MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 31/41)
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and as a visible sign and proof that you attribute no partners to Allah, you are to bow low and place your forehead upon the ground in prayer, thereby acknowledging your own weakness and haplessness. You must preserve and value your honor, guard your chastity, maintain the honor of mankind, as you would watch over the honor of your family and children. You are not to spread lies and you are to be observant of the bonds of kinship. In addition, Muhammad is greatly opposed to the worship of idols. He insults our gods, and of your religion he says that it has been altered and corrupted.”
The Emperor Heraclius listened to Abu Sufyan’s words attentively and with great interest. The notables and spiritual leaders surrounding him waited with barely concealed excitement for the Emperor’s reaction to all this. Finally, he spoke: “There is no doubt in my mind that the person giving you this counsel is indeed a prophet,” he said. Abu Sufyan was dumbfounded and the bishops and abbots began to stir uneasily. “Yes,” he went on, “this great man is a prophet. For you yourselves say that he is descended from an eminent family and all prophets are scions of noble houses. You have also said that no one else in his family has ever laid claim to prophethood. This indicates that he has not professed this calling motivated by family considerations. You have also said that his family does not partake of the affairs of state, which in turn informs me that this person is clearly not after the accession to worldly power.
“Furthermore, you have never known this man to tell a lie. He, who tells no lie to his fellow men, does not lie about God. You say that his friends and followers are mainly recruited from the materially less endowed of the community. It has always been this way: the very first followers of all prophets have been the weak and indigent. When I asked you whether his following is increasing, you told me that it was. This is always the case with true religions. Then I asked whether he has ever been known to practice deceit. This you denied. That too is a characteristic of a true Prophet. You say he preaches that Allah alone is to be worshipped by His servants; therefore it is beyond doubt that this man is a real prophet. And I inform you that in a short while he will become lord of the place I now occupy. Indeed, I knew of the impending appearance of this prophet, but it was beyond my ability to know that he would appear in Arabia. Ah, if only it were given to me to travel to Arabia and greet this Holy Prophet , so that I might wash his blessed feet with my own hands...”
When he had concluded his speech, he pressed the Prophet’s letter to his eyes
and lips and said, “I order this letter to be read aloud and heard by all those present here with me.” This was the text of the letter the Holy Prophet wrote:
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
From Muhammad, the servant and prophet of Allah to Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium:
Peace be to him who follows Guidance, who treads the Path of Truth. I invite you to come to Islam and to become Muslim. You live in peace and safety. And if you embrace Islam, Allah will reward you twofold. For if you were to accept Islam, all those with you would needs be follow suit, and you would become the means for their treading the straight path. Therefore, your reward would be doubled. If however you reject my call, the responsibility for your whole people plunging into error rests upon you.
Oh People of the Book! Come and let us come together in one word: let each and everyone among us accept it in equal parts: let us be servants of the one and only God worthy of worship, Allah, and let us worship none other but Him Almighty. We should ascribe no partners to Him, nor adopt any other as our Lord.”
As the letter was read out loud, the sparks of faith in the heart of the Byzantine Emperor were kindled and fanned into flames, whereas the shadow in the hearts of the priests increased in darkness and density. The principles set forth in the Prophet’s letter caused the whole organization of the priesthood to collapse. This document proclaimed that the keys to the gate to the Divine Presence were no longer held by the heads of a religious hierarchy, such as priests, hojas or sheikhs, but were to be accessible to anyone, in correspondence with the level of sincerity in his heart. The weakest wrist and feeblest arm could grasp this key to the Divine Presence; it all depended on the degree of faith and sincerity of intention, for any soul could reach to the source through the striving of love. In brief, the whole organization wanting to monopolize religious establishment was dealt a heavy blow, and its fanatic zeal was sharply clipped.
A profound silence fell upon the whole assembly. When the reading of the letter was over, the Emperor turned to the Arabs in his company and dismissed them. “You are free,” he said, “you may now go.” And they departed from his Imperial Presence.
A pitched battle now raged within the heart of the Emperor, between the yearnings of his soul (ruh) and the desires of his lower self (nafs). His imperial rank and station poured water onto the flame of enthusiasm for Islam. He lacked
not respect for the prophetic envoy, but the desire for worldly rank and honors threw a veil over the light of faith awakening in his heart.
The Khosroes of Iran, King Parviz
Abdullah bin Hudhafa was sent to Iran as the Prophet’s ambassador with a letter addressed to the Khosroes of Iran, King Parviz. He was a king who competed with Allah for majestic greatness, who thought he could shield himself against His Divine Anger, not knowing that Allah abases every atheist and brings him low at last. When this king saw his name written in one line with the name of Rasulullah at the letter’s heading, all his blood flowed into his face from fury, and his hairs stood on end, and he was like a rabid dog who sees his reflection in a body of water.
This man was attached to his throne with so much pride and conceit, that he could only assume that Muhammad’s letter had come from a mighty sovereign and lord over a worldly realm. He did not know that Muhammad was a man who all alone had begun the campaign of “La ilaha illAllah” in a cave on Mount Hira, and who still patched the rents in his clothes himself and darned the holes in the cap that covered his blessed head. He could not know that the original copy of this document was written in the Divine Kingdom. He only saw that the name of Muhammad was written before his own name. This sufficed to trigger off an uncontrollable fit of rage. “Who is this insolent wretch?” he cried, “How dare he approach me thus? Who is this man who would place his name before mine?” With these words, he began to tear up the prophetic letter.
The unfortunate man failed to realize that along with the Prophet’s name he also tore up his own. For that is precisely what happened. The Byzantine Emperor had pressed the Holy Prophet’s letter, which was written with Love and Eternal Wisdom, to his face. This reverence gained his kingdom continuity and duration. The Khosroes by contrast tore up the Prophet’s letter in contempt. He himself, his kingdom, and power were subsequently torn up as well.
