(2005 ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATINS LIMITED)
pg 199 Life of Muhammad(sa)
After settling down in Medina on return from Hudaibiya, the Prophetsa instituted another plan for the spread of his Message. When he mentioned this to the Companions, some of them who were acquainted with the customs and forms observed in the courts of kings told the Prophetsa that kings did not entertain letters which did not bear the seals of the senders. Accordingly the Prophetsa had a seal made on which were engraved the words, Muhammad Rasulullahsa. Out of reverence, Allah was put at the top, beneath it Rasul and lastly Muhammadsa, In Muharram 628, envoys went to different capitals, each with a letter from the Prophetsa,
inviting the rulers to accept Islam. Envoys went to Heraclius, the Roman Emperor, the Kings of Iran, Egypt (the King of Egypt was then a vassal of the Kaiser) and Abyssinia. They went to other kings and rulers also. The letter addressed to the Kaiser was taken by Dihya Kalbi ra who was instructed to call first on the Governor of Busra. When Dihyara saw the Governor, the great Kaiser himself was in Syria on a tour of the Empire. The Governor readily passed Dihyara on to the Kaiser. When Dihyara entered the court, he was told that whoever was received in audience by the Kaiser must prostrate himself before him.
pg 200 Life of Muhammad(sa)
Dihyara refused to do this, saying that Muslims did not bow before any human being. Dihyara, therefore, sat before the Kaiser without making the prescribed obeisances. The Kaiser had the letter read by an interpreter and asked if an Arab caravan was in the town. He said he desired to interrogate an Arab about this Arabian Prophetsa who had sent him an invitation to accept Islam. It so happened that Abu Sufyanra was in the town with a commercial caravan. The court officials took him to the Kaiser. Abu Sufyanra was ordered tostand in front of the other Arabs, who were told to correct him if he should tell a lie or make a wrong statement. Then Heraclius proceeded to interrogate Abu Sufyanra. The conversation is thus recorded in history: H: Do you know this man who claims to be a Prophet(sa) and who has sent me a letter? Can you say what sort of family he comes from? A-S: He comes of a noble family and is one of my relations.
H: Have there been Arabs before him who have made claims similar to his? A-S: No. H: Did your people ever charge him with lying before he announced his claim? A-S: No. H: Has there been a king or a ruler among his forefathers?A—S: No.
pg 201 Life of Muhammad(sa)
H: How do you judge his general ability and his capacity for judgement? A—S: We have never found any fault in his ability and his capacity for judgement. H: What are his followers like? Are they big and powerful persons or are they poor and humble? A—S: Mostly poor and humble and young. H: Do their numbers tend to increase or decrease? A—S: To increase. H: Do his followers ever go back to their old beliefs? A—S: No. H: Has he ever broken a pledge? A—S: Not so far. But we have recently entered into a new pact with him. Let us see what he does about it. H: Have you had any fight with him yet? A—S: Yes. H: With what result? A—S: Like buckets on a wheel, victory and defeat alternate between us and him. In the Battle of Badr, for instance, in which I was not present, he was able to overpower our side. In the Battle of Uhud, in which I commanded our side, we took his side to task. We tore their stomachs, their ears and their noses, H: But what does he teach? A—S: That we should worship the One God and not set up equals with Him. He preaches against the idols our forefathers worshipped. He wants us, instead, to worship the Only God, to speak the truth only and always to abjure all vicious and corrupt practices. He exhorts us to be good to one another and to keep our covenants and discharge our trusts.
