
0 King, we were
an unenlightened people plunged in ignorance, we worshipped idols, we ate dead animals, and we committed abominations; we
broke natural ties, we ill- treated our
neighbours and our strong devoured the weak. We thus lived until God raised amongst us an Apostle, of whose noble birth and
lineage, truthfulness, honesty and purity we
were aware. He invited us to acknowledge the Unity of God and to worship Him, and to renounce the stones and idols we and
our forefathers used to venerate. He
enjoined us to speak the truth, to redeem our pledges, to be kind and considerate to our kin and neighbours; he bade us to
refrain from every vice, bloodshed, shamelessness,
lies, and deceit; and asked us not to encroach upon the substance of orphans nor to vilify chaste women. He commanded us to
pay divine honours to Allah alone and
never associate aught with Him; He ordered us to offer prayers, to pay the poor- due, to observe the fast (thus enumerating other
injunctions of Islam). We acknowledged
his truth and believed in him; we followed him in whatever he brought from Allah; and we worshipped only One God without
associating aught with Him. We treated as
unlawful what he forbade and accepted what he made lawful for us.(Ibn Hisham)