This happened in the following way: When Parviz, king of Persia received the Prophet’s missive, he sent orders to the Governor of Yemen, Badhan by name, instructing him that “In the Hijaz a man has arisen who claims to be a prophet. He has had the gall to address a letter to our Imperial Presence, announcing his mission as he would to those ragged desert Arabs. I direct you to apprehend this man forthwith, sending him to me as soon as possible.” Having received this forceful order from Khosroes, Badhan sent two men to the Prophet with a letter containing these words, “You are herewith obliged to present yourself before his
Imperial Majesty at the earliest possible opportunity. If you listen to me and set out at once with the messengers who deliver to you this letter, I will personally intercede on your behalf with the Shahinshah and write a letter of this intent. If, on the other hand, you do not comply, the Persian army will set out against you, destroying the Hijaz and striking you down completely.”
When the Holy Prophet had read the letter, he said to the envoys who had come to fetch him, “I will answer you tomorrow; now you may go and rest!” When the agents of the Persian king had gone, the Sahaba said to their Prophet , “What do you command us to do? Should we prepare to set out against the army of Persia?” “That will not be necessary, “answered the Holy Prophet , “for I anticipate a disclosure from the Lord of the Worlds concerning the fate of Parviz.” The Prophet’s friends and companions waited with him in a state of great excitement. That very night the Holy Prophet received a revelation, which was an example of Divine Power acting directly on the worldly plane. Allah Almighty informed him, “Oh My Beloved! This very night I have permitted that Parviz be destroyed by his own son Shirawayh, for that he tore up your letter and intended to remove you from the face of the earth. In the morning, you will inform the envoys of this Divine dispatch.”
The Holy Prophet called the envoys and said to them, “Go back now to where you have come from. For this very night the Lord has wreaked His revenge on your Shah who vied with the Lord Almighty for Imperial Glory. He was slain by his son. Before long, Islam will come also to his capital city. Therefore, may he also find his way into the noble religion of Islam and gain safety. Go now and tell this to Badhan.”
The envoys were startled and amazed, but they could do nothing but return to Badhan and relate to him what had transpired. They asked him about what the Holy Prophet had said about the Shah Parviz. Badhan replied, “Indeed, it has happened just so. The night you went to deliver your message to Muhammad , Khosroes Parviz was slain by his son. I have now received an order to stay all attacks against that man. Moreover, in the face of this manifest miracle, I too embrace the faith of Islam. I shall send him a letter begging the Messenger of Allah for forgiveness on my behalf.” All the Persians in his company then turned to Islam and surrendered.
The Holy Prophet answered Badhan in another letter, appointing him to be the Governor of Yemen. He was the first governor to be appointed by Muhammad in the period of his spiritual leadership.
This was the content of the letter the Prophet had sent to Khosroes by the hand of Abdullah bin Hudhafa:
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
Peace be upon those who follow the Guidance and the Way of Truth, and who believe in Allah and His Prophet.
I testify that there is no God but Allah and that I am sent as His Prophet, in order to lead mankind from darkness into light, and to gather them from error to right guidance, and as a Warner.
Come to Islam and find safety therein. If you reject it, the sins of all the fire worshippers are upon your collar.
The Negus of Abyssinia
‘Amr ibn Umayya al-Damri brought Muhammad’s letter to the Negus of Abyssinia and delivered it to him. After the ruler of Abyssinia had read the letter, he called the Prophet’s cousin Ja’far who was living in this country into his presence and said, “Be my witness that I have accepted Islam!” He hosted the emissary of the Holy Prophet with courtesy and grace.
Then he sent sixty men, among them his own son, to the Prophet in order to take Bi’at, the pledge of allegiance, but the ship went astray and sank with all its passengers.
The Negus passed away in the ninth year of the Hijra. His name was Ashamet bin Bahir. But he was not the Negus for whom the Holy Prophet had prayed the funeral prayer in his absence, that was a different king, (according to Sahih Muslim).
The Prophet’s envoy had another mission to fulfill as well. He was to bring the emigrants who had settled in Abyssinia back to the Hijaz and tell them that they could now come to Madinah. Also, he was to perform the Nikah ceremony for the daughter of Abu Sufyan, Umm Habiba who was to be wed to the Holy Prophet . The Prophet had sent Khalid ibn Sa’id to be his Wakil (his proxy) when the ceremony was performed. Umm Habiba had become Muslim in Mecca in spite of her father’s obstinate perseverance in his unbelief. She had migrated together with her husband ‘Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh to Abyssinia, but after some time there he had forsaken Islam and become a Christian. She had then been divorced from him.
This great lady was equipped with such a love of Islam that she did not wish to
return to her father’s house as he was one of the leaders of the misbelievers. In Abyssinia, she was left quite alone and destitute. Therefore, Allah Almighty decreed that her broken heart be mended and her love for Islam rewarded. So that she might again acquire kith and kin of her own, she was granted acceptance among the company of the pure wives of the Holy Prophet .
Umm Habiba was a lady of great distinction. One day her father came to the blessed abode of the Holy Prophet and was about to sit down upon a certain cushion, when she immediately raised her objection, saying that it was the cushion belonging to the Prophet . “But am I not your father?” Abu Sufyan then said. “Faith and unbelief cannot abide side by side!” she retorted.
The Negus then performed the Nikah ceremony for Umm Habiba with the Holy Prophet in the presence of Ja’far, and he presented her personally with a gift of four hundred gold dirhams as a bridal gift. Then he gave Ja’far and the other Muslim Muhajirin permission to depart for Madinah. These eagerly awaited travelers met Allah’s Messenger at Khaybar, wherefore he was greatly gladdened, and said, “How then shall I thank my Lord? Shall I rejoice for the victory of Khaybar, or for the arrival of Ja’far’s company?”
The Muqawqis of Egypt
Egypt’s ruler was the Muqawqis. The Prophet’s missive was handed to him by Hatib bin Balta’a. The Muqawqis read the Prophet’s letter, and wrote him his reply in Arabic. This was the content of his reply:
To the son of Allah, Muhammad , from the leader of the Copts, Muqawqis:
I extend to you my greetings of Peace. I have read your letter and understand that you are calling me to Islam. I knew there was yet a prophet to come to the world, but I thought he was to arise in Damascus. I have entertained your messenger with honor and respect. I send you now as a gift from me two (slave) girls who occupy a special place among the Copts, along with a robe of honor and a saddle beast for a mount. I wish you peace.