pg 202 Life of Muhammad(sa)
This interesting conversation came to an end and then the Kaiser said: I first asked you about his family and you said he belonged to a noble family. In truth, Prophets always come of noble families. I then asked you if anyone before him had made a similar claim and you said, No. I asked you this question because I thought that if in the recent past some one had made such a claim, then one could say that this Prophetsa was imitating
that claim. I then asked you whether he had ever been charged with lying before his claim had been announced and you said, No. I inferred from this that a person who does not lie about men will not lie about
God. I next asked you if there had been a king among his forefathers and you said, No. From this I understood that his claim could not be a subtle plan for the recovery of the kingdom. I then asked you whether the entrants into his fold were mostly big, prosperous and powerful individuals or poor and
weak. And you said in reply, that they were generally poor and weak, not proud and big, and so are the early followers of a Prophet. I then asked you whether his numbers were increasing or decreasing and you said they were increasing. At this I remembered that the followers of a Prophet go on increasing until the Prophet attains his goal. I then asked you if his followers left him out of disgust or disappointment, and you said, No. At this I remembered that the followers of Prophets are usually steadfast. They may fall away for other reasons, but not out of disgust for the faith. I then asked you if there had been fights between you and him and, if so, with what results. And you said that you and his followers were like buckets on a wheel and the Prophets are like that. In the beginning their
pg 203 Life of Muhammad(sa)
followers suffer reverses and meet with misfortunes, but in the end they win. I then asked you about what he teaches and you said he teaches the worship of One God, truth-speaking, virtue and the importance of keeping covenants and discharging trusts. I asked you also whether he ever played false, and you said, No. And this is the way of virtuous men. It seems to me, therefore, that his claim to being a Prophetsa is true. I was half expecting his appearance in our time, but I did not know he was going to be an Arab. If what you have told me is true, then I think his influence and his dominion will certainly spread over these lands (Bukhari). The speech unsettled the courtiers who began to blame the King for applauding a Teacher of another community. Protests were raised. The court officials then sent away Abu Sufyanra and his friends. The text of the letter which the Prophetsa wrote to the Kaiser is to be found in historical records. It runs as follows: From Muhammadsa, the Servant of God and His Messenger. To the Chief of Rome, Heraclius. Whoever treads the path of divine guidance, on him be peace. After this, O King, I invite you to Islam.
pg 201 Life of Muhammad(sa)
H: How do you judge his general ability and his capacity for judgement? A—S: We have never found any fault in his ability and his capacity for judgement. H: What are his followers like? Are they big and powerful persons or are they poor and humble? A—S: Mostly poor and humble and young. H: Do their numbers tend to increase or decrease? A—S: To increase. H: Do his followers ever go back to their old beliefs? A—S: No. H: Has he ever broken a pledge? A—S: Not so far. But we have recently entered into a new pact with him. Let us see what he does about it. H: Have you had any fight with him yet? A—S: Yes. H: With what result? A—S: Like buckets on a wheel, victory and defeat alternate between us and him. In the Battle of Badr, for instance, in which I was not present, he was able to overpower our side. In the Battle of Uhud, in which I commanded our side, we took his side to task. We tore their stomachs, their ears and their noses, H: But what does he teach? A—S: That we should worship the One God and not set up equals with Him. He preaches against the idols our forefathers worshipped. He wants us, instead, to worship the Only God, to speak the truth only and always to abjure all vicious and corrupt practices. He exhorts us to be good to one another and to keep our covenants and discharge our trusts.
pg 202 Life of Muhammad(sa)
This interesting conversation came to an end and then the Kaiser said: I first asked you about his family and you said he belonged to a noble family. In truth, Prophets always come of noble families. I then asked you if anyone before him had made a similar claim and you said, No. I asked you this question because I thought that if in the recent past some one had made such a claim, then one could say that this Prophetsa was imitating
that claim. I then asked you whether he had ever been charged with lying before his claim had been announced and you said, No. I inferred from this that a person who does not lie about men will not lie about
God. I next asked you if there had been a king among his forefathers and you said, No. From this I understood that his claim could not be a subtle plan for the recovery of the kingdom. I then asked you whether the entrants into his fold were mostly big, prosperous and powerful individuals or poor and
weak. And you said in reply, that they were generally poor and weak, not proud and big, and so are the early followers of a Prophet. I then asked you whether his numbers were increasing or decreasing and you said they were increasing. At this I remembered that the followers of a Prophet go on increasing until the Prophet attains his goal. I then asked you if his followers left him out of disgust or disappointment, and you said, No. At this I remembered that the followers of Prophets are usually steadfast. They may fall away for other reasons, but not out of disgust for the faith. I then asked you if there had been fights between you and him and, if so, with what results. And you said that you and his followers were like buckets on a wheel and the Prophets are like that. In the beginning their
pg 203 Life of Muhammad(sa)
followers suffer reverses and meet with misfortunes, but in the end they win. I then asked you about what he teaches and you said he teaches the worship of One God, truth-speaking, virtue and the importance of keeping covenants and discharging trusts. I asked you also whether he ever played false, and you said, No. And this is the way of virtuous men. It seems to me, therefore, that his claim to being a Prophetsa is true. I was half expecting his appearance in our time, but I did not know he was going to be an Arab. If what you have told me is true, then I think his influence and his dominion will certainly spread over these lands (Bukhari). The speech unsettled the courtiers who began to blame the King for applauding a Teacher of another community. Protests were raised. The court officials then sent away Abu Sufyanra and his friends. The text of the letter which the Prophetsa wrote to the Kaiser is to be found in historical records. It runs as follows: From Muhammadsa, the Servant of God and His Messenger. To the Chief of Rome, Heraclius. Whoever treads the path of divine guidance, on him be peace. After this, O King, I invite you to Islam.
