[I, 1007, line 16] “And ʿIkrima said in his hadīth: When the Persians vanquished the Byzantines, Farrukhān sat down and drank and said to his associates: “I dreamed that I sat on the throne of Khusraw.“

Khusraw heard of this and wrote to Shahrbarāz: “If my letter reaches you, send me the head of Farrukhān.” Shahrbarāz wrote to Khusraw: “O king, you will not find anyone else like Farrukhān, with regard to his injury to and fame among the enemy, so do not [I, 1008] do that.” So, Khusraw wrote to him saying that in the army of Persia he had replacements enough for him, “so hasten to me with his [Farrukhān's] head.” [Shahrbarāz] asked him to reconsider, so Khusraw became angry and did not answer him again. But he sent a messenger to the Persian army, [saying]: “I have removed Shahrbarāz and installed Farrukhān [instead] over you.” Then he gave a small sheet to the messenger and he said: “When Farrukhān takes power and his brother [i.e., Shahrbarāz] pledges obedience to him, give him this.“

When Shahrbaraz read the letter [ordering him to relinquish power] he said: “To hear is to obey,” and he descended from his throne and Farrukhān ascended it. [The messenger] gave the small sheet to him, so [Farrukhān] said: “Bring me Shahrbarāz,” and he brought him forth so that he could behead him. But [Shahrbarāz] said: “Do not rush, so that I might make out my last will.” He said: “Yes, [very well],” and called for the [executioner's] basket. Then [Shahrbarāz] gave him the three letters [from Khusraw] and said: “In all [three] of these I have asked Khusraw to reconsider, and you wish to kill me after [only] one letter!” And so Farrukhān gave his brother back his position of power.

Shahrbarāz wrote to Qaysar, King of the Romans (i.e. the Emperor Heraclius): “What I want [to say] no envoy can bring and no letter can report. Meet me with not more than 50 Byzantines and I shall meet you with 50 Persians.” But Qayṣar (Heraclius) approached with 500,000 Byzantines and put spies along the roads. He feared that he [Shahrbarāz] had deceived him until his spies informed him that there were with Shahrbaraz only 50 men. Then rugs were laid down for them, and they met in a pavilion of brocade set up for them; each of the two had a knife with him.