In his letter, the Muqawqis does not make clear whether he accepts Islam or not. As for the girls he sent, although in most sources they are referred to as slave girls, the fact that the Muqawqis says that they “occupy a special place among the Copts” indicates that they were high-born women of Coptic society. The term “slave-girl” occurring in the letter simply denotes “a girl” according to the Coptic usage of the language in those days. The Holy Prophet took one of these sisters for his own wife. Her name was Marya, and in time, she was
blessed with the birth of a son, Ibrahim. The other sister, Shirin by name, was given to Sha’ir Hasan. Both girls radiated everlasting bliss, and before they even reached Madinah, they had, through the instruction of the Prophet’s envoy Hatib ibn Balta’a, been enflamed with ardor for Islam, and both became Muslims. The mule the Muqawqis had sent him was named Duldul. The Prophet mostly rode upon this mule, up until the events of Hunayn.
In the hearts of these non-Muslim rulers, the power of Islam and the promise of bliss of eternal happiness rose as a never-setting sun, so that they inclined towards the new faith. They confirmed Muhammad as a Prophet of Allah, but they did not openly proclaim their belief, since they could not renounce the worldly power over their dominions – such power as would weaken even one who has reached to the station of trustworthiness in the Sight of the Divine.
The Chief of Yamama
The chief of Yamama, Hawdha bin Ali, replied thus to the Prophet’s letter:
“Oh Muhammad! Everything you say is correct. Can you, however, assure me that were I to embrace Islam, you would assign to me such a place of power as I now hold? If you will give me such a position and such powers, I will immediately come and join you.”
The miserable beggar! He could not know that in the whole world there was no kingdom comparable to the spiritual nation of Muhammad ! It was entirely unlike the government of cruel and unjust leaders. The Holy Prophet answered him with these lines:
“I was not sent to impart power and influence to people, nor with such things as would flatter and satisfy their whims.”
Yes, the Holy Prophet was sent to the world in order that the weak might easily obtain their rightful dues from the strong, that the servant might know his place and believe in the Unity of Allah, resurrection after death, and that he might escape from being smothered by the denseness of his lower soul, so that he might encounter the refinement of spiritual delights, find his true origins and learn to decipher the Divine signature imparted to him (i.e. realize his divinely ordained destiny).
The Chief of the Syrian Arabs
The chief of the Syrian Arabs, al-Mundhir al-Harith Ghassani, tore up the
Prophet’s letter when he received it. When the Holy Prophet heard of this news, he inveighed against him, and before long he found his place in the pit of eternal damnation. Al-Mundhir al-Harith was a governor under the rule of the Emperor Heraclius. Enraged by Muhammad’s letter, he sought permission from the Emperor to muster an army and to march against Rasulullah , but the Emperor refused him his Imperial consent.
Challenges and Achievements of the New Muslim Nation
Preparing for the Conquest of Khaybar
After the Truce of Hudaybiyah, the Conquest of Khaybar was one of the most important issues for the peace and security of Islam, and it was also the wish of Muhammad . Khaybar was a city situated three days’ journey to the north of Madinah, and fortified with many strongholds of the unbelievers. The strongest of all these forts was named Al-Amuse, situated atop a very steep and inaccessible hill. This assemblage of forts was called “Khaybar” which means “a fortified location”. It was a very fertile region, a wide spread of fields and palm groves. It had for a long time been the center for unbelievers living in Arabia, and a place of refuge for them, whenever they suffered a defeat.
To here the heads of the Bani Nadir had retreated, and after Huyay bin Akhtab of the Bani Qurayza had fallen, Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq took his place. Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq had inherited a vast fortune, and he was a very influential merchant. He and many unbelievers like him wished to see Muhammad and his band of Muslims undone, so they poured great sums of their money into this scheme. With all their might they tried to motivate the other tribes to ally with them against the Muslims.
Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq personally went to the Bani Ghatafan. He convinced them and other related tribes to agree to an alliance against Muhammad . The Prophet Muhammad was informed of all their schemes and preparations for war against him. Hardly twenty days had passed since he returned to Madinah from Hudaybiyah. Now he sent Abdullah ibn ‘Atiq of the Khazraj clan to relieve them of Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq who was behind all the intriguing. Abdullah was successful in his enterprise and killed Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq. Asir bin Zaram now took his place.
Asir went round all the tribes, attempting to persuade them with words and bribes. The ranks of their army were thus swelled considerably, and rumor had it that they were ready to strike out against the Muslims at any moment. The head of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, then sent word to them, “You
are much stronger and more numerous than the Muslims. They don’t even have proper weapons. All you have to do now is launch an attack on Madinah, everybody will assist you in that.”
Diplomatic Solutions Failed
The Holy Prophet therefore sent Abdullah bin Rawaha and a few men with him to Khaybar to scout out the situation and investigate it in detail. He returned, bringing news from Khaybar that indeed the enemies of Islam had carried through their preparations to a most dangerous level. Hearing this, the Prophet sent Abdullah right back to Khaybar to invite Asir bin Zaram to come to Madinah. If he came, Muhammad would confirm him in his recognition of their sovereignty over Khaybar. Asir bin Zaram at first accepted this invitation and set out for Madinah with thirty men. However, in the middle of the road, he turned back on his word, saying, “I will not respond to this invitation of Muhammad ”. Abdullah bin Rawaha then said to him, “Oh enemy of Allah! Are you falling back on your word?” Swords were drawn on both sides, and in the fighting which ensued only a single delegate escaped.
The unbelievers continued to poison the atmosphere with their money and provocations. Finally the Holy Prophet said, “There will be no peace before they are chastened, for they are always plotting against the cause of Islam. There is no way to reach an agreement with them by way of compromise or friendly accord, since they do not keep their word. They will continue to pose a danger to Islam, and defensive strategy will not serve as a deterrent in this case.”
Meanwhile, the unbelievers had been stirring up the tribe of Ghatafan. They had attacked the herd of the Prophet’s camels, which were pasturing on the meadows of Zikard, and captured twenty of his camels. They killed the camel herder, the son of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, and took his wife captive. The first of the Muslims to hear this news was the marksman Aslama. He and some of his friends went after the camel robbers and showered them with a heavy rain of arrows. In this way they took the Prophet’s camels from their hands, but most of the thieves got away and fled to the valley where their commander Uyayna waited for them. Aslama returned to Madinah and said to the Prophet , “Oh Rasulullah! If you give me one hundred men, I will round up all the bandits and bring them here.” The Holy Prophet replied, “If the enemy asks for quarter, treat them with kindness!” Again we see how perfect is the way of Islam.