Become a Muslim. God will protect you from all afflictions, and reward you twice over. But if you deny and refuse to accept this Message, then the sin not only of your own denial, but of the denial of your subjects, will be on your head. "Say, 'O People of theBook! come to a word equal between us and you that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for lords beside Allah.' But if they turn away, then
pg 204 Life of Muhammad(sa)
say, ‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God' "(Zurqani ).
pg 204 Life of Muhammad(sa)
say, ‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God' "(Zurqani ).
The invitation to Islam was an invitation to believe that God is One and that Muhammadsa is His Messenger. Where the letter says that if Heraclius becomes a Muslim, he will be rewarded twice over, the reference is to the fact that Islam teaches belief in both Jesusas and Muhammadsa. It is said that when the letter was presented to the Emperor, some courtiers suggested it should be torn up and thrown away. The letter, they said, was an insult to the Emperor.
It did not describe the Emperor as Emperor but only as Sahibul Rum, i.e., the Chief of Rome. The Emperor, however, said that it was unwise to tear up the letter without reading it.He also said that the address, 'Chief of Rome', was not wrong. After all, the Master of everything was God. An Emperor was only a chief.When the Prophetsa was told how his letter had been received by Heraclius, he seemed satisfied and pleased and said that because of the reception which the Roman Emperor had given his letter, his Empire would be saved. The descendants of the Emperor would continue long to rule over the Empire. That is in fact what happened. In the wars which took place later, a large part of the Roman Empire, in accordance with another prophecy of the
pg 205 Life of Muhammad(sa)
Prophetsa of Islam, passed out of the possession of Rome; yet for six hundred years after this, the dynasty of Heraclius remained established in constantinople. The Prophet'ssa letter remained preserved in the State archives for a long time. Ambassadors of the Muslim King, Mansur Qalawun, visited the court of Rome, and were shown the letter deposited in a case. The then Roman Emperor showing the letter said it had been received by a forefather of his from their Prophetsa and had been carefully preserved. LETTER TO THE KING OF IRAN The letter to the King of Iran was sent through ‘Abdullah bin Hudhafara. The text of this letter was as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful..This letter is from Muhammad sa , the Messenger of God, to Chosroes, the Chief of Iran. Whoever submits to a perfect guidance, and believes in Allah, and bears witness that Allah is One, and has no equal or partner, and that Muhammad sa is His Servant and Messenger, on him be peace. O King, under the command of God, I invite you to Islam. For I have been sent by God as His Messengersa to all mankind, so that I may warn all living men and complete my Message for all unbelievers. Accept Islam and protect yourself from all afflictions. If you reject this invitation, then the sin of the denial of all your people will rest on your head (Zurqani and Khamis).
pg 206 Life of Muhammad(sa)
‘Abdullah bin Hudhafara says that when he reached the court of Chosroes he applied for admission to the royal presence. He handed over the letter to the Emperor and the Emperor ordered an interpreter to read it and explain its contents. On listening to the contents, the Chosroes was enraged. He took back the letter and tore it to pieces. ‘Abdullah bin Hudhafara reported the incident to the Prophetsa. On hearing the report, the Prophetsa said: What the Chosroes has done to our letter even that will God do to his Empire (i.e., rend
it to pieces). The fit of temper which the Chosroes showed on this occasion was the result of the
pernicious propaganda carried on against Islam by Jews who had migrated from Roman territory to Iran. These Jewish refugees took a leading part in anti-Roman intrigues sponsored in Iran, and had, therefore, become favourites at the Iranian court. The Chosroes was full of rage against the Prophetsa. The
reports about the Prophetsa which the Jews had taken to Iran, it seemed to him, were confirmed by this letter. He thought the Prophetsa was an aggressive adventurer with designs on Iran. Soon after, the Chosroes
wrote to the Governor of Yemen, saying that one of the Quraish in Arabia had announced himself a Prophetsa. His claims were becoming
pg 207 Life of Muhammad(sa)
excessive. The Governor was asked to send two men charged with the duty of arresting this Quraishite and bringing him to the court of Iran. Badhan, the Governor of Yemen under the Chosroes, sent an army chief with a mounted companion to the Prophetsa. He alsogave them a letter addressed to the Prophetsa, in which he said that on receipt of the letter the Prophetsa should at once accompany the two messengers to the court of Iran. The two planned to go first to Mecca. When somewhere near Ta’if, they were told that the Prophetsa lived in Medina. So they went to Medina. On arrival this army chief told the Prophetsa that Badhan, the Governor of Yemen, had been ordered by the Chosroes to arrange for the Prophet'ssa arrest and despatch to Iran. If the Prophetsa refused to obey, he and his people were to be destroyed and their country made desolate. Out of compassion for the Prophetsa, this delegate from Yemen insisted that the Prophetsa should obey and agree to be led to Iran. Having listened to this, the Prophetsa suggested that the delegates should see him again the following day. Overnight the Prophetsa prayed to God Who informed him that the insolence of the Chosroes had cost him his life. "We have set his own son against him, and this son will murder his father on Monday the l0th Jumad al-’Ula of this year." According to some reports, the revelation said,
