2. THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH’S LETTERS TO FOREIGN SOVEREIGNS INVITING THEM TO ALLAH AND TO ACCEPT ISLAM
On the authority of Anas Ibn Malik who narrated that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, wrote to Kisra (Chosroes, King of Persia), Qaisar (Caesar, Emperor of Rome), An-Najashi (King of Abyssinia), and to every (other) ruler inviting them to Allah, the Exalted. The Najashi (Negus) mentioned here was not the same one for whom the Messenger of Allah offered the funeral prayers.
On the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas who said that Abu Sufyan narrated to me directly saying, “We were merchants and we had been strained by continual fighting until our wealth became depleted. After the armistice, i.e. the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, between us and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, I went on a trade mission to Sham (Syria) along with a group (of people) from Quraish. We arrived in Sham when Qaisar, the king of Rome, had defeated and expelled the Persians who had occupied his territory. He also reclaimed the Cross that had previously been lost. When the news of the victory (and defeat of the Persians) reached him, he was residing in Hims, Sham, and walked to Bait Al-Maqdis to offer prayers as a token of his gratitude (for the victory). He was welcomed by the people with great pomp and pageantry. A messenger from the king of Busra came to him with an Arab, whom he had brought, and said, ‘O King, this man is an Arab from the people of sheep and camels; he brings you news of events that have occurred in his land,’ and in the king’s presence he asked his translator to tell the Arab to deliver the news. The man said, ‘An Arab from the Quraish has appeared claiming to be a Prophet; some of the people have followed him while others have opposed him. Bloody confrontations have occurred between them in a number of battles, and I left them in that Condition.’
The king summoned the head guard and ordered, ‘Comb through every part of Sham and bring me someone from this man’s country to verify his story’.” Abu Sufyan said, “When we came to him, he said to his translator: ‘Ask them who amongst them is the closest in relation to the one who claims to be a Prophet’.” Abu Sufyan added, I replied, ‘I am the nearest relative to him.’ He asked, ‘What degree of relationship do you have with him?’ I replied, ‘He is my cousin, and there was no one from Banu ‘Abd Manaf in the caravan except myself.’ The king said, ‘Let him approach me.’He then ordered that my companions stand behind me near my shoulder and said to his translator, ‘Relate to his companions that I am going to ask him about the man who claims to be a Prophet. If he lies, they should oppose him immediately’.”
Abu Sufyan added, “By Allah! Had it not been shameful that my companions would label me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about him when asked, so I spoke the truth. He said to his translator, ‘Ask him what kind of family he belongs to.’ I replied, ‘He belongs to a noble family amongst us.’ He asked, ‘Has anyone else from amongst you ever claimed the same prior to him?’ ‘I replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Have you ever censured him for telling lies prior to what he claimed? ‘I replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Was anyone from amongst his ancestors a king?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Do the noble or the poor follow him?’ I replied, ‘It is the poor who follow him.’ He asked, ‘Are they increasing or decreasing?’ I replied, ‘They are increasing.’ He asked, ‘Has anyone from amongst those who have embraced his religion become displeased with it and discarded it?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Does he break his promises?’ I replied, ‘No, but we are now at truce with him and we are afraid that he may betray us’.” Abu Sufyan added, “Other than the last sentence, I could not say anything against him.”
Caesar then asked, ‘Have you ever fought a battle with him?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘What was the outcome of your battles with him?’ I replied, ‘The result was unstable; sometimes he was victorious and other times we were.’ He asked, ‘What does he order you to do?’ I said, ‘He tells us to worship Allah, Alone, not to worship anything along with Him, and to abandon all that our forefathers worshipped. He orders us to pray, give in charity, be chaste, maintain our promises, and return whatever is entrusted to us.’ When I said that, Qaisar said to his translator, ‘Say to him: I asked you about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family. In truth, all the Messengers came from the noblest lineage of their nations. Then I asked you whether anyone else from amongst you had ever claimed such a thing, and your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following a claim that had been said before him. When I asked you whether he was ever censured for telling lies, your reply was negative, so I take it for granted that a person who did not lie about others could never lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors were kings. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom.
When I asked you if he is followed by the rich or the poor, you replied that it was the poor who followed him. In fact, such are the followers of the Messengers. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing. In fact, this is the result of true faith until it is complete (in all respects). I asked you whether there was anyone who, after embracing his religion, became displeased with it and discarded it, your reply was in the negative. In fact, this is the sign of true faith, for, when its goodness enters and mixes in the heart, no one will be displeased with it. I asked you whether he had ever broken his promise. You replied in the negative. Such are the Prophets, they never break their promises. When I asked you whether you fought against one another, you replied in the affirmative and (you also said) that sometimes he was victorious and sometimes you were. Indeed, such are the Messengers; they are put to trials and the final victory is always theirs.
Then I asked you what he orders you with. You replied that he orders you to worship Allah, Alone, not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that your forefathers used to worship, to offer prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises,and to return what is entrusted to you. These are truly the qualities of a Prophet, who I knew (from the previous Scriptures) would appear, but I did not know that he would be from among you. If what you say is true, he will, very soon, occupy the ground beneath my feet; if I knew that I would reach him, I would go immediately to meet him; were I with him, then I would certainly wash his feet’.” Abu Sufyan added, “Qaisar then asked for the letter of Allah’s Messenger, which was read.”
Abu Sufyan added, “When Heraclius finished his speech, a great hue and cry was caused by the Byzantine courtiers surrounding him; there was so much noise that I did not understand what they said. Thereafter, we were turned out of the court. When I left with my companions and we were alone, I said to them, ‘Verily, Ibn Abi Kabsha (i.e. the Prophet’s) affair has gained power. This is the king of Banu Al-Asfar fearing him.’ Abu Sufyan added, “By Allah, I remained low and was sure that his religion would bek,victorious until Allah converted me to Islam, though I disliked It.”
Ibn Ishaq said that Az-Zuhri narrated to me saying that a Christian prelate who had witnessed that event informed me that it was Dihyah Ibn Khaleefah who came to Heraclius with the letter from the Messenger of Allah, which contained the following words: “In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. (This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, the ruler of the Byzantine. Peace be upon the followers of guidance.
“I invite you to Islam; embrace Islam and you will be safe; embrace Islam and Allah will bestow on you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation of Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the peasants (i.e. your nation).”
Upon reading the contents of this letter, he slipped it between his thighs and shank and then wrote to a man from Turkey, who was well-versed in Hebrew, asking him to inform him about what he had just received from Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The man wrote back saying, “He is undoubtedly the Prophet that is being awaited, so follow him.” He then invited the Roman nobles and assembled them at the colosseum, which he ordered locked. He told them of the rationale behind his action and then he said, “O company of Romans, a letter has reached me from Ahmad, and, by Allah, he is the Prophet that we have been waiting for. He is mentioned in our Book and his signs and time have become discernable (to us), so accept Islam and follow him and you will find peace in this world and in the Hereafter.”
Upon hearing this address, the congregation objected and they all unanimously made for the exit, but found the gates of the colosseum locked. The king became apprehensive of their reaction and ordered, “Bring them back to me.” When they returned to his presence he said to them, “O company of Romans, I gave that address in order to test your loyalty to your religion and I have seen in you what pleases me.” On the king’s volte face, they all prostrated before him and then the gates of the colosseum were opened for them and they left.
By: Ibn Katheer
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