Christians made terms with al-ʿAlâʾ and this is a copy of the statement written between the two parties:
"In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. These are the terms agreed upon between al-ʿAlâʾ ibn-al-Ḥaḍrami and the people of al-Baḥrain. It is agreed that they will save us [the Moslems] the trouble of work, and divide with us the dates; and whosoever of them fails to keep this may the curse of Allah, the angels, and the world altogether be upon him." As for the poll-tax, al-ʿAlâʾ assessed one dînâr on every adult.
The letter of the Prophet. ʿAbbâs ibn-Hishâm from ibn-ʿAbbâs:—This is what the Prophet wrote to the people of al-Baḥrain:
"Greetings! If ye observe prayer, give zakât, remain loyal to Allah and his Prophet, pay the tithe of the dates and half the tithe of the grains, and do not bring up your children as Magians, then ye will be treated according to the terms agreed upon when ye became Moslem, with the exception of the fire-temple that is to be delivered to Allah and his Prophet. If, however, ye refuse, then tax will be incumbent on you."
The Magians and Jews prefer tax. The Magians and Jews, however, refused Islâm and preferred the payment of poll-tax. Upon this, the hypocrites among the Arabs remarked, "The Prophet pretended that he would accept poll-tax from none outside the 'People of the Book', but, here he is accepting it from the Magians of Hajar who are not 'People of the Book." On this occasion the text was revealed—"O ye that have believed! take heed to yourselves. He who erreth shall not hurt you when ye have the guidance."[1] According to certain reports, the Prophet sent al-ʿAlâʾ at the time he sent his envoys to the kings in the year 6.[2]
