The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATH~R 29
Ultimately, the people of Yemen having so long suffered in misery, Sayf b.
Dha Yazan, the Himyarite, became rebellious. His genealogy was Sayf b. Dha
Yazan b. Dhii Asb& b. Mslik h. Zayd h. Sahl b.CAmr h. Qays b. Mu%wiya h.
Jashm b. 'Abd Shams h. Wz'il b. al-Ghawth h. Qumn b. 'Arib b. Zuhayr b.
Ayman h. al-Hamaysac b. alLCAranjaj, the last being Himyar h. Saba'. Sayf was
also known as Aha Murra.
He made his way to the Byzantine emperor and complained to him of the
state of affairs in Yemen, asking him to oust the Abyssinians and appoint hi
governor there. He suggested the emperor send from Byzantium whatever
troops he thought necessary for this purpose and so himself would become king
of Yemen. The emperor declined.
So Sayf went to al-NuCmxn b. al-Mundhir, who was Chosroe's vice-regent
over al-Hrra and the neighbouring territories in Iraq, and complained to him
about the Abyssinians. Al-Nub% responded that every year he sent an official
delegation to Chosroe, and invited Sayf to stay with him until then. Sayf
agreed.
Sayf later did accompany al-Nucm%n, who took him in to see Chosroe, seated
in the chamber where his crown was kept. His crown was like a large grain
bucket and was, so they say, set with rubies, chrysolites, pearls, gold, and silver,
suspended by a gold chain from the dome of his audience chamber. His neck did
not bear the crown; he was kept hidden by a cloth until he sat down there. Then
he would put his head into his crown. When he was thus positioned on his
throne, the cloth would be removed. All who saw him for the first time would
kneel down in awe of hi.
When Sayf entered he bowed his head down low, and the king commented,
"It is really stupid to come in through such a tall doorway and bow one's head
down so low! "
When this remark was transmitted to Sayf, he responded that he had only
done this out of his preoccupying distress that overwhelmed all else. He then
went on to say, "0 king, crows have taken charge of our country!"
"What crows?" Chosroe asked, "the ones from Abyssinia or from Sind?"
"From Abyssinia. I've come to ask your help; and you shall have kingship
over all our land."
Chosroe replied, "Your country is far away, and its riches meagre. I'm not
going to embroil an army from Persia in Arabia. I don't need that."
He then presented Sayf with 10,000 pure-minted dirhams and a robe of
honour. Having received these, Sayf went outside and began distributing the
money to people. When the emperor heard of this he wondered why, and so sent
for him and asked hi why he was throwing away a king's gift to people.
Sayf replied, "What else am I to do with your gift? Are not the mountains of
my country made of gold and silver?"