Volume 4, Book 52, Number 191:
Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas:
Allah’s Apostle wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him his letter with Dihya Al-
Kalbi whom Allah’s Apostle ordered to hand it over to the Governor of Busra who would forward it
to Caesar. Caesar as a sign of gratitude to Allah, had walked from Hims to Ilya (i.e. Jerusalem) when
Allah had granted Him victory over the Persian forces. So, when the letter of Allah’s Apostle reached
Caesar, he said after reading t, ‘Seek for me any one of his people! (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present
here, in order to ask him about Allah’s Apostle. At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with
some men frown Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been
concluded between Allah’s Apostle; and the infidels of Quraish. Abu Sufyan said, Caesar’s messenger
found us somewhere in Sham so he took me and my companions to Ilya and we were admitted into
Ceasar’s court to find him sitting in his royal court wearing a crown and surrounded by the senior
dignitaries of the Byzantine. He said to his translator. ‘Ask them who amongst them is a close relation
to the man who claims to be a prophet.” Abu Sufyan added, “I replied, ‘I am the nearest relative to
him.’ He asked, ‘What degree of relationship do you have with him?’ I replied, ‘He is my cousin,’ and
there was none of Bani Abu Manaf in the caravan except myself. Caesar said, ‘Let him come nearer.’
He then ordered that my companions stand behind me near my shoulder and said to his translator,
‘Tell his companions that I am going to ask this man about the man who claims to be a prophet. If he
tells a lie, they should contradict him immediately.” Abu Sufyan added, “By Allah ! Had it not been
shameful that my companions label me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about him when he
asked me. But I considered it shameful to be called a liar by my companions. So I told the truth. He
then said to his translator, ‘Ask him what kind of family does he belong to.’ I replied, ‘He belongs to a
noble family amongst us.’ He said, ‘Have anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before
him? ‘I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Had you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he
claimed? ‘ I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said,
“Do the noble or the poor follow him?’ I replied, ‘It is the poor who follow him.’ He said, ‘Are they in –
creasing or decreasing (day by day)?’ I replied,’ They are increasing.’ He said, ‘Does anybody amongst
those who embrace his (the Prophet’s) Religion become displeased and then discard his Religion?’. I
replied, ‘No. ‘ He said, ‘Does he break his promises? I replied, ‘No, but we are now at truce with him
and we are afraid that he may betray us.” Abu Sufyan added, “Other than the last sentence, I could
not say anything against him. Caesar then asked, ‘Have you ever had a war with him?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’
He said, ‘What was the outcome of your battles with him?’ I replied, ‘The result was unstable; some –
times he was victorious and sometimes we.’ He said, ‘What does he order you to do?’ I said, ‘He tells
us to worship Allah alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to leave all that our fore-
fathers used to worship. He orders us to pray, give in charity, be chaste, keep promises and return
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what is entrusted to us.’ When I had said that, Caesar said to his translator, ‘Say to him: I ask you
about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family. In fact, all the apostles came
from the noblest lineage of their nations. Then I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you
had claimed such a thing, and your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirm –
ative, I would have thought that this man was following a claim that had been said before him.
When I asked you whether he was ever blamed for telling lies, your reply was in the negative, so I
took it for granted that a person who did not tell a lie about (others) the people could never tell a lie
about Allah. Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negat –
ive, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his
ancestral kingdom. When I asked you whether the rich or the poor people followed him, you replied
that it was the poor who followed him. In fact, such are the followers of the apostles. Then I asked
you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing. In
fact, this is the result of true faith till it is complete (in all respects). I asked you whether there was
anybody who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion; your reply
was in the negative. In fact, this is the sign of true faith, for when its cheerfulness enters and mixes
in the hearts completely, nobody will be displeased with it. I asked you whether he had ever broken
his promise. You replied in the negative. And such are the apostles; they never break their promises.
When I asked you whether you fought with him and he fought with you, you replied that he did, and
that sometimes he was victorious and sometimes you. Indeed, such are the apostles; they are put to
trials and the final victory is always theirs. Then I asked you what he ordered you. You replied that
he ordered you to worship Allah alone and not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that
your fore-fathers used to worship, to offer prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises,
and to return what is entrusted to you. These are really the qualities of a prophet who, I knew (from
the previous Scriptures) would appear, but I did not know that he would be from amongst you. If
what you say should be true, he will very soon occupy the earth under my feet, and if I knew that I
would reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet Him; and were I with him, then I would
certainly wash his feet.’ ” Abu Sufyan added, “Caesar then asked for the letter of Allah’s Apostle and it
was read. Its contents were:–
“In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad, the
slave of Allah, and His Apostle, to Heraculius, the Ruler of the Byzantine. Peace be upon the followers
of guidance. Now then, I invite you to Islam (i.e. surrender to Allah), embrace Islam and you will be
safe; embrace Islam and Allah will bestow on you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation of
Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the peasants (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scrip –
tures! Come to a word common to you and us and you, 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 besides Allah.
Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are (they who have surrendered (unto Him)..(3.64)
Abu Sufyan added, “When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused
by the Byzantine Royalties surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did not understand
what they said. So, we were turned out of the court. When I went out with my companions and we
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were alone, I said to them, ‘Verily, Ibn Abi Kabsha’s (i.e. the Prophet’s) affair has gained power. This is
the King of Bani Al-Asfar fearing him.” Abu Sufyan added, “By Allah, I remained low and was sure
that his religion would be victorious till Allah converted me to Islam, though I disliked it “