pg 208 Life of Muhammad(sa)
"The son has murdered the father this very night." It is possible that that very night was the l0th Jumad al-’Ula In the morning, the Prophetsa sent for the Yemen delegates and told them of what had been revealed to him overnight. Then he prepared a letter for Badhan saying that the Chosroes was due to be murdered on a certain day of a certain month. When the Governor of Yemen received the letter he said, "If this man be a true Prophetsa, it will be even as he says. If he be not true, then God help him and his country." Soon after, a boat from Iran anchored at the port of Yemen. It brought a letter from the Emperor of Iran to the Governor of Yemen. The letter bore a new seal, from which the Governor concluded that the prophecy of the Arabian Prophetsa had proved true. A new seal meant a new king. He opened the letter. It said: From Chosroes Siroes to Badhan, the Governor of Yemen. I have murdered my father because his rule had become corrupt and unjust. He murdered the nobles and treated his subjects with cruelty. As soon as you receive this letter, collect all officers and ask them to affirm their loyalty to me. As for my father's orders for the arrest of an Arabian Prophetsa, you should regard those orders as cancelled (Tabari, Vol. 3, pp. 1572–1574 and Hisham p. 46). Badhan was so impressed by these events that he and many of his friends at once
pg 209 Life of Muhammad(sa)
declared their faith in Islam and informed the Prophetsa accordingly. THE LETTER TO THE NEGUS The letter to the Negus, King of Abyssinia, was carried by ‘Amr bin Umayya Damri ra. It ran as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful, Muhammadsa, the Messenger of God, writes to the
Negus, King of Abyssinia. O King, peace of God be upon you. I praise before you the One and Only God. None else is worthy of worship. He is the King of kings, the source of all excellences, free from all defects, He provides peace to all His servants and protects His creatures. I bear witness that Jesus, son
of Maryas was a Messenger of God, who came in fulfilment of promises made to Mary by God. Mary had consecrated her life to God. I invite you to join with me in attaching ourselves to the One and Only God and in obeying Him. I invite you also to follow me and believe in the God Who hath sent me. I am
His Messenger. I invite you and your armies to join the Faith of the Almighty God. I discharge my duty hereby. I have delivered to you the Message of God, and made clear to you the meaning of this Message. I have doe so in all sincerity and I trust you will value the sincerity which has prompted this message. He who obeys the guidance of God becomes heir to the blessings of God (Zurqani).When this letter reached the Negus, he showed very great regard and respect for it. He held it up to his eyes, descended from the
throne and ordered an ivory box for it. Then he
pg 210 Life of Muhammad(sa)
deposited it in the box and said, "While this letter is safe, my kingdom is safe." What he said proved true. For one thousand years Muslim armies were out on their career of conquest. They went in all directions, and passed by Abyssinia on all sides, but they did not touch this small kingdom of the Negus—; and this, out of regard for two memorable acts of the Negus the protection he afforded the refugees of early Islam and the reverence he showed to the Prophet'ssa letter. The Empire of Rome became dismembered. The Chosroes lost his dominions. The kingdoms of China and India disappeared but this small kingdom of the Negus remained inviolate, because its ruler received and protected the first Muslim refugees and showed respect and reverence for the Prophet'ssa letter. Muslims returned the magnanimity of the Negus in this way. Compare with this the treatment which a Christian people, in this age of civilization meted out to this Christian kingdom of the Negus. They bombarded from the air the open cities of Abyssinia and destroyed them. The royal family had to take refuge elsewhere and to stay away from their country for several years. The same people have been treated in two different ways by two different peoples. Muslims held Abyssinia sacred and inviolate because of the magnanimity of one of its rulers. A Christian
pg 211 Life of Muhammad(sa)
nation attacked and plundered it in the name of civilization. It shows how wholesome and lasting in their effects are the Prophet'ssa teaching and example. Muslim gratitude to a Christian kingdom made the kingdom sacred to Muslims. Christian greed attacked the same kingdom, not caring it was Christian. LETTER TO THE RULER OF EGYPT The letter to Muqauqis was carried by Hatib ibn Abi Balta‘ara. The text of this letter was exactly the same as that to the Roman Emperor. The letter to the Roman Emperor said that the sin of the denial of the Roman subjects would be on his head. The letter to the Muqauqis said that the sin of the denial of the Copts would be on the head of the ruler. It ran as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. This letter is from Muhammadsa, the Messenger of Allah, to Muqauqis, the Chief of the Copts. Peace be upon him who follows the path of rectitude. I invite you to accept the Message of Islam. Believe and you will be saved and your reward will be twofold. If you disbelieved, the sin of the denial of the Copts will also be on your head. Say, "O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for lords beside Allah. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God.'" (Halbiyya, Vol. 3, p. 275).
