Encouraged by the success, Mahomet sent a despatch to Egypt, where he was courteously received and given two slave girls, Mary and Shirin, as presents.

Mary he kept for himself because of her exceeding beauty, but Shirin was bestowed upon one of the Companions.

The loves of Yusuf and Zulaikh@a, Khusru and Shirin, also of Laili and Majnun, are the fertile themes of Persian romance.

Farhad is equally celebrated as an unhappy amant who perished for Shirin.