Skip to main content

Invitation of Islam to Heraclius, The Emperor of Byzantine:

Hadith on Invitation of Islam to Heraclius, The Emperor of Byzantine

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas:

Abu Sufyan bin Harb informed me that Heraclius had sent a messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish. They were merchants doing business in Sham (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan), at the time when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had truce with Abu Sufyan and Quraish infidels. So Abu Sufyan and his companions went to Heraclius at Ilya (Jerusalem). Heraclius called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator who, translating Heraclius's question said to them, "Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abu Sufyan replied, "I am the nearest relative to him (amongst the group)." 

Heraclius said, "Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stand behind him." Abu Sufyan added, Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to put some questions to me regarding that man (The Prophet) and that if I told a lie they (my companions) should contradict me." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about the Prophet. The first question he asked me about him was: 

'What is his family status amongst you?' 

I replied, 'He belongs to a good (noble) family amongst us.' 

Heraclius further asked, 'Has anybody amongst you ever claimed the same (i.e. to be a Prophet) before him?' 

I replied, 'No.' 

He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?' 

I replied, 'No.' 

Heraclius asked, 'Do the nobles or the poor follow him?' 

I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.' 

He said, 'Are his followers increasing decreasing (day by day)?' 

I replied, 'They are increasing.' 

He then asked, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and renounce the religion afterwards?' 

I replied, 'No.' 

Heraclius said, 'Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?' 

I replied, 'No. ' 

Heraclius said, 'Does he break his promises?' 

I replied, 'No. We are at truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it.' I could not find opportunity to say anything against him except that. 

Heraclius asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?' 

I replied, 'Yes.' 

Then he said, 'What was the outcome of the battles?' 

I replied, 'Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.' 

Heraclius said, 'What does he order you to do?' 

I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste and to keep good relations with our Kith and kin.' 

Heraclius asked the translator to convey to me the following, I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact all the Apostles come from noble families amongst their respective peoples. I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man's statement. Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. 

I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said, and your reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah. I, then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact all the Apostle have been followed by this very class of people. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects. I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. Your reply was in the negative, and in fact this is (the sign of) true faith, when its delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely. I asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative and likewise the Apostles never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship any thing along with Him and forbade you to worship idols and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth and to be chaste. If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.' Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by Allah's Apostle which was delivered by Dihya to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter were as follows: "In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad the slave of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:) 

'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).' (3:64). 

Abu Sufyan then added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was a great hue and cry in the Royal Court. So we were turned out of the court. I told my companions that the question of Ibn-Abi-Kabsha) (the Prophet (ﷺ) Muhammad) has become so prominent that even the King of Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) is afraid of him. Then I started to become sure that he (the Prophet) would be the conqueror in the near future till I embraced Islam (i.e. Allah guided me to it)." 

The sub narrator adds, "Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of llya' (Jerusalem) and Heraclius was the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn An-Natur narrates that once while Heraclius was visiting ilya' (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning with a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him why he was in that mood? Heraclius was a foreteller and an astrologer. He replied, 'At night when I looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared (become the conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?' The people replied, 'Except the Jews nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews). 

'Just Issue orders to kill every Jew present in the country.' 

While they were discussing it, a messenger sent by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to Heraclius was brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The people, after seeing him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the Arabs. The messenger replied, 'Arabs also practice circumcision.' 

(After hearing that) Heraclius remarked that sovereignty of the 'Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left for Homs. (a town in Syrian and stayed there till he received the reply of his letter from his friend who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that Heraclius invited all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his palace at Homs. When they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he came out and said, 'O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek right guidance and want your empire to remain then give a pledge of allegiance to this Prophet (i.e. embrace Islam).' 

(On hearing the views of Heraclius) the people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost the hope of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in audience. 

(When they returned) he said, 'What already said was just to test the strength of your conviction and I have seen it.' The people prostrated before him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of Heraclius's story (in connection with his faith).


Sahih al-Bukhari 7 
In-book : Book 1, Hadith 7 
USC-MSA web (English) : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 6  (deprecated)
Sahih Bukhari

Get Hadith Collection (All in one) App:https://goo.gl/8j06i9
#GreentechApps #Hadith

Source: received through WhatsApp message
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Rasoolullah's ﷺ Shoes and Leather Socks:

Rasoolullah (ﷺ) wore shoes like sandals or slippers. Rasoolullah (ﷺ) also wore black leather socks and during Wadhu passed his moist hanks over them (made Masah). His shoes had two straps between the toes (Uswah: Mirqaat). There was a strap at the back as well. The Shoes of Rasoolullah (ﷺ) were one span and two fingers long and 7 fingers wide; there was a space of two fingers between the two straps at the toe end (Uswah) Rasoolullah (ﷺ)used to wear shoes made of leather that was smooth after the removal of the animal hair, and after wadhu He would place his feet into them because they were pure and made in such a way that his toes would thouch the ground. (Uswah) Rasoolullah (ﷺ) also wore shoes made of smooth leather. (Mishkaat) Rasoolullah (ﷺ) would would grip his shoes with his left thumb and index finger. (Shamaail Tirmidhi) Hazrat Anas (Radiallahhu’ anhu) narrates that from the sunnah is that one should remove his shoes and place them to the left side when sitting. (Mishkaat) Sourc...
Read more

Discipline is not oppression, it is love in action:

 - *The Perils of Pampering: Raising Disciplined, God-Conscious Children*   In a world that glorifies instant gratification, indulgence, and materialism, we risk raising a generation that lacks resilience, respect, and responsibility. The saying, *"A pampered child becomes a spoiled adult,"* holds profound truth. If we fail to discipline our children today, we may find ourselves helplessly watching them struggle tomorrow or worse, witnessing them turn into entitled, inconsiderate adults.   *Discipline is not oppression, it is love in action*. It is the framework that shapes a child’s character, teaching them that life does not always bend to their will. If we refuse to instill these values at home, the world will teach them often in ways we would never approve of.   Islam places immense emphasis on disciplined upbringing. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:   > *"Command your children to pray at the age of seven, and discipline them for it at t...
Read more

Eid al-Adha Mubarak:

 - Eid al-Adha  teaches us lessons of devotion and sacrifice. The obedience to Allah, the sacrifice, and the selfless loyalty of  Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, and Prophet Ismail (Ishmael), peace be upon him,  were so beloved by Allah, the Lord of all creation, that He decreed them to be observed by believers until the Day of Judgment. On this blessed and joyous occasion of Eid al-Adha, with reliance on the Almighty Allah and adherence to the teachings of His Prophets, and with prayers for the establishment of unity and solidarity worldwide,  this humble servant extends Eid al-Adha greetings to you and your family.
Read more

The Azan, or Islamic call to prayer- Details:

 - The Azan, or Islamic call to prayer, is a beautiful and sacred tradition in Islam. Here are the words to the Azan: # Azan 1. *Allahu Akbar* (4 times): Allah is the greatest. 2. *Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah* (2 times): I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah. 3. *Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah* (2 times): I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. 4. *Hayya 'ala al-salah* (2 times): Come to prayer. 5. *Hayya 'ala al-falah* (2 times): Come to success. 6. *Qad qamat al-salah* (2 times): Prayer has begun. 7. *Allahu Akbar* (1 time): Allah is the greatest. # Du'a after Azan After the Azan, it is recommended to recite the following Du'a: "Alahumma rabba hadhihi ad-da'wat al-tammah, wa al-salat al-qaimah, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wa al-fadhilata, wa ab'athu maqamam mahmudan aladhi wa'adtahu, innaka la tukhlif al-mi'ad." "O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the established prayer, grant Muhammad the means and t...
Read more

Quran Juz 14 – Rubama - Summary:

Quran Juz 14 – Rubama Summary Join Us: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EwGX2NFn95O2Bo92HkyyiI • Surah Hijr: This Juz starts with Surah Hijr (the chapter’s first verse is in Juz 13 though), which talks about the people living in the Valley of Hijr (Hegra) i.e. the Tribe of Thamud.  • This brief chapter is uniquely themed at the foundational principles of Islam: Tawheed (Oneness of Allah), Risalah (messengership), and the Hereafter. • Allah tells Prophet Muhammed ﷺ that though the disbelievers do not wish to accept Islam, a time will come when they wish they should have accepted it. • As per a hadith, this will happen when they’ll see some Muslims too in Hell, undergoing a punishment. The disbelievers who knew them in life one earth will then taunt them and say that they were Muslims and how come they are in Hell. • However, at the completion of the Muslims’ punishment tenure, Allah will place them in the Heaven. Seeing it, the disbelievers will wish that they should have accepte...
Read more

The moment we realize that everything happens by the will of Allaah, all our worries begin to fade away:

 - (external source) 🌷 *Whatever Allaah does......it's for our best*🌷 When my daughter was 2 years old, she loved to play with the water in the toilet bowl.  Yes, that's right.... *the toilet bowl!!* Yuck!!  That's nasty...you would say!!  But to *her*, that was the *delight of the day!*  Splish...splash!  To her innocent mind, there was nothing like it!  And so when I would prevent her from playing with it, she would scream and cry and wouldn't want to stop.  She didn't understand how harmful that was for her.  In her little brain, I took away something that she really enjoyed.   And when I would take her to the doctor to have her immunization shots, she wouldn't understand that either.  She would *howl* at the top of her lungs at the first sight of the needle and would run the other way.  It would take two of us just to hold her down!  To her, it was nothing but *torture*!  Her innocent little mind...
Read more

A key insight into the development of your child:

THIS WAS DELIVERED BY SHAYKH AKRAM NADWI IN A CONFERENCE AT THE AZHAR UNIVERSITY, CAIRO. DEPT OF ISLAMIC PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION. - The purpose of marriage is to have children and then educate them to worship Allah SWT. - When a child is born, a mother and father are also born. - The personal development of the parents is just as important as that of the child. This point is often overlooked. - Modern education seeks to incorporate people into the economy - to make money. Islamic education seeks to train people to become 'good' individuals, in terms of their character etc. 'Good' meaning to prepare for the Hereafter. - Your children, before they are your children, they are the slaves of Allah. His rights over them precede your rights. - Your duty is to teach them and provide them guidance - not to make them pious. You will be questioned whether you taught them right or not. - Parents need to realise they too are slaves of Allah. His rights over them precede their...
Read more

Eid Mubarak - Stay Blessed:

 - We have completed the month of Ramadan with lots of prayers, salah, taqwa, charity and good deeds. Lets protect our good deeds and add them more. Ramazan is a holy month whereby the piousness is seen everywhere. The month of Ramazan is a practice of good deeds, so let us continue whatever we have been doing in Ramazan. Let us smile. Let us care for our wellbeing, as well as wellbeing of people around us. Let us give time to our family, friends and community around us. Let us do our work with dedication, and Iqlas. Let us fill our Iman with the light of Noor. Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) said,   “The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit to people, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay seclu...
Read more

Speaking in soft positive manner would not cost you anything but would enchant those you speak to and get rid of any ill feelings:

 There was once a king who saw in a dream that all his teeth had fallen out. He called a dream-interpreter, told him what he saw in the dream, and asked him to interpret it. When the interpreter heard the dream, his complexion changed and he began to repeat, “Allāh’s refuge is sought! Allāh’s refuge is sought!” The king became worried and asked, “What is the interpretation of my dream?” The interpreter said, “After many years pass, your wife and children will die and you will be all alone in your kingdom!” The king screamed, became furious, and began to hurl abuses and insults. He then ordered that the interpreter be imprisoned and called another interpreter, related to him what he saw in the dream and asked him for its interpretation. The dream-interpreter smiled and said, “Glad tidings, dear king!” The king said, “What is the interpretation of the dream?” The interpreter said, “It means that you will live for very long – so long that you will be the last of your family to die, an...
Read more