Three days after this incident, the events of Khaybar took place. Islam was determined to replace oppression with justice, ignorance with knowledge,
disbelief with the light of faith. It was in the seventh year of the Hijra at the beginning of the month of Muharram that one thousand four hundred Muslims rode out of Madinah in order to forestall an imminent attack on the city by the unbelievers and their allies of the Ghatafan. Two hundred of the Muslims were mounted on horses. This time the Muslim army flew three banners, one of which was made from the headscarf of Aisha. This one was given to Ali. As they marched along, the Muslim army sang this marching song:
Allahumma lau la anta ma-htadayna
Oh Lord, hadst Thou not guided us, we never would have found the straight path;
Wa la tasaddaqna wa la sallayna
Nor would we have known aught of the giving of alms or of the performing of prayer.
Faghfir fida’an laka ma abqayna
Thou art the only one who can forgive us, and may we be sacrificed for the love of Thee,
Wa-l-qina sakinatan ‘alayna
And send upon us Thy calm and grace,
Inna idha siha bina ‘atayna
so that if we are called, we might come running;
Wa thabbit-il aqdama in laqina
And steady our step and make us steadfast in the battle fray,
Idha aradu fitnatan ‘abayna
And if the enemy wishes to cause harm and hurt, we do renounce it,
wa nahnu min fadlika ma-staghnayna.
For we are never aloof from Thy Grace and Mercy.
The Muslim army set out, first chanting Takbir, then sounding this marching song. The Mothers of the Believers also came along on this campaign, saying, “Oh Rasulullah, grant us permission to come along, at least we can hand the fighters their arrows, look after the wounded and pass out water. That way we will at least have served the noble cause of Islam in some measure.”
The chief of the tribe of Daws, Tufayl bin ‘Amr ad-Dawsi had come to Mecca to see the Holy Prophet before he had made the Hijra from Mecca to Madinah. After having met with Muhammad , the sun of Truth shone forth in his heart, and he became a Muslim. Although at the time he had wished to remain in the vicinity of the Holy Prophet , Muhammad had said to him, “You are now under my command. Go back to your tribe and tell your people of the Islam you have found. Make it sweet for them, so that they might know its taste.” With these words he sent him back to his people, and this esteemed tribal chieftain had been furthering the cause of Islam ever since. On account of his dedicated efforts, four hundred persons became Muslim.
It so happened around this time that this distinguished servant of Allah and some of his Muslim companions had set out for Madinah to visit the Holy Prophet . As soon as they arrived, they heard of the decision to take that stronghold of mischief and intrigue, Khaybar. Tufayl bin ‘Amr hastened into the presence of the Holy Prophet , saying, “I have come to your aid, oh my Prophet !” These words pleased the Holy Prophet greatly.
Abu Hurayra was from this tribe as well. He was granted special honors by the Holy Prophet on account of this incident:
One day Abu Hurayra, who hardly ever left the Prophet’s side, said to him, “Oh Rasulullah , if only I would never, ever forget anything you said!” The Holy Prophet smiled at these words and extended his hands, which were manifestly quite empty, but in reality brimming with spiritual content, and made as if to fill Abu Hurayra’s lap by the handful. Then he said, “Oh Abu Hurayra, from now on you will forget nothing you have ever heard me say!” With this he was admitted into the inner circle of those devout followers known as the ‘Ashab-as-Safa’.
When the Holy Prophet learned that the tribesmen of the Ghatafan had allied themselves with the opposing forces, he turned his army first to Raji’a, which is a place between Khaybar and Ghatafan. There they left the bulk of their baggage and equipment, then proceeded onwards to Khaybar.
Approaching the Battle
The Bani Ghatafan had armed and prepared themselves to aid the unbelievers in battle, but when they realized how much they were thereby endangering themselves, they withdrew and returned to their camps. Twenty thousand enemy soldiers assembled at Khaybar, with the battle-famed Marhab as their
commander. When they approached Khaybar, the Holy Prophet commanded a halt. They stopped to eat. Their food consisted of fried flour. When they had prayed the noon prayer and rested for a while, the Prophet commanded the army to resume its march. They reached Khaybar just at nightfall. The Prophet then called for them to halt, and he made the supplication that he always made before stopping at a place:
Inna nas’aluka khayra hadhihi qaryati wa khayra ahliha wa khayra mafiha, wa na’udhu bika min sharriha a sharri ahliha wa sharri ma fiha.
“Oh Lord! We ask of Thee whatever is good of this place, and of its people and of what is in it, and we take refuge with Thee from its evil, and from the evil of its people and from what is within it.”
Then night fell. The Companions asked the Prophet , “Are we to take Khaybar now, oh Rasulullah ?” “It is not my custom to attack a place by night,” he replied. So the army of the Prophet waited for the dawn. In the morning they entered the city sounding the Takbir (Allahu Akbar). At the same time the Prophet ordered that no one be harmed before it was clear whether Khaybar had decided to fight the Muslims. The Holy Prophet wanted them to behold the forces of Islam and the powers of faith before they went to war against them. He hoped that they might understand that faith or conscience would not be violated and therefore desist from intrigue and mischief making. He would then have left Khaybar after concluding a compromise agreement with them. However, the unbelievers had irrevocably decided on war. They had sent their women and children ahead, along with their supplies to the fort of Na’im only the soldiers remained to man their various fortifications.
Sallam bin Mishkam of the Bani Nadir joined the unbelievers even though he himself was sick unto death, and yelled, “War!” When the Holy Prophet learned of their firm resolve to go to war, he exhorted his companions once again and reminded them of the great merits of struggling against unbelief and oppression. Truth was going to war against falsehood, and the first act of war was an assault on the fortress of Na’im. The commander of the assault troops was Muhammad bin Maslama. The battle began and proceeded with ferocity.
