THE LETTERS TO THE NEGUS OF ABYSSINIA HERACLIUS, EMPEROR OF ROME HERACLIUS QUESTIONS ABU SUFYAN Hayatus Sahabah by Muhadith Kandahlawi (Kandhelvi) Rendered into current English by Khadeijah Abdullah Darwish (Anne Stephens) Free give away Acquired from Amazon’s Kindle Not for sale or resale by any third party ©2013 - www.Muhammad.com THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH’S LETTER TO THE NEGUS, RULER OF ABYSSINIA In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah To As-hamah, the Negus of Abyssinia Peace be upon you. Before you I praise Allah, the Supreme Sovereign, the Most Pure, Giver of peace and Protector. I bear witness that Jesus is the spirit that Allah created and His word that He cast into the chaste, pure virgin Mary. She bore Jesus whom Allah create from what He determined of spirit and breath (from Gabriel) just as Allah determined the creation of Adam and his breath. I call you to the One, Allah who has no partner and to dutifully obey Him. I invite you to follow me, to believe in me and what I have brought, because I am the Messenger of Allah. I have sent my cousin Ja’far to you together with a party of Muslims. When they arrive (please) treat them as your guests with kindness. I invite you and your subects to (the worship of) the Glorious and Magnificent Allah. I have conveyed my message, and given you good counsel so (please) accept my counsel. Peace be on the one who follows the guidance. THE NEGUS’ REPLY TO THE LETTER OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH, Praise and peace be upon him To Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah From The Negus, As-hamah son of Abjar May the peace of Allah, His Mercy and Blessings be showered upon you, O Prophet of Allah. There is no god except He who has guided me to Islam. O Messenger of Allah, your letter concerning Jesus has reached me. I swear by the Lord of the heavens and the earth that Jesus himself never said more that what you have mentioned. We understand the letter you have sent to us and we have entertained your cousin and his companions. I bear witness that you are the true and promised Messenger of Allah. I have pledged my allegiance to you at the hands of your cousin by whose hand I have accepted Islam for the pleasure of Allah, the Lord of the universe. I am sending to you (my son) Areha, son of As-hamah, son of Abjar. I have control over none other than my self. O Messenger of Allah, if you wish that I come to you personally, I am prepared to do so, because I bear witness that whatever you say is the absolute truth. THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH’S LETTER TO HERACLIUS, EMPEROR OF ROME Dihya Kalbi narrates that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sent him with a letter to Heraclius, Emperor of Rome. When he arrived he handed the letter to the nephew of the emperor who was a blue-eyed boy with a reddish complexion and straight hair who happened to be present in Heraclius’ court. When he opened the letter he read: From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah To Heraclius the Leader of the Romans After having only read that much the emperor’s nephew rudely exclaimed, “This cannot be read today! “Why” asked the Emperor. His nephew replied, “Because he started the letter with his name and wrote “the Roman Leader” instead of “Emperor of Rome.” The Emperor instructed, “Indeed, you will read it!” When the letter had been read, the people dispersed from the court of the Emperor and Heraclius sent for Dihya and also for the senior patriarch of the Christian church who was his foremost advisor. The people had informed the patriarch about what had occurred and the Emperor also informed him and gave instructions that the letter be read to him. The patriarch said, “He (the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him) is the one whom we have been waiting for and about whom Jesus prophesied.” The Emperor asked him, “What do you advise me to do?” The patriarch said, “I certainly believe him and will follow him.” The Emperor said, “If I do so I will lose my kingship.” Thereafter, Heraclius’ courtiers left. Abu Sufyan happened to be there at that time (to trade) and the Emperor sent for him. Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, “Tell me about this person who has appeared in your land. What is he?” Abu Sufyan replied, “He is a young man" Heraclius inquired, “What is his lineage?” Abu Sufyan replied, “He has a lineage that none can surpass.” Heraclius said, “This is indeed a certain sign of his prophethood. Is he honest?” Abu Sufyan replied, “He has never lied.” Again the Heraclius commented, “This indeed a certain sign of his prophethood.” He then asked, “Tell me about the people who follow him, have any of them returned to you?” Abu Sufyan replied, “None.” The Emperor remarked, “This is indeed a certain sign of the prophethood.”