pg 212 Life of Muhammad(sa)
It did not describe the Emperor as Emperor but only as Sahibul Rum, i.e., the Chief of Rome. The Emperor, however, said that it was unwise to tear up the letter without reading it.He also said that the address, 'Chief of Rome', was not wrong. After all, the Master of everything was God. An Emperor was only a chief.When the Prophetsa was told how his letter had been received by Heraclius, he seemed satisfied and pleased and said that because of the reception which the Roman Emperor had given his letter, his Empire would be saved. The descendants of the Emperor would continue long to rule over the Empire. That is in fact what happened. In the wars which took place later, a large part of the Roman Empire, in accordance with another prophecy of the
pg 205 Life of Muhammad(sa)
Prophetsa of Islam, passed out of the possession of Rome; yet for six hundred years after this, the dynasty of Heraclius remained established in constantinople. The Prophet'ssa letter remained preserved in the State archives for a long time. Ambassadors of the Muslim King, Mansur Qalawun, visited the court of Rome, and were shown the letter deposited in a case. The then Roman Emperor showing the letter said it had been received by a forefather of his from their Prophetsa and had been carefully preserved. LETTER TO THE KING OF IRAN The letter to the King of Iran was sent through ‘Abdullah bin Hudhafara. The text of this letter was as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful..This letter is from Muhammad sa , the Messenger of God, to Chosroes, the Chief of Iran. Whoever submits to a perfect guidance, and believes in Allah, and bears witness that Allah is One, and has no equal or partner, and that Muhammad sa is His Servant and Messenger, on him be peace. O King, under the command of God, I invite you to Islam. For I have been sent by God as His Messengersa to all mankind, so that I may warn all living men and complete my Message for all unbelievers. Accept Islam and protect yourself from all afflictions. If you reject this invitation, then the sin of the denial of all your people will rest on your head (Zurqani and Khamis).
pg 206 Life of Muhammad(sa)
‘Abdullah bin Hudhafara says that when he reached the court of Chosroes he applied for admission to the royal presence. He handed over the letter to the Emperor and the Emperor ordered an interpreter to read it and explain its contents. On listening to the contents, the Chosroes was enraged. He took back the letter and tore it to pieces. ‘Abdullah bin Hudhafara reported the incident to the Prophetsa. On hearing the report, the Prophetsa said: What the Chosroes has done to our letter even that will God do to his Empire (i.e., rend
it to pieces). The fit of temper which the Chosroes showed on this occasion was the result of the
pernicious propaganda carried on against Islam by Jews who had migrated from Roman territory to Iran. These Jewish refugees took a leading part in anti-Roman intrigues sponsored in Iran, and had, therefore, become favourites at the Iranian court. The Chosroes was full of rage against the Prophetsa. The
reports about the Prophetsa which the Jews had taken to Iran, it seemed to him, were confirmed by this letter. He thought the Prophetsa was an aggressive adventurer with designs on Iran. Soon after, the Chosroes
wrote to the Governor of Yemen, saying that one of the Quraish in Arabia had announced himself a Prophetsa. His claims were becoming
pg 207 Life of Muhammad(sa)
excessive. The Governor was asked to send two men charged with the duty of arresting this Quraishite and bringing him to the court of Iran. Badhan, the Governor of Yemen under the Chosroes, sent an army chief with a mounted companion to the Prophetsa. He alsogave them a letter addressed to the Prophetsa, in which he said that on receipt of the letter the Prophetsa should at once accompany the two messengers to the court of Iran. The two planned to go first to Mecca. When somewhere near Ta’if, they were told that the Prophetsa lived in Medina. So they went to Medina. On arrival this army chief told the Prophetsa that Badhan, the Governor of Yemen, had been ordered by the Chosroes to arrange for the Prophet'ssa arrest and despatch to Iran. If the Prophetsa refused to obey, he and his people were to be destroyed and their country made desolate. Out of compassion for the Prophetsa, this delegate from Yemen insisted that the Prophetsa should obey and agree to be led to Iran. Having listened to this, the Prophetsa suggested that the delegates should see him again the following day. Overnight the Prophetsa prayed to God Who informed him that the insolence of the Chosroes had cost him his life. "We have set his own son against him, and this son will murder his father on Monday the l0th Jumad al-’Ula of this year." According to some reports, the revelation said,
pg 208 Life of Muhammad(sa)
