"I was a Persian man from the people of Isfahan, from a village called Jay. My father was the chief of his village, and I was the most beloved of Allāh's creation to him. His love for me was such that he kept me in his house, as one keeps a girl confined, and I was devoted to Zoroastrianism to the extent that I was the one who tended the fire, not allowing it to go out even for a moment. He said: My father had a large estate. One day, he was preoccupied with some construction work, so he said to me: 'O my son, I am busy with this construction today, so go and look after my estate and carry out some of my wishes there.' So I went intending to go to his estate, and I passed by a church of the Christians. I heard their voices as they were praying, and I did not know what the people were doing because my father kept me confined in his house. When I passed by them and heard their voices, I entered to see what they were doing. He said: When I saw them, their prayer impressed me, and I desired their way. I said: 'By Allāh, this is better than the religion we are upon.' By Allāh, I did not leave them until the sun had set, and I abandoned my father's estate and did not go to it. I asked them: 'Where is the origin of this religion?' They said: 'In Syria.' He said: Then I returned to my father, who had sent people to search for me and was distracted from all his work. When I came to him, he said: 'O my son, where have you been? Did I not instruct you with what I instructed?' I said: 'O my father, I passed by people praying in their church, and what I saw of their religion impressed me. By Allāh, I stayed with them until the sun set.' He said: 'O my son, there is no good in that religion. Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better than it.' I said: 'No, by Allāh, it is better than our religion.' He said: He feared for me, so he placed a chain on my leg and confined me in his house. He said: I sent a message to the Christians, saying to them: 'If a caravan of Christian merchants from Syria comes to you, inform me of them.' A caravan of Christian merchants from Syria came to them, and they informed me of them. I said to them: 'When they have fulfilled their needs and intend to return to their lands, inform me of them.' When they intended to return to their lands, they informed me of them. I removed the iron from my leg and went out with them until I reached Syria. When I arrived there, I asked: 'Who is the best person of this religion?' They said: 'The bishop in the church.' He said: I went to him and said: 'I have desired this religion and wish to be with you, to serve you in your church, to learn from you, and to pray with you.' He said: 'Enter,' so I entered with him. He said: