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AbuSufyanAndHeracliusEmperorofRome, page : 6
afterward?" Abu Sufyan replied "No." "Has anyone ever betrayed him?" asked
Heraclius. "No" replied Abu Sufyan. At this point Heraclius inquired, "Before his
claim to be a prophet, did you ever accuse him of telling lies?" Reluctantly Abu
Sufyan replied "No." Then Heraclius asked "Has he been known to break his
promise?" Abu Sufyan felt uncomfortable and replied "No. We have a truce with
him, but we do not know the outcome." The interview continued, Heraclius asked,
"Have you ever been to war with him?" "Yes," replied Abu Sufyan, "and what was
the outcome?" Abu Sufyan replied, "Sometimes he was victorious and at other
times we were." In conclusion Heraclius asked "What does he order you to do?"
Abu Sufyan replied " He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone, and not to
worship anything except Him. He tells us to renounce all that our ancestors said.
He tells us to pray, speak the truth, to be chaste and to have a good relationship
with our family and relatives."
Heraclius explained why he had asked all these questions saying, "You told me
that he came from a noble family, the fact is that all prophets are descended from
noble families. I asked if anyone else amongst you had claimed the prophethood,
Heraclius. "No" replied Abu Sufyan. At this point Heraclius inquired, "Before his
claim to be a prophet, did you ever accuse him of telling lies?" Reluctantly Abu
Sufyan replied "No." Then Heraclius asked "Has he been known to break his
promise?" Abu Sufyan felt uncomfortable and replied "No. We have a truce with
him, but we do not know the outcome." The interview continued, Heraclius asked,
"Have you ever been to war with him?" "Yes," replied Abu Sufyan, "and what was
the outcome?" Abu Sufyan replied, "Sometimes he was victorious and at other
times we were." In conclusion Heraclius asked "What does he order you to do?"
Abu Sufyan replied " He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone, and not to
worship anything except Him. He tells us to renounce all that our ancestors said.
He tells us to pray, speak the truth, to be chaste and to have a good relationship
with our family and relatives."
Heraclius explained why he had asked all these questions saying, "You told me
that he came from a noble family, the fact is that all prophets are descended from
noble families. I asked if anyone else amongst you had claimed the prophethood,