Muhammad bin Maslama decided that the soldiers needed a break and gave orders to this effect, while he himself withdrew to rest at the foot of the fortress walls. But Kinana, the commander of the unbelievers’ forces, had noticed Muhammad bin Maslama resting by the ramparts. So, ta
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and as a visible sign and proof that you attribute no partners to Allah, you are to bow low and place your forehead upon the ground in prayer, thereby acknowledging your own weakness and haplessness. You must preserve and value your honor, guard your chastity, maintain the honor of mankind, as you would watch over the honor of your family and children. You are not to spread lies and you are to be observant of the bonds of kinship. In addition, Muhammad is greatly opposed to the worship of idols. He insults our gods, and of your religion he says that it has been altered and corrupted.”
The Emperor Heraclius listened to Abu Sufyan’s words attentively and with great interest. The notables and spiritual leaders surrounding him waited with barely concealed excitement for the Emperor’s reaction to all this. Finally, he spoke: “There is no doubt in my mind that the person giving you this counsel is indeed a prophet,” he said. Abu Sufyan was dumbfounded and the bishops and abbots began to stir uneasily. “Yes,” he went on, “this great man is a prophet. For you yourselves say that he is descended from an eminent family and all prophets are scions of noble houses. You have also said that no one else in his family has ever laid claim to prophethood. This indicates that he has not professed this calling motivated by family considerations. You have also said that his family does not partake of the affairs of state, which in turn informs me that this person is clearly not after the accession to worldly power.
“Furthermore, you have never known this man to tell a lie. He, who tells no lie to his fellow men, does not lie about God. You say that his friends and followers are mainly recruited from the materially less endowed of the community. It has always been this way: the very first followers of all prophets have been the weak and indigent. When I asked you whether his following is increasing, you told me that it was. This is always the case with true religions. Then I asked whether he has ever been known to practice deceit. This you denied. That too is a characteristic of a true Prophet. You say he preaches that Allah alone is to be worshipped by His servants; therefore it is beyond doubt that this man is a real prophet. And I inform you that in a short while he will become lord of the place I now occupy. Indeed, I knew of the impending appearance of this prophet, but it was beyond my ability to know that he would appear in Arabia. Ah, if only it were given to me to travel to Arabia and greet this Holy Prophet , so that I might wash his blessed feet with my own hands...”
When he had concluded his speech, he pressed the Prophet’s letter to his eyes
and lips and said, “I order this letter to be read aloud and heard by all those present here with me.” This was the text of the letter the Holy Prophet wrote:
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
From Muhammad, the servant and prophet of Allah to Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium:
Peace be to him who follows Guidance, who treads the Path of Truth. I invite you to come to Islam and to become Muslim. You live in peace and safety. And if you embrace Islam, Allah will reward you twofold. For if you were to accept Islam, all those with you would needs be follow suit, and you would become the means for their treading the straight path. Therefore, your reward would be doubled. If however you reject my call, the responsibility for your whole people plunging into error rests upon you.
Oh People of the Book! Come and let us come together in one word: let each and everyone among us accept it in equal parts: let us be servants of the one and only God worthy of worship, Allah, and let us worship none other but Him Almighty. We should ascribe no partners to Him, nor adopt any other as our Lord.”
As the letter was read out loud, the sparks of faith in the heart of the Byzantine Emperor were kindled and fanned into flames, whereas the shadow in the hearts of the priests increased in darkness and density. The principles set forth in the Prophet’s letter caused the whole organization of the priesthood to collapse. This document proclaimed that the keys to the gate to the Divine Presence were no longer held by the heads of a religious hierarchy, such as priests, hojas or sheikhs, but were to be accessible to anyone, in correspondence with the level of sincerity in his heart. The weakest wrist and feeblest arm could grasp this key to the Divine Presence; it all depended on the degree of faith and sincerity of intention, for any soul could reach to the source through the striving of love. In brief, the whole organization wanting to monopolize religious establishment was dealt a heavy blow, and its fanatic zeal was sharply clipped.
A profound silence fell upon the whole assembly. When the reading of the letter was over, the Emperor turned to the Arabs in his company and dismissed them. “You are free,” he said, “you may now go.” And they departed from his Imperial Presence.
A pitched battle now raged within the heart of the Emperor, between the yearnings of his soul (ruh) and the desires of his lower self (nafs). His imperial rank and station poured water onto the flame of enthusiasm for Islam. He lacked
not respect for the prophetic envoy, but the desire for worldly rank and honors threw a veil over the light of faith awakening in his heart.
The Khosroes of Iran, King Parviz
Abdullah bin Hudhafa was sent to Iran as the Prophet’s ambassador with a letter addressed to the Khosroes of Iran, King Parviz. He was a king who competed with Allah for majestic greatness, who thought he could shield himself against His Divine Anger, not knowing that Allah abases every atheist and brings him low at last. When this king saw his name written in one line with the name of Rasulullah at the letter’s heading, all his blood flowed into his face from fury, and his hairs stood on end, and he was like a rabid dog who sees his reflection in a body of water.
This man was attached to his throne with so much pride and conceit, that he could only assume that Muhammad’s letter had come from a mighty sovereign and lord over a worldly realm. He did not know that Muhammad was a man who all alone had begun the campaign of “La ilaha illAllah” in a cave on Mount Hira, and who still patched the rents in his clothes himself and darned the holes in the cap that covered his blessed head. He could not know that the original copy of this document was written in the Divine Kingdom. He only saw that the name of Muhammad was written before his own name. This sufficed to trigger off an uncontrollable fit of rage. “Who is this insolent wretch?” he cried, “How dare he approach me thus? Who is this man who would place his name before mine?” With these words, he began to tear up the prophetic letter.
The unfortunate man failed to realize that along with the Prophet’s name he also tore up his own. For that is precisely what happened. The Byzantine Emperor had pressed the Holy Prophet’s letter, which was written with Love and Eternal Wisdom, to his face. This reverence gained his kingdom continuity and duration. The Khosroes by contrast tore up the Prophet’s letter in contempt. He himself, his kingdom, and power were subsequently torn up as well.
This happened in the following way: When Parviz, king of Persia received the Prophet’s missive, he sent orders to the Governor of Yemen, Badhan by name, instructing him that “In the Hijaz a man has arisen who claims to be a prophet. He has had the gall to address a letter to our Imperial Presence, announcing his mission as he would to those ragged desert Arabs. I direct you to apprehend this man forthwith, sending him to me as soon as possible.” Having received this forceful order from Khosroes, Badhan sent two men to the Prophet with a letter containing these words, “You are herewith obliged to present yourself before his
Imperial Majesty at the earliest possible opportunity. If you listen to me and set out at once with the messengers who deliver to you this letter, I will personally intercede on your behalf with the Shahinshah and write a letter of this intent. If, on the other hand, you do not comply, the Persian army will set out against you, destroying the Hijaz and striking you down completely.”