. Next he asked, “Has he ever been defeated when he led his Companions to combat?” Abu Sufyan replied, “His tribe have fought against him, sometimes they defeated him and at other times he defeated them.” Heraclius said again, “This is indeed a certain sign of the prophethood.” Thereafter Heraclius sent for Dihya and said to him, “Tell your leader that although I know he is a Prophet, I cannot forsake my kingship.” Dihya narrates that each Sunday the people would gather for the senior patriarch to deliver a sermon and advise them. However, when the following Sunday came, he did not go out to meet them, he remained in his home until the following Sunday. Dihya said that he would meet with other patriarchs who would speak to him and ask him many questions. When the following Sunday came, the people awaited his arrival but once again he did not go out to meet them claiming that he was ill. This continued for several Sundays until the people delivered an ultimatum and sent a message to him saying, “You must come to us otherwise we shall come to you and kill you. We have noticed a change in your attitude since the Arab arrived.” The patriarch told Dihya, “Take this letter to your leader. Greet him on my behalf and inform him that I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I believe in the Messenger of Allah and accept what he says and follow him, but my people dislike this. Also inform him about the circumstances you have observed. The patriarch then went to meet the people and they martyred him. Some scholars of hadith narrated that Heraclius said to Dihya, “O beloved, I swear by Allah that I know that your leader is the accepted Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and that he is the awaited one, the one described in our Scripture. However, I fear that the Romans will take my life. Were it not for this fear, I would have indeed followed him. Go to the patriarch Daghaatir and tell him about your leader because he is higher than me in religious status and more influential in Rome. When Dihya approached the influential patriarch and told him what had occurred, he said, “I swear by Allah that your leader is the expected prophet. We recognize him by his description and his name.” The high priest entered (his rooms) removed his robes and put on a white robe. He then went out to meet the Romans and bore witness to the true belief, where upon the people attacked and killed him. Sa’eed, son of Abi Rashid narrates that it was in Homs that he saw a man from the tribe of Tanookh whom Heraclius had sent as an envoy to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. The man was his neighbor and very old, nearing death. Sa’eed asked the man, “Won’t you tell me about the letter Heraclius sent to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and the letter the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sent to Heraclius.” The man readily agreed and related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, was in Tabook when he sent Dihya to Heraclius. When the letter of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, reached that place, Heraclius summoned his church patriarchs and the learned scholars of Rome to his court and ordered all the doors to be locked (as he anticipated their reaction to what he was about to say). Then Heraclius addressed them saying, “This person has reached the place you see (Tabook) and has sent me a letter with three options. He invites me to follow him in his Religion, or to pay from our wealth the head tax (Jizya payable by non-Muslims) which will allow us to keep our land, or to prepare for combat. By Allah, you know from what you have read in the scriptures that he will definitely take the land from beneath my feet. Come, let us follow him in his Religion and give him part of our wealth and keep our land.” (When those who were present heard this) they all cried out with one voice as they threw down their hats shouting, “Are you proposing that we forsake Christianity and become the slaves of the villager from Hijaz!” When Heraclius sensed they would incite other citizens to rebel if they left (the court with this frame of mind), Heraclius called them back and said, “I said this only to test your steadfastness in your religion (and they expressed their relief).” After that, Heraclius sent for a tribesman from the Tuyayb who had been a leader of the Arab Christians and said, “Find someone with a good memory who speaks Arabic so that I may send him to that man (the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him) with a reply to his letter.” (The narrator of this report from the tribe of Tanookh) said that he was the person whom Heraclius sent, and that Heraclius handed to him a letter inscribed on the sternum of an animal. Heraclius, said to him, “Take this letter to that person and take careful note of everything you hear him say regarding three things. See whether he mentions anything about the letter he sent to me. See whether he mentions the night when he read my letter and look carefully at his back to see if anything makes you doubt.” I carried the letter to the Messenger of Allah in Tabook and found him sitting with his Companions near a watering place. When I asked to be taken to their leader, a Companion pointed the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, out to me. Whereupon I walked up to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sat down before him and handed the letter to him. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, placed the letter on his lap and asked, “To which tribe do you belong?” After I had identified myself as tribesman from the Tanookh, the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked, “Do you wish to enter into the religion of your father Abraham which is far removed from deviation and is securely on the Straight Path?” I replied, “I am an envoy for a nation and follow their religion, I will not leave their religion until I return to them.” Whereupon the Messenger of Allah praise and peace be upon him, recited the verse from the Koran that reads: “You cannot guide whom you please; it is Allah who guides whom He will. He knows well those who are guided.” Koran Ch.28:56 Then, the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, “O my brother from Tanookh, I sent a letter to Chosroes, but he tore it up. Allah will therefore tear him and his kingdom apart. I also wrote a letter to your leader (Heraclius) who kept the letter. Therefore, as long as good is destined in his life people will continue to live in awe of him.” I said to myself, “This is one of the three things Heraclius instructed me to take note of.” Then, taking an arrow from its quiver I etched the words on its sheath. