He said: 'I assign you a task; if you perform it, you shall have from me a reward of one hundred Hara' [purebred camels] and ten Hujur [noble mares] from the finest horses of the Hejaz, and ten thousand dinars, and one hundred Adhiya garments, and one hundred Yemeni robes (hulla), and the same of Yemeni 'Usab [striped fabrics], and a stomach-pouch filled with ambergris and musk. Suraqa said to him: 'In exchange for what?' He replied: 'In exchange for you assassinating Ali; kill him and relieve Quraysh of him, and relieve Mu'awiya of Ali bin Abi Talib. For I heard Abd Manaf [Abu Talib], the father of Ali, come to me one day, and he looked at my son Mu'awiya and said: "Woe to you from Ali! What shall come to you from him?" Since that day, I have been apprehensive of him and fearful for Mu'awiya—that Ali might destroy him.'

At that time, Muhammad and Ali were in Medina. Suraqa said: 'O Abu Sufyan, bring me the wealth and deposit it beside the Kaaba, and take from me a covenant by al-Lat and al-'Uzza that I shall not return except after killing them both at the same time.' 'Uqba bin Abi Mu'ayt said: 'Suraqa has brought you your wish from al-Lat and al-'Uzza; stand and bring what you mentioned.' So my father stood up, and 'Uqba stood with him, and my father said to me: 'Stay with Suraqa until we return.'

They left, and Suraqa began talking to me. Then he went to a scabbard (mijda') of his and drew a sword of such beauty and sharpness that I cannot do justice to its description.