"The son has murdered the father this very night." It is possible that that very night was the l0th Jumad al-’Ula In the morning, the Prophetsa sent for the Yemen delegates and told them of what had been revealed to him overnight. Then he prepared a letter for Badhan saying that the Chosroes was due to be murdered on a certain day of a certain month. When the Governor of Yemen received the letter he said, "If this man be a true Prophetsa, it will be even as he says. If he be not true, then God help him and his country." Soon after, a boat from Iran anchored at the port of Yemen. It brought a letter from the Emperor of Iran to the Governor of Yemen. The letter bore a new seal, from which the Governor concluded that the prophecy of the Arabian Prophetsa had proved true. A new seal meant a new king. He opened the letter. It said: From Chosroes Siroes to Badhan, the Governor of Yemen. I have murdered my father because his rule had become corrupt and unjust. He murdered the nobles and treated his subjects with cruelty. As soon as you receive this letter, collect all officers and ask them to affirm their loyalty to me. As for my father's orders for the arrest of an Arabian Prophetsa, you should regard those orders as cancelled (Tabari, Vol. 3, pp. 1572–1574 and Hisham p. 46). Badhan was so impressed by these events that he and many of his friends at once
pg 209 Life of Muhammad(sa)
declared their faith in Islam and informed the Prophetsa accordingly. THE LETTER TO THE NEGUS The letter to the Negus, King of Abyssinia, was carried by ‘Amr bin Umayya Damri ra. It ran as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful, Muhammadsa, the Messenger of God, writes to the
Negus, King of Abyssinia. O King, peace of God be upon you. I praise before you the One and Only God. None else is worthy of worship. He is the King of kings, the source of all excellences, free from all defects, He provides peace to all His servants and protects His creatures. I bear witness that Jesus, son
of Maryas was a Messenger of God, who came in fulfilment of promises made to Mary by God. Mary had consecrated her life to God. I invite you to join with me in attaching ourselves to the One and Only God and in obeying Him. I invite you also to follow me and believe in the God Who hath sent me. I am
His Messenger. I invite you and your armies to join the Faith of the Almighty God. I discharge my duty hereby. I have delivered to you the Message of God, and made clear to you the meaning of this Message. I have doe so in all sincerity and I trust you will value the sincerity which has prompted this message. He who obeys the guidance of God becomes heir to the blessings of God (Zurqani).When this letter reached the Negus, he showed very great regard and respect for it. He held it up to his eyes, descended from the
throne and ordered an ivory box for it. Then he
pg 210 Life of Muhammad(sa)
deposited it in the box and said, "While this letter is safe, my kingdom is safe." What he said proved true. For one thousand years Muslim armies were out on their career of conquest. They went in all directions, and passed by Abyssinia on all sides, but they did not touch this small kingdom of the Negus—; and this, out of regard for two memorable acts of the Negus the protection he afforded the refugees of early Islam and the reverence he showed to the Prophet'ssa letter. The Empire of Rome became dismembered. The Chosroes lost his dominions. The kingdoms of China and India disappeared but this small kingdom of the Negus remained inviolate, because its ruler received and protected the first Muslim refugees and showed respect and reverence for the Prophet'ssa letter. Muslims returned the magnanimity of the Negus in this way. Compare with this the treatment which a Christian people, in this age of civilization meted out to this Christian kingdom of the Negus. They bombarded from the air the open cities of Abyssinia and destroyed them. The royal family had to take refuge elsewhere and to stay away from their country for several years. The same people have been treated in two different ways by two different peoples. Muslims held Abyssinia sacred and inviolate because of the magnanimity of one of its rulers. A Christian
pg 211 Life of Muhammad(sa)
nation attacked and plundered it in the name of civilization. It shows how wholesome and lasting in their effects are the Prophet'ssa teaching and example. Muslim gratitude to a Christian kingdom made the kingdom sacred to Muslims. Christian greed attacked the same kingdom, not caring it was Christian. LETTER TO THE RULER OF EGYPT The letter to Muqauqis was carried by Hatib ibn Abi Balta‘ara. The text of this letter was exactly the same as that to the Roman Emperor. The letter to the Roman Emperor said that the sin of the denial of the Roman subjects would be on his head. The letter to the Muqauqis said that the sin of the denial of the Copts would be on the head of the ruler. It ran as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. This letter is from Muhammadsa, the Messenger of Allah, to Muqauqis, the Chief of the Copts. Peace be upon him who follows the path of rectitude. I invite you to accept the Message of Islam. Believe and you will be saved and your reward will be twofold. If you disbelieved, the sin of the denial of the Copts will also be on your head. Say, "O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for lords beside Allah. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God.'" (Halbiyya, Vol. 3, p. 275).
