(Of mankind) this is 'Ayyash Ibn Abi Rabi'ah al-Makhzumi (is he who saith: We believe in Allah) we are sincere in our profession of Allah's divine Oneness, (but, if he be made to suffer for the sake of Allah) if he is tortured for the sake of Allah's religion, (he mistaketh the persecution of mankind) their flogging (for Allah's punishment) in the Fire; such that he abandons Islam and reverts to his old religion; (and then, if victory cometh from your Lord) the conquest of Mecca, (will say) 'Ayyash and his host will say: (Lo! we were with you (all the while)) following your religion. (Is not Allah best aware of what is in the bosoms of (His) creatures) of good and evil? 'Ayyash and his friends embraced Islam afterwards and lived as good Muslims.