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, then handed the letter to someone sitting on his left whereupon I asked, “Who is your scribe who reads your letters?” And I was told it was Mu’awiya. Heraclius’ letter contained the following, “Do you invite me to Paradise the width of which spans the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in the Oneness? (If Paradise occupies all this space) where then is the Fire?” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, exclaimed, “Exalted is Allah! Then, where is the night when the day appears?” Once again I took my arrow from its quiver, and wrote the words down. After having read the letter, the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said to me, “You are an envoy and have a right upon us. If we had anything with us, we would surely have rewarded you with it but we are travelers whose provisions have been depleted.” Then a Companion in the group called out, “I shall reward him.” Whereupon he opened his traveling bag and brought out a set of clothing from Safora (a city in Jordan) which he then place in my lap. When I asked who the person was who gave me the clothing, I was told it was Othman. I said, “Thereafter the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked his Companions, “Who will host this envoy?” A youth from the Ansar volunteered and stood up, and I stood up with him. As the envoy was leaving the gathering, the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, called me back saying, “O brother from Tanookh!” so I hastened back until I stood in the same place where I had been sitting before the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, whereupon the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, removed the shawl from his back and said, “Come, and do what you have been ordered.” So I stepped forward and looked at his back and saw the seal of the prophethood between his shoulder blades which resembled the egg of a dove.” ABU SUFYAN AND HERACLIUS Abdullah son of Abbas narrates that Abu Sufyan told him that he went to Sham to trade during a period in which there was a peace treaty between the unbelieving Koraysh and the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon. When they reached a place called, Ilyia (Baytul Maqdas) Heraclius sent a messenger to the caravan summoning them to come to him. Upon there arrival at the palace of Heraclius they were ushered into his court in which his ministers had gathered. Heraclius called for an interpreter and asked, “Which of you is closest in lineage to the person who claims to be prophet?” Abu Sufyan replied that it was himself. Then, Heraclius ordered that Abu Sufyan be brought nearer to him, while the other remained behind Abu Sufyan. Heraclius then addressed Abu Sufyan’s companions saying, “I will ask this man about that person (meaning the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him), if he lies to me you must speak up.” Abu Sufyan thought to himself, “By Allah, I would indeed lie if I did not fear being labeled a liar.” The first question Heraclius posed was: “What is his lineage amongst you?” Abu Sufyan replied, “His lineage is indeed the highest amongst us.” Heraclius now asked, “Has anyone among you ever made such a claim before?” Abu Sufyan replied that they had not. Next Heraclius asked, “Were there any kings amongst his forefathers?” Abu Sufyan replied that there had not. Then, Heraclius asked, “Is it the nobles among your people who follow him or those who are insignificant?” Abu Sufyan answered that his followers were the insignificant. Thereafter Heraclius asked, “Are their numbers increasing or decreasing?” Abu Sufyan replied that they were increasing. Heraclius next asked, “Have any of them reverted to their previous religion on account of being displeased with the religion they had just entered?” Abu Sufyan replied that there were none. Heraclius asked, “Has he ever been accused of lying before he made this claim?” Abu Sufyan replied that he had not. Following this Heraclius asked, “Has he ever broken a treaty? “ “No” replied Abu Sufyan, “however, we are at this moment bound by a (peace) treaty with him, but do not know what he will do.” Abu Sufyan then said, “Other than this, there is nothing else I could add.” Heraclius continued, “Have you ever fought against him?” “Yes” Abu Sufyan replied. “Then how did you fare?” asked Heraclius. Abu Sufyan replied, “Wars are like the bucket of a well between us. Sometimes he defeats us and at other times we are the victors.” Heraclius then asked, “What does he command you to do?” Abu Sufyan replied, “He commands us to worship One God, Allah with ascribing partners to Him and that we must forsake what our forefathers worshipped. He also commands us to establish the prayer, to be truthful, chaste and uphold family ties.” After having asked Abu Sufyan these questions he spoke to his interpreter saying, “Tell him that when I asked him about his lineage, he maintained that he has an excellent lineage. This is the circumstance of all the prophets. Then I asked if anyone had made a claim (to the prophethood) before him. His reply was that they had not. If he had made such a claim, I would have said that he is a man copying what was said before him. When I asked whether any of his forefathers had been kings, you replied that they had not. Had there been kings among your forefathers, I would have assumed he was a man seeking to restore the kingdom of his forefathers. I also asked you whether any of you had ever