al-Ḥajjâj ibn-Arṭât confirmed what they claimed. Therefore, abu-l-ʿAbbâs held them responsible only for the 200 robes previously given by them, having a value of 8,000 dirhams.
Ar-Rashîd writes them a favorable statement. Abu-Masʿûd said, "When ar-Rashîd Hârûn became caliph and started for al-Kûfah on his way to the Pilgrimage, they brought their case before him and complained of the harsh treatment of the ʿâmils. By the caliph's orders there was written to them a statement fixing the number at 200 robes. The statement I myself saw. Moreover the caliph ordered that they be freed from dealing with the ʿâmils, and that they pay the dues directly to the treasury."
ʿAmr an-Nâḳid from ibn-Shihâb az-Zuhri:—The following text was revealed against the unbelievers among the Ḳuraish and the Arabs,[1] "Fight therefore against them until there is no more civil discord, and the only worship be that of Allah," and the following against the "People of the Book."[2] "Make war upon such of those to whom the Book has been given as believe not in Allah, or in the last day, and who forbid not that which Allah and his Messenger have forbidden, and who profess not the profession of the truth," etc. to "humbled." Thus the first among the "People of the Book" to pay poll-tax, so far as we know, were the people of Najrân who were Christian. Then, the people of Ailah, Adhruḥ and Adhriʿât paid it in the battle of Tabûk.
