The news was conveyed to Nimrod, who ordered the immediate execution of the jailer; but as the executioner was about to smite off his head, he cried, “The Eternal One is alone the true God of the world, and the God of Nimrod who denies him.” And lo! the sword was blunted, and shivered into a thousand fragments. Here we must add a few particulars from Mussulman sources. “Who is your God?” asked Nimrod of Abraham, when brought before him. “He who kills and makes alive again,” said Abraham. “I can do that,” exclaimed Nimrod, and he ordered two prisoners before him; one he slew, the other he spared. But Abraham said, “Behold the power of my God!” and he bade a dead man who had been four years in his grave, rise and bring him a white cock, a black raven, a green pigeon, and a gaily-coloured peacock. The dead man rose and obeyed. Then Abraham cut up the birds, but preserved their heads; and lo! from the heads new bodies sprouted. “Now,” said Abraham, “do the same.” But Nimrod could not. “If thou art a God,” said Abraham again, “command the sun to rise to-morrow in the west and set in the east.” But this he could not do.[300] Nimrod was highly incensed, and ordered that Abraham should be at once precipitated into the fire. When he was brought before the king, say the Rabbis, the soothsayers recognized him as the boy at whose birth they had warned the king that one was come into the world who would be the father of a great nation which would subdue that of Nimrod, and would possess the whole earth and heaven. “This is the man against whom we cautioned you,” they said; “his father Terah must have deceived you, O king, and not have given you up the right child.” Terah, on being questioned, owned the truth. “Who gave you this advice?” asked the king; “confess it, and your life shall be spared.” Out of fear Terah told a lie, and said that Haran, his other son, had suggested the deception. “For having given this advice,” said Nimrod, “Haran shall perish along with Abraham. Cast them both into the flames.” Abraham and Haran were now to be stripped and their hands and feet bound by ropes, and then they were to be thrown into the fire. But the servants of Nimrod who approached the brothers were caught by the flames which, like the tongues of serpents, shot out, curled round them, drew them into the fire, and consumed them. Then Satan appeared to Nimrod, and instructed him how to make a catapult which would throw stones to a distance, and by means of which Abraham and Haran could be projected into the midst of the fire.