When the Holy Prophet had read the letter, he said to the envoys who had come to fetch him, “I will answer you tomorrow; now you may go and rest!” When the agents of the Persian king had gone, the Sahaba said to their Prophet , “What do you command us to do? Should we prepare to set out against the army of Persia?” “That will not be necessary, “answered the Holy Prophet , “for I anticipate a disclosure from the Lord of the Worlds concerning the fate of Parviz.” The Prophet’s friends and companions waited with him in a state of great excitement. That very night the Holy Prophet received a revelation, which was an example of Divine Power acting directly on the worldly plane. Allah Almighty informed him, “Oh My Beloved! This very night I have permitted that Parviz be destroyed by his own son Shirawayh, for that he tore up your letter and intended to remove you from the face of the earth. In the morning, you will inform the envoys of this Divine dispatch.”
The Holy Prophet called the envoys and said to them, “Go back now to where you have come from. For this very night the Lord has wreaked His revenge on your Shah who vied with the Lord Almighty for Imperial Glory. He was slain by his son. Before long, Islam will come also to his capital city. Therefore, may he also find his way into the noble religion of Islam and gain safety. Go now and tell this to Badhan.”
The envoys were startled and amazed, but they could do nothing but return to Badhan and relate to him what had transpired. They asked him about what the Holy Prophet had said about the Shah Parviz. Badhan replied, “Indeed, it has happened just so. The night you went to deliver your message to Muhammad , Khosroes Parviz was slain by his son. I have now received an order to stay all attacks against that man. Moreover, in the face of this manifest miracle, I too embrace the faith of Islam. I shall send him a letter begging the Messenger of Allah for forgiveness on my behalf.” All the Persians in his company then turned to Islam and surrendered.
The Holy Prophet answered Badhan in another letter, appointing him to be the Governor of Yemen. He was the first governor to be appointed by Muhammad in the period of his spiritual leadership.
This was the content of the letter the Prophet had sent to Khosroes by the hand of Abdullah bin Hudhafa:
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
Peace be upon those who follow the Guidance and the Way of Truth, and who believe in Allah and His Prophet.
I testify that there is no God but Allah and that I am sent as His Prophet, in order to lead mankind from darkness into light, and to gather them from error to right guidance, and as a Warner.
Come to Islam and find safety therein. If you reject it, the sins of all the fire worshippers are upon your collar.
The Negus of Abyssinia
‘Amr ibn Umayya al-Damri brought Muhammad’s letter to the Negus of Abyssinia and delivered it to him. After the ruler of Abyssinia had read the letter, he called the Prophet’s cousin Ja’far who was living in this country into his presence and said, “Be my witness that I have accepted Islam!” He hosted the emissary of the Holy Prophet with courtesy and grace.
Then he sent sixty men, among them his own son, to the Prophet in order to take Bi’at, the pledge of allegiance, but the ship went astray and sank with all its passengers.
The Negus passed away in the ninth year of the Hijra. His name was Ashamet bin Bahir. But he was not the Negus for whom the Holy Prophet had prayed the funeral prayer in his absence, that was a different king, (according to Sahih Muslim).
The Prophet’s envoy had another mission to fulfill as well. He was to bring the emigrants who had settled in Abyssinia back to the Hijaz and tell them that they could now come to Madinah. Also, he was to perform the Nikah ceremony for the daughter of Abu Sufyan, Umm Habiba who was to be wed to the Holy Prophet . The Prophet had sent Khalid ibn Sa’id to be his Wakil (his proxy) when the ceremony was performed. Umm Habiba had become Muslim in Mecca in spite of her father’s obstinate perseverance in his unbelief. She had migrated together with her husband ‘Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh to Abyssinia, but after some time there he had forsaken Islam and become a Christian. She had then been divorced from him.
This great lady was equipped with such a love of Islam that she did not wish to
return to her father’s house as he was one of the leaders of the misbelievers. In Abyssinia, she was left quite alone and destitute. Therefore, Allah Almighty decreed that her broken heart be mended and her love for Islam rewarded. So that she might again acquire kith and kin of her own, she was granted acceptance among the company of the pure wives of the Holy Prophet .
Umm Habiba was a lady of great distinction. One day her father came to the blessed abode of the Holy Prophet and was about to sit down upon a certain cushion, when she immediately raised her objection, saying that it was the cushion belonging to the Prophet . “But am I not your father?” Abu Sufyan then said. “Faith and unbelief cannot abide side by side!” she retorted.
The Negus then performed the Nikah ceremony for Umm Habiba with the Holy Prophet in the presence of Ja’far, and he presented her personally with a gift of four hundred gold dirhams as a bridal gift. Then he gave Ja’far and the other Muslim Muhajirin permission to depart for Madinah. These eagerly awaited travelers met Allah’s Messenger at Khaybar, wherefore he was greatly gladdened, and said, “How then shall I thank my Lord? Shall I rejoice for the victory of Khaybar, or for the arrival of Ja’far’s company?”
The Muqawqis of Egypt
Egypt’s ruler was the Muqawqis. The Prophet’s missive was handed to him by Hatib bin Balta’a. The Muqawqis read the Prophet’s letter, and wrote him his reply in Arabic. This was the content of his reply:
To the son of Allah, Muhammad , from the leader of the Copts, Muqawqis:
I extend to you my greetings of Peace. I have read your letter and understand that you are calling me to Islam. I knew there was yet a prophet to come to the world, but I thought he was to arise in Damascus. I have entertained your messenger with honor and respect. I send you now as a gift from me two (slave) girls who occupy a special place among the Copts, along with a robe of honor and a saddle beast for a mount. I wish you peace.
