60. THE ARRIVAL OF THE ENVOY OF THE KING OF HIMYAR
Al-Waqidi said: That occurred in Ramadan of the 9th year. On his return from the expedition of Tabook, an envoy brought a letter to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, from the kings of Himyar announcing their conversion to Islam. The kings were: Al-Harith Ibn Abd Kulal, Nu‘aim Ibn Abd Kulal and Nu‘man, the chieftain of Dhu Ru‘ain, Ma‘afir and Hamdan. Zur‘ah Dhu Yazan dispatched Malik Ibn Murrah Ar-Rahawiyy with a message declaring their acceptance of Islam and their estrangement from polytheism and polytheists. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent them the following letter in response:
“In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. (This Is a letter) from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, the Prophet, to Al-Harith Ibn Abd Kulal, Nu‘aim Ibn Abd Kulal and Nu‘man, the chieftain of Dhu Ru‘ain, Ma‘afir and Hamdan. I praise Allah beside Whom there is no god. Your envoy came to us as we were coming back from Roman land. On meeting us in Madinah, he conveyed to us your letter informing us of your acceptance of Islam and your killing of the polytheists. Surely, Allah has guided you with His Guidance as long as you work with righteousness, obey Allah and His Messenger, perform prayers, pay Zakah and give out from war booty one-fifth for Allah, the share of the Prophet as well as what he selects for himself (from the booty).
“The obligatory alms on the believers are (to be given out as follows): from the land, a tithe of what is watered by wells and rain, and half of a tithe of what is watered by buckets; a young she-camel is to be given out for every forty camels; a young male camel for every thirty camels; a sheep for every five camels; two sheep for every ten camels; a cow for every forty cows; a young bull which has completed one or two years of age, or a young cow, which completed two years of age; and a sheep for every forty sheep at pasture. This is what Allah has obligated on the believers concerning alms. He who gives more (than this out of his own) goodness, it is good for him, and he who performs this, declares his (acceptance of) Islam; and whoever supports the believers against the polytheists is one of the believers; he shares with them the same rights and obligations and he has a guarantee of protection from Allah and His Messenger.
“If a Jew or Christian accepts Islam, then he belongs to the (fold of the) Muslims. He shares with them the same rights and obligations. He who persists upon his religion, whether Judaism or Christianity, not converting (to Islam), shall not be compelled to abandon it but must pay the Jizyah: for every adult, male or female, free or slave, one full Dinar calculated on the valuation of Ma‘afir or its equivalent in clothes. He who pays that to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, shall have a guarantee of protection from Allah and His Messenger.
“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, Muhammad, has sent to Zur‘ah Dhu Yazan: When my envoys arrive to you, I command them to your good offices. These are Mu’adh Ibn Jabal, ‘Abdullah Ibn Zaid, Malik Ibn Ubadah, Uqbah Ibn Namir and Malik Ibn Murrah and their companions. Collect the Zakah and Jizyah that is due from your territories and deliver them to my envoys whose leader is Mu’adh Ibn Jabal, and let him not return unless he is satisfied.
“Muhammad testifies that there is no god but Allah and that he is His slave and His Messenger. Malik Ibn Murrah Ar- Rahawi has recounted to me that you were from among the first Himyar to accept Islam and have slain the polytheists, so be happy. I order you to treat Himyar well, and not to betray or forsake one another, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the patron of both your poor and rich. The alms are not lawful to Muhammad or his household, they are a Zakah which is to be given to the poor Muslims and the wayfarers.
“Malik has also delivered the news and preserved what is confidential and I command you to treat him well. I have dispatched to you some of the best people, both in religion and in knowledge, and I order you to treat them well, for they must be respected. Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be on you.”
By: Ibn Katheer
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