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“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
From Muqawqas to Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah:
Peace be upon you. I have read your letter and understood its contents, and what you are calling
for. I already know that the coming of a Prophet is still due, but I used to believe he would be born
in Syria. I am sending you as presents two maids, who come from noble Coptic families; clothing
and a steed for riding on. Peace be upon you.”
It is noteworthy that Muqawqas did not avail himself of this priceless opportunity and he did not
embrace Islam. The presents were accepted; Maria, the first maid, stayed with the Prophet (Peace
be upon him), and gave birth to his son Ibrahîm; the other Sirin, was given to Hassan bin Thabit Al-
Ansari.
3. A Letter to Chosroes, Emperor of Persia:
“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allâh to Chosroes, king of Persia.
Peace be upon him who follows true guidance, believes in Allâh and His Messenger and testifies that
there is no god but Allâh Alone with no associate, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. I
invite you to accept the religion of Allâh. I am the Messenger of Allâh sent to all people in order that
I may infuse fear of Allâh in every living person, and that the charge may be proved against those
who reject the Truth. Accept Islam as your religion so that you may live in security, otherwise, you
will be responsible for all the sins of the Magians.”
‘Abdullah bin Hudhafa As-Sahmi was chosen to carry the letter. This envoy carried it to the king of
Bahrain but we do not know as yet if the latter despatched to Chosroes by one of his men or chose
‘Abdullah himself.
The proud monarch was enraged by the style of the letter as the name of the Prophet (Peace be
upon him) had been put above his own name. He tore the letter into shreds and forthwith dictated a
command to his viceroy in Yemen to send a couple of troopers to arrest the Prophet and bring him
to his presence. The governor, Bazan by name, immediately sent two men to Madinah for the
purpose. As soon as the men reached Madinah, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was informed by a
Divine Revelation that Pervez, the emperor of Persia, had been murdered by his son. The Prophet
(Peace be upon him) disclosed to them the news and they were stunned. He added asking them to
tell their new monarch that Islam would prevail everywhere and outstrip the sovereignty of
Chosroes himself. They hurried back to Bazan and communicated to him what they heard.
Meanwhile, Sherweh, the new monarch sent a letter to Bazan confirming the news and b idding him
to stop any procedures as regards the Prophet till further notice. Bazan, together with the Persians
in Yemen, went into the folds of Islam, and gladly signified his adhesion to the Prophet.
4.The Envoy to Caesar, King of Rome:
Al-Bukhari gave a long narration of the contents of the letter sent by the Prophet (Peace be upon
him) to Hercules, king of the Byzantines:
“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad, the slave of Allâh and His Messenger to Hercules, king of the Byzantines.
Blessed are those who follow true guidance. I invite you to embrace Islam so that you may live in
security. If you come within the fold of Islam, Allâh will give you double reward, but in case you turn
your back upon it, then the burden of the sins of all your people shall fall on your shoulders.
·
“Say [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)]: ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians), come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but
Allâh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as
lords besides Allâh.’ Then, if they turn away, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’ ”
[3:64]
The Muslim envoy, Dihyah bin Khalifah Al-Kalbi, was ordered to hand the letter over to king of
Busra, who would in turn, send it to Caesar.
Incidentally, Abu Sufyan bin Harb, who by that time had not embraced Islam, was summoned to the
court and Hercules asked him many questions about Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and the
religion which he preached. The testimony which this avowed enemy of the Prophet gave regarding
the personal excellence of the Prophet’s character and the good that Islam was doing the human
race, left Hercules wonder-struck.
Al-Bukhâri, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, narrated that Hercules sent for Abu Sufyan and his
companions, who happened to be trading in Ash-Sham, Jerusalem. That was during the truce that
had been concluded between the polytheists of Quraish and the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon
him). Hercules, seated amongst his chiefs of staff, asked, “Who amongst you is the nearest relative
to the man who claims to be a Prophet?” “I (Abu Sufyan) replied: ‘I am the nearest relative to him
from amongst the group.’ So they made me sit in front of him and made my companions sit behind
me. Then he called upon his translator and said (to him). ‘Tell them (i.e. Abu Sufyan’s companions)
that I am going to ask him (i.e. Abu Sufyan) regarding that men who claims to be a Prophet. So if
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