accused him of lying before (his claim to the prophethood) but you replied that they had not, so I realize that it is impossible for a person who does not lie to tell a lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether it is the nobles among your people who follow him or the insignificant, and you replied they were the insignificant. Thereafter I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing, and you replied they were increasing. This is the way of belief. Then I asked you whether anyone had reverted to his former religion out of displeasure after entering into his religion, and you informed me that none had done so. This is the condition of belief when it penetrates the heart. When I asked you whether he had ever broken a treaty, you replied that he had not, and this is the way of all prophets, they never break their pledges. I asked you what he commanded and your reply was that he commanded you to worship One God, Allah without ascribing partners to Him, and that he forbade you to worship idols, commanded you to establish the prayers, to speak the truth and to remain chaste. If what you have said is factual, then he shall seize control of the ground I stand upon. I was expecting his appearance, but did not know he would appear among your people. If I knew that I could reach him, I would have taken upon myself the burden (of traveling) to do so, and if I had been in his presence, I would have washed his feet (this was the way in which the disciples of Prophet Jesus honored him).” Then, Heraclius called for the letter the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, had sent with Dihya who had given it to the governor of Busra and subsequently forwarded to him. The letter read: In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful, From Muhammad, the worshiper and Messenger of Allah To Heraclius, Emperor of Rome Peace be upon the one who follows guidance. I call you with the invitation of Islam. Accept Islam and live in peace and Allah will double your reward. But, if you turn away, the sin of all your subjects shall be burdened upon you. (Then he quoted the Koran) “Say, 'People of the Book, let us come to a common word between us and you that we will worship none except Allah, that we will associate none with Him, and that none of us take others for lords besides Allah.' If they turn away, say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims.'” Koran Ch. 3:64 Abu Sufyan narrated that after Heraclius had spoken and read the letter aloud, there was such a commotion that people started to shout out loudly (in protest) and it was then that we were ushered out of his palace. As we were being ushered out, I said to one of my companions, “The affair of ibn Kabsha (the foster father of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him) has grown to be so powerful that even the king of the fair skins (Romans) have begun to fear him. It was then that I was convinced that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, would conquer.” Ibn Nator was the governor of Ilyia, and a good friend of Heraclius and the patriarch of the Christian Church in Sham. He narrated that once, when Heraclius was visiting Ilyia he appeared to be very unwell and restless one morning. Even some of the patriarchs noticed that he did not seem to be himself. Heraclius was an astrologer and able to read the stars, and when they asked him (what was the matter) he replied, “When I gazed into the stars, I saw that the king of the circumcised people had appeared.” Then he asked, “Which nation practices circumcision?” and they told him that it was only the Jews who practiced circumcision and he had nothing to fear from them, but that he should send a command nationwide that all the Jews be killed. They were still discussing the matter when an envoy arrived from the governor of Ghassan, to inform Heraclius about the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. After Heraclius had questioned the envoy, he gave orders that the patriarchs examine the envoy to see if he was circumcised. Upon examining him they found that he was circumcised and consequently they asked whether the Arabs practiced circumcision. Upon the envoy’s confirmation that circumcision was customary among the Arabs Heraclius said, “It is the king of this nation who has made his appearance.” Heraclius then sent a letter to a friend in Rome who was also an expert astrologer, and left for the city of Homs. Heraclius had not yet reached Homs when the reply arrived from his friend that was in concurrence with his opinion that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, had made his appearance and that he was a Prophet. Heraclius sent invitations to the leading people of Rome to come to his fortress in Homs. After they had arrived he called for all the doors to be locked (as he anticipated a negative reaction to what he was about to say to them). Heraclius came out to them and addressed them saying, “O leaders of the Roman people, do you want to achieve success, good fortune and keep your kingdom? (If you do) follow this prophet.” Upon hearing this statement all those present rushed to the doors like wild camels but found them locked. Heraclius’ anticipation had proved to be correct and he knew they would not accept the belief. Heraclius commanded everyone to come back, and said, “I told you this to test your steadfastness in adherence to your religion, and this I have just witnessed.” They prostrated before him and expressed their satisfaction with him. May Allah be pleased with all the Companions. For further historical facts and analysis, please read Muhammad.com’s booklet HERACLIUS, EMPEROR OF ROME CONFESSED &SUPPORTED PROPHET MUHAMMAD