Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The spies of Musaylimah the Liar seized two men of the Muslims and took them both to Musaylimah the Liar. He said to one of them: "Do you bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes!" He asked again: "Do you bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes!" He asked: "Do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah?" That Companion pointed to his ears and said: "I am deaf." Musaylimah the Liar said: "What calamity is upon you, that when I ask you whether you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah, you say that you are deaf?" So he gave the order and that Companion was killed. Musaylimah the Liar said to the other man: "Do you bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes!" He asked again: "Do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes!" So he let him go. This man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! I am ruined!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "What has happened?" He related what had happened to him and to his companion, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "As for your companion, he died in a state of faith; and as for you, you acted upon the concession."