pg 212 Life of Muhammad(sa)
When Hatibra reached Egypt, he did not find the Muqauqisin the capital. Ilatib followed him to Alexandria, where he was holding court near the sea. Hatibra went by boat. The court was strongly guarded. Therefore Hatibra showed the letter from a distance and began to speak aloud. The Muqauqis ordered Hatibra
to be brought to him. The Muqauqis read the letter and said, "If this man be a true Prophetsa , why does he not pray for the destruction of his enemies?" Hatibra replied, "You believe in Jesusas . He was ill-treated by his people, yet he did not pray for their destruction." The King paid a tribute to Hatibra
and said he was a wise envoy of a wise man. He had answered well the questions put to him. Upon this Hatibra spoke again. "Before you," he said, "there was a king who was proud, arrogant and cruel. He was the Pharaoh who persecuted Mosesas . At last he was overtaken by divine punishment. Show no pride therefore. Believe in this Prophetsa of God. By God Mosesas did not foretell about Jesusas as clearly as did Jesusas foretell about Muhammadsa. We invite you to Muhammad the Prophetsa , just as you Christians invite the Jews to Jesusas . Every Prophet has his followers. The followers must obey their Prophet. Now that a Prophetsa has appeared in your time it is your duty to believe in him and follow him. And remember our religion does
pg 213 Life of Muhammad(sa)
not ask you to deny or disobey Jesusas. Our religion requires everyone to believe in Jesusas." Hearing this, Muqauqis revealed that he had heard of the teaching of this Prophetsa and he felt that he did not teach anything evil nor forbid anything good. He had also made inquiries and found that he was no sorcerer or soothsayer. He had heard of some of his prophecies which had come true. Then he sent for an ivory box and placed the letter of the Prophetsa in it, sealed it and handed it over to a servant girl for safe deposit. He also wrote a letter in reply to the Prophetsa . The text of this letter is recorded in history. It runs as follows:
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. From Muqauqis, King of the Copts, to Muhammad sa, son of ‘Abdullah. Peace be on you. After this, I say that I have read your letter and pondered over its contents and over the beliefs to which you invite me. I am aware that the Hebrew Prophets have foretold the advent of a Prophetsa in our time. But I thought he was going to appear in Syria. I have received your envoy, and made a present of one thousand dinars and five khil‘ats to him and I send two Egyptian girls
as a present to you. My people, the Copts, hold these girls in great esteem. One of them is Mary ra and the other Sirin ra. I also send you twenty garments made of Egyptian linen of high quality. I also send you a mule for riding. In the end I pray again that you may have peace from God (Zurqani and Tabari).
pg 214 Life of Muhammad(sa)
From this letter it is clear that, though Muqauqis treated the letter with respect he did not accept Islam.