In his letter, the Muqawqis does not make clear whether he accepts Islam or not. As for the girls he sent, although in most sources they are referred to as slave girls, the fact that the Muqawqis says that they “occupy a special place among the Copts” indicates that they were high-born women of Coptic society. The term “slave-girl” occurring in the letter simply denotes “a girl” according to the Coptic usage of the language in those days. The Holy Prophet took one of these sisters for his own wife. Her name was Marya, and in time, she was
blessed with the birth of a son, Ibrahim. The other sister, Shirin by name, was given to Sha’ir Hasan. Both girls radiated everlasting bliss, and before they even reached Madinah, they had, through the instruction of the Prophet’s envoy Hatib ibn Balta’a, been enflamed with ardor for Islam, and both became Muslims. The mule the Muqawqis had sent him was named Duldul. The Prophet mostly rode upon this mule, up until the events of Hunayn.
In the hearts of these non-Muslim rulers, the power of Islam and the promise of bliss of eternal happiness rose as a never-setting sun, so that they inclined towards the new faith. They confirmed Muhammad as a Prophet of Allah, but they did not openly proclaim their belief, since they could not renounce the worldly power over their dominions – such power as would weaken even one who has reached to the station of trustworthiness in the Sight of the Divine.
The Chief of Yamama
The chief of Yamama, Hawdha bin Ali, replied thus to the Prophet’s letter:
“Oh Muhammad! Everything you say is correct. Can you, however, assure me that were I to embrace Islam, you would assign to me such a place of power as I now hold? If you will give me such a position and such powers, I will immediately come and join you.”
The miserable beggar! He could not know that in the whole world there was no kingdom comparable to the spiritual nation of Muhammad ! It was entirely unlike the government of cruel and unjust leaders. The Holy Prophet answered him with these lines:
“I was not sent to impart power and influence to people, nor with such things as would flatter and satisfy their whims.”
Yes, the Holy Prophet was sent to the world in order that the weak might easily obtain their rightful dues from the strong, that the servant might know his place and believe in the Unity of Allah, resurrection after death, and that he might escape from being smothered by the denseness of his lower soul, so that he might encounter the refinement of spiritual delights, find his true origins and learn to decipher the Divine signature imparted to him (i.e. realize his divinely ordained destiny).
The Chief of the Syrian Arabs
The chief of the Syrian Arabs, al-Mundhir al-Harith Ghassani, tore up the
Prophet’s letter when he received it. When the Holy Prophet heard of this news, he inveighed against him, and before long he found his place in the pit of eternal damnation. Al-Mundhir al-Harith was a governor under the rule of the Emperor Heraclius. Enraged by Muhammad’s letter, he sought permission from the Emperor to muster an army and to march against Rasulullah , but the Emperor refused him his Imperial consent.
Challenges and Achievements of the New Muslim Nation
Preparing for the Conquest of Khaybar
After the Truce of Hudaybiyah, the Conquest of Khaybar was one of the most important issues for the peace and security of Islam, and it was also the wish of Muhammad . Khaybar was a city situated three days’ journey to the north of Madinah, and fortified with many strongholds of the unbelievers. The strongest of all these forts was named Al-Amuse, situated atop a very steep and inaccessible hill. This assemblage of forts was called “Khaybar” which means “a fortified location”. It was a very fertile region, a wide spread of fields and palm groves. It had for a long time been the center for unbelievers living in Arabia, and a place of refuge for them, whenever they suffered a defeat.
To here the heads of the Bani Nadir had retreated, and after Huyay bin Akhtab of the Bani Qurayza had fallen, Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq took his place. Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq had inherited a vast fortune, and he was a very influential merchant. He and many unbelievers like him wished to see Muhammad and his band of Muslims undone, so they poured great sums of their money into this scheme. With all their might they tried to motivate the other tribes to ally with them against the Muslims.
Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq personally went to the Bani Ghatafan. He convinced them and other related tribes to agree to an alliance against Muhammad . The Prophet Muhammad was informed of all their schemes and preparations for war against him. Hardly twenty days had passed since he returned to Madinah from Hudaybiyah. Now he sent Abdullah ibn ‘Atiq of the Khazraj clan to relieve them of Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq who was behind all the intriguing. Abdullah was successful in his enterprise and killed Sallam ibn Abi-l-Huqayq. Asir bin Zaram now took his place.
Asir went round all the tribes, attempting to persuade them with words and bribes. The ranks of their army were thus swelled considerably, and rumor had it that they were ready to strike out against the Muslims at any moment. The head of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, then sent word to them, “You
are much stronger and more numerous than the Muslims. They don’t even have proper weapons. All you have to do now is launch an attack on Madinah, everybody will assist you in that.”
Diplomatic Solutions Failed
The Holy Prophet therefore sent Abdullah bin Rawaha and a few men with him to Khaybar to scout out the situation and investigate it in detail. He returned, bringing news from Khaybar that indeed the enemies of Islam had carried through their preparations to a most dangerous level. Hearing this, the Prophet sent Abdullah right back to Khaybar to invite Asir bin Zaram to come to Madinah. If he came, Muhammad would confirm him in his recognition of their sovereignty over Khaybar. Asir bin Zaram at first accepted this invitation and set out for Madinah with thirty men. However, in the middle of the road, he turned back on his word, saying, “I will not respond to this invitation of Muhammad ”. Abdullah bin Rawaha then said to him, “Oh enemy of Allah! Are you falling back on your word?” Swords were drawn on both sides, and in the fighting which ensued only a single delegate escaped.
The unbelievers continued to poison the atmosphere with their money and provocations. Finally the Holy Prophet said, “There will be no peace before they are chastened, for they are always plotting against the cause of Islam. There is no way to reach an agreement with them by way of compromise or friendly accord, since they do not keep their word. They will continue to pose a danger to Islam, and defensive strategy will not serve as a deterrent in this case.”
Meanwhile, the unbelievers had been stirring up the tribe of Ghatafan. They had attacked the herd of the Prophet’s camels, which were pasturing on the meadows of Zikard, and captured twenty of his camels. They killed the camel herder, the son of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, and took his wife captive. The first of the Muslims to hear this news was the marksman Aslama. He and some of his friends went after the camel robbers and showered them with a heavy rain of arrows. In this way they took the Prophet’s camels from their hands, but most of the thieves got away and fled to the valley where their commander Uyayna waited for them. Aslama returned to Madinah and said to the Prophet , “Oh Rasulullah! If you give me one hundred men, I will round up all the bandits and bring them here.” The Holy Prophet replied, “If the enemy asks for quarter, treat them with kindness!” Again we see how perfect is the way of Islam.
