according to the contemporary sources, after seizing the throne of the ḥimyarites, in ca. 518 or 523 dhū nuwās, a jewish king, attacked the aksumite (mainly christian) garrison at zafar, capturing them and burning their churches. he then moved against najrān, a christian and aksumite stronghold. after accepting the city's capitulation, he massacred those inhabitants who would not renounce christianity. estimates of the death toll from this event range up to 20,000 in some sources; a surviving letter (where he is called "dimnon") written by simon, the bishop of beth arsham in 524 ad, recounts dhū nuwās's persecution in najrān (modern al-ukhdūd in saudi arabia). the persecution is apparently described and condemned in the qur'an (al-buruj:4).