When the Prophet s promised his community sovereignty over the lands of Persia and Byzantium the hypocrites said ‘How preposterous!’ and so the following was revealed Say ‘O God Master of the Kingdom you give the Kingdom to whom You will from among your creatures and seize the Kingdom from whom You will; You exalt whom You will by giving it the kingdom to him and You abase whom You will by seizing it from him; in Your hand in Your power is good that is as well as evil. You are Able to do all things.