Three days after this incident, the events of Khaybar took place. Islam was determined to replace oppression with justice, ignorance with knowledge,
disbelief with the light of faith. It was in the seventh year of the Hijra at the beginning of the month of Muharram that one thousand four hundred Muslims rode out of Madinah in order to forestall an imminent attack on the city by the unbelievers and their allies of the Ghatafan. Two hundred of the Muslims were mounted on horses. This time the Muslim army flew three banners, one of which was made from the headscarf of Aisha. This one was given to Ali. As they marched along, the Muslim army sang this marching song:
Allahumma lau la anta ma-htadayna
Oh Lord, hadst Thou not guided us, we never would have found the straight path;
Wa la tasaddaqna wa la sallayna
Nor would we have known aught of the giving of alms or of the performing of prayer.
Faghfir fida’an laka ma abqayna
Thou art the only one who can forgive us, and may we be sacrificed for the love of Thee,
Wa-l-qina sakinatan ‘alayna
And send upon us Thy calm and grace,
Inna idha siha bina ‘atayna
so that if we are called, we might come running;
Wa thabbit-il aqdama in laqina
And steady our step and make us steadfast in the battle fray,
Idha aradu fitnatan ‘abayna
And if the enemy wishes to cause harm and hurt, we do renounce it,
wa nahnu min fadlika ma-staghnayna.
For we are never aloof from Thy Grace and Mercy.
The Muslim army set out, first chanting Takbir, then sounding this marching song. The Mothers of the Believers also came along on this campaign, saying, “Oh Rasulullah, grant us permission to come along, at least we can hand the fighters their arrows, look after the wounded and pass out water. That way we will at least have served the noble cause of Islam in some measure.”
The chief of the tribe of Daws, Tufayl bin ‘Amr ad-Dawsi had come to Mecca to see the Holy Prophet before he had made the Hijra from Mecca to Madinah. After having met with Muhammad , the sun of Truth shone forth in his heart, and he became a Muslim. Although at the time he had wished to remain in the vicinity of the Holy Prophet , Muhammad had said to him, “You are now under my command. Go back to your tribe and tell your people of the Islam you have found. Make it sweet for them, so that they might know its taste.” With these words he sent him back to his people, and this esteemed tribal chieftain had been furthering the cause of Islam ever since. On account of his dedicated efforts, four hundred persons became Muslim.
It so happened around this time that this distinguished servant of Allah and some of his Muslim companions had set out for Madinah to visit the Holy Prophet . As soon as they arrived, they heard of the decision to take that stronghold of mischief and intrigue, Khaybar. Tufayl bin ‘Amr hastened into the presence of the Holy Prophet , saying, “I have come to your aid, oh my Prophet !” These words pleased the Holy Prophet greatly.
Abu Hurayra was from this tribe as well. He was granted special honors by the Holy Prophet on account of this incident:
One day Abu Hurayra, who hardly ever left the Prophet’s side, said to him, “Oh Rasulullah , if only I would never, ever forget anything you said!” The Holy Prophet smiled at these words and extended his hands, which were manifestly quite empty, but in reality brimming with spiritual content, and made as if to fill Abu Hurayra’s lap by the handful. Then he said, “Oh Abu Hurayra, from now on you will forget nothing you have ever heard me say!” With this he was admitted into the inner circle of those devout followers known as the ‘Ashab-as-Safa’.
When the Holy Prophet learned that the tribesmen of the Ghatafan had allied themselves with the opposing forces, he turned his army first to Raji’a, which is a place between Khaybar and Ghatafan. There they left the bulk of their baggage and equipment, then proceeded onwards to Khaybar.
Approaching the Battle
The Bani Ghatafan had armed and prepared themselves to aid the unbelievers in battle, but when they realized how much they were thereby endangering themselves, they withdrew and returned to their camps. Twenty thousand enemy soldiers assembled at Khaybar, with the battle-famed Marhab as their
commander. When they approached Khaybar, the Holy Prophet commanded a halt. They stopped to eat. Their food consisted of fried flour. When they had prayed the noon prayer and rested for a while, the Prophet commanded the army to resume its march. They reached Khaybar just at nightfall. The Prophet then called for them to halt, and he made the supplication that he always made before stopping at a place:
Inna nas’aluka khayra hadhihi qaryati wa khayra ahliha wa khayra mafiha, wa na’udhu bika min sharriha a sharri ahliha wa sharri ma fiha.
“Oh Lord! We ask of Thee whatever is good of this place, and of its people and of what is in it, and we take refuge with Thee from its evil, and from the evil of its people and from what is within it.”
Then night fell. The Companions asked the Prophet , “Are we to take Khaybar now, oh Rasulullah ?” “It is not my custom to attack a place by night,” he replied. So the army of the Prophet waited for the dawn. In the morning they entered the city sounding the Takbir (Allahu Akbar). At the same time the Prophet ordered that no one be harmed before it was clear whether Khaybar had decided to fight the Muslims. The Holy Prophet wanted them to behold the forces of Islam and the powers of faith before they went to war against them. He hoped that they might understand that faith or conscience would not be violated and therefore desist from intrigue and mischief making. He would then have left Khaybar after concluding a compromise agreement with them. However, the unbelievers had irrevocably decided on war. They had sent their women and children ahead, along with their supplies to the fort of Na’im only the soldiers remained to man their various fortifications.
Sallam bin Mishkam of the Bani Nadir joined the unbelievers even though he himself was sick unto death, and yelled, “War!” When the Holy Prophet learned of their firm resolve to go to war, he exhorted his companions once again and reminded them of the great merits of struggling against unbelief and oppression. Truth was going to war against falsehood, and the first act of war was an assault on the fortress of Na’im. The commander of the assault troops was Muhammad bin Maslama. The battle began and proceeded with ferocity.
Muhammad bin Maslama decided that the soldiers needed a break and gave orders to this effect, while he himself withdrew to rest at the foot of the fortress walls. But Kinana, the commander of the unbelievers’ forces, had noticed Muhammad bin Maslama resting by the ramparts. So, ta
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