LETTER TO CHIEF OF BAHRAIN The Prophetsa also sent a letter to Mundhir Taimi, Chief of Bahrain. This letter was carried by ‘Ala’ ibn Hadrami ra. The text of this letter has been lost. When it reached this Chief, he believed, and wrote back to the Prophetsa saying that he and many of his friends and
followers had decided to join Islam. Some, however, had decided to stay outside. He also said that there were some Jews and Magians living under him. What was he to do about them? The Prophetsa wrote again to this Chief thus: I am glad at your acceptance of Islam. Your duty is to obey the delegates and messengers whom I should send to you. Whoever obeys them, obeys me. The messenger who took my letter to you praised you to me, and assured me of the sincerity of your belief. I have prayed to God for your people. Try, therefore, to teach them the ways and practices of Islam. Protect their property. Do not let anyone have more than four wives. The sins of the past are forgiven. As long as you are good and virtuous you will continue to rule over your people. As for Jews and Magians, they have only to pay a tax. Do not, therefore, make any other demands on them. As for the general population, those who do not have land enough to maintain them
pg 215 Life of Muhammad(sa)
to be brought to him. The Muqauqis read the letter and said, "If this man be a true Prophetsa , why does he not pray for the destruction of his enemies?" Hatibra replied, "You believe in Jesusas . He was ill-treated by his people, yet he did not pray for their destruction." The King paid a tribute to Hatibra
and said he was a wise envoy of a wise man. He had answered well the questions put to him. Upon this Hatibra spoke again. "Before you," he said, "there was a king who was proud, arrogant and cruel. He was the Pharaoh who persecuted Mosesas . At last he was overtaken by divine punishment. Show no pride therefore. Believe in this Prophetsa of God. By God Mosesas did not foretell about Jesusas as clearly as did Jesusas foretell about Muhammadsa. We invite you to Muhammad the Prophetsa , just as you Christians invite the Jews to Jesusas . Every Prophet has his followers. The followers must obey their Prophet. Now that a Prophetsa has appeared in your time it is your duty to believe in him and follow him. And remember our religion does
pg 213 Life of Muhammad(sa)
not ask you to deny or disobey Jesusas. Our religion requires everyone to believe in Jesusas." Hearing this, Muqauqis revealed that he had heard of the teaching of this Prophetsa and he felt that he did not teach anything evil nor forbid anything good. He had also made inquiries and found that he was no sorcerer or soothsayer. He had heard of some of his prophecies which had come true. Then he sent for an ivory box and placed the letter of the Prophetsa in it, sealed it and handed it over to a servant girl for safe deposit. He also wrote a letter in reply to the Prophetsa . The text of this letter is recorded in history. It runs as follows:
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. From Muqauqis, King of the Copts, to Muhammad sa, son of ‘Abdullah. Peace be on you. After this, I say that I have read your letter and pondered over its contents and over the beliefs to which you invite me. I am aware that the Hebrew Prophets have foretold the advent of a Prophetsa in our time. But I thought he was going to appear in Syria. I have received your envoy, and made a present of one thousand dinars and five khil‘ats to him and I send two Egyptian girls
as a present to you. My people, the Copts, hold these girls in great esteem. One of them is Mary ra and the other Sirin ra. I also send you twenty garments made of Egyptian linen of high quality. I also send you a mule for riding. In the end I pray again that you may have peace from God (Zurqani and Tabari).
pg 214 Life of Muhammad(sa)
From this letter it is clear that, though Muqauqis treated the letter with respect he did not accept Islam.
LETTER TO CHIEF OF BAHRAIN The Prophetsa also sent a letter to Mundhir Taimi, Chief of Bahrain. This letter was carried by ‘Ala’ ibn Hadrami ra. The text of this letter has been lost. When it reached this Chief, he believed, and wrote back to the Prophetsa saying that he and many of his friends and
followers had decided to join Islam. Some, however, had decided to stay outside. He also said that there were some Jews and Magians living under him. What was he to do about them? The Prophetsa wrote again to this Chief thus: I am glad at your acceptance of Islam. Your duty is to obey the delegates and messengers whom I should send to you. Whoever obeys them, obeys me. The messenger who took my letter to you praised you to me, and assured me of the sincerity of your belief. I have prayed to God for your people. Try, therefore, to teach them the ways and practices of Islam. Protect their property. Do not let anyone have more than four wives. The sins of the past are forgiven. As long as you are good and virtuous you will continue to rule over your people. As for Jews and Magians, they have only to pay a tax. Do not, therefore, make any other demands on them. As for the general population, those who do not have land enough to maintain them
pg 215 Life of Muhammad(sa)
should have four dirhams each, and some cloth to wear (Zurqani and Khamis). The Prophetsa also wrote to the King of ‘Uman, the Chief of Yamama, the King of Ghassan, the Chief of Bani Nahd, a tribe of Yemen, the Chief of Hamdan, another tribe of Yemen, the Chief of Bani ‘Alim and the Chief of the Hadrami tribe. Most of them became Muslims. These letters show how perfect was the Prophet'ssa faith in God. They also show that from the very beginning the Prophetsa believed that he had been sent by God not to any one people or territory, but to all the peoples of the world. It is true that these letters were received by their addressees in different ways. Some of them accepted Islam at once. Others treated the letters with consideration, but did not accept Islam. Still others treated them with ordinary courtesy. Still others showed
contempt and pride. But it is true also—and history is witness to the fact—that the recipients of these letters or their peoples met with a fate in accordance with their treatment of these letters.
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