Sahih al-Bukhari 2941

Hadith text

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him his letter with Dihya Al-Kalbi whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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 Messenger (ﷺ) reached Caesar, he said after reading it, 'Seek for me any one of his people! (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present here, in order to ask him about Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with some men from Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been concluded between Allah's Messenger (ﷺ); 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 Caesar'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, 'Has 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 increasing 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; sometimes 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 what is entrusted to us.' When I had said that, Caesar said to his translator, 'Say to him: I asked 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 affirmative, 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 negative, 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 Messenger (ﷺ) 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 Heraclius, 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 tillers (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scriptures! 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 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

Abdullah bin Abbas bataate hain: Allah ke Rasool ne Caesar ko khat likha aur unhe Islam ki taraf bulaya, aur apna khat Dihya Al-Kalbi ke saath bheja jisse Allah ke Rasool ne hukum diya ke woh use Busra ke gawarnar ko de jo aage Caesar tak pahunchaata. Caesar ne, Allah ka shukriya ada karte huye, Hims se Ilya (yaani Jerusalem) tak paidal chala tha jab Allah ne unhe Farsiyon par fatah di thi. Isliye jab Allah ke Rasool ka khat Caesar tak pahuncha, usne padhne ke baad kaha, "Dhoondo koi bhi shaks uski qaum se (Quraish qabile ke Arab), agar yahan maujood ho, taake main unse Allah ke Rasool ke baare mein pucch sakoon." Us waqt Abu Sufyan bin Harb Sham mein the kuch Quraish logon ke saath jo (Sham mein) taajir ke tor par aaye the us sulha ke dauran jo Allah ke Rasool aur Quraish ke mushrikon ke beech ho chuki thi. Abu Sufyan ne kaha, "Caesar ke khaddamon ne humein Sham mein kahin paaya, isliye woh mujhe aur mere sathiyon ko Ilya le gaye aur humein Caesar ke darbaar mein daakhil kiya, jahan hamne unhe apne shahi darbaar mein taj pehne, aur Byzantine ke bade adhikariyon se ghire hue baithe paaya. Unhone apne anuvaadak se kaha, 'Unse pucho unme se koi is shaks ka nazdeeki rishtedaar hai kya jo Nabi hone ka dawa karta hai.'" Abu Sufyan ne joda, "Maine jawab diya, 'Main uska sabse nazdeeki rishtedaar hoon.' Usne pucha, 'Tumhara usse kya rishta hai?' Maine jawab diya, 'Woh mera chachazaad bhai hai,' aur us qafile mein Bani Abu Manaf ke siwa koi aur nahi tha. Caesar ne kaha, 'Use qareeb aane do.' Phir usne hukum diya ke mere sathi mere kandhon ke qareeb mere peeche khade hon aur apne anuvaadak se kaha, 'Unke sathiyon se kaho ke main is shaks se un shakhs ke baare mein pucchunga jo Nabi hone ka dawa karta hai. Agar woh jhoot bole, unhe foran uska khandan karna chahiye.'" Abu Sufyan ne joda, "Allah ki qasam! Agar yeh sharam ki baat na hoti ke mere sathi mujhe jhuta kahen, main unke baare mein sach nahi bolta jab usne mujhse pucha. Magar maine ise sharam ki baat samjha ke mere sathi mujhe jhuta kahen. Isliye maine sach bola. Phir usne apne anuvaadak se kaha, 'Unse pucho woh kaunse khaandaan se ta'alluq rakhte hain.' Maine jawab diya, 'Woh humare beech ke ek izzatdaar khaandaan se hain.' Usne kaha, 'Kya kisi doosre ne bhi tum mein pehle aisa daava kiya hai?' Maine jawab diya, 'Nahi.' Usne kaha, 'Kya tumne kabhi unhe unke daave se pehle jhoot bolne ka ilzaam lagaya tha?' Maine jawab diya, 'Nahi.' Usne kaha, 'Kya unke pura-khon mein koi raja tha?' Maine jawab diya, 'Nahi.' Usne kaha, "Kya izzatdaar log ya gareeb log unki pairvi karte hain?' Maine jawab diya, 'Gareeb log unki pairvi karte hain.' Usne kaha, 'Kya woh badh rahe hain ya kam ho rahe hain (din-ba-din)?' Maine jawab diya, 'Woh badh rahe hain.' Usne kaha, 'Kya unke deen ko apnane wale koi naraaj hokar apna deen chhodta hai?' Maine jawab diya, 'Nahi.' Usne kaha, 'Kya woh apne waade todte hain?' Maine jawab diya, 'Nahi, magar hum abhi unke saath sulha mein hain aur humein dar hai woh humse dagabaazi karenge.'" Abu Sufyan ne joda, "Iske ilawa, mujhe unke khilaf kuch aur kehne ka mauka nahi mila. Caesar ne phir pucha, 'Kya tumne kabhi unse jung ki hai?' Maine jawab diya, 'Haan.' Usne kaha, 'Tumhari jungon ka natija kya raha?' Maine jawab diya, 'Natija badalta raha; kabhi woh jeete, kabhi hum.' Usne kaha, 'Woh tumhe kya karne ka hukum dete hain?' Maine kaha, 'Woh humein sirf Allah ki ibadat karne ka hukum dete hain, aur uske saath kisi aur ki ibadat na karne ka, aur woh sab kuch chhodne ka jo humare pura-khan poojte the. Woh humein namaz padhne, sadqa dene, pakbaaz rehne, waade poore karne aur amanat wapas karne ka hukum dete hain.' Jab maine yeh kaha, Caesar ne apne anuvaadak se kaha, 'Unse kaho: Maine tumse unke khaandaan ke baare mein pucha aur tumne jawab diya ke woh ek izzatdaar khaandaan se hain. Asal mein, sab Rasool apni qaum ke sabse izzatdaar khaandaanon se aate hain. Phir maine tumse pucha kya tum mein kisi aur ne aisa daava kiya tha, aur tumhara jawab na tha. Agar jawab haan hota, main sochta yeh shaks pehle ke kisi daave ki pairvi kar raha hai. Jab maine tumse pucha kya unpar kabhi jhoot bolne ka ilzaam laga, tumhara jawab na tha, isliye maine samajh liya ke jo shaks doosron ke baare mein jhoot nahi bolta, woh Allah ke baare mein kabhi jhoot nahi bol sakta. Phir maine tumse pucha kya unke kisi pura-khe mein koi raja tha. Tumhara jawab na tha, aur agar haan hota, main sochta yeh shaks apni pura-khon ki badshaahat wapas lena chahta hai. Jab maine tumse pucha kya maldaar ya gareeb log unki pairvi karte hain, tumne jawab diya gareeb log. Asal mein, aise hi log Rasoolon ke pairokaar hote hain. Phir maine tumse pucha kya unke pairokaar badh rahe hain ya kam ho rahe hain. Tumne jawab diya woh badh rahe hain. Asal mein, yeh sacche iman ka natija hai jab tak woh (sab prakaar se) mukammal na ho jaaye. Maine tumse pucha kya koi shaks jo unka deen apnane ke baad naraaj hokar apna deen chhodta hai; tumhara jawab na tha. Asal mein, yeh sacche iman ki nishaani hai, kyunke jab uski khushi dil mein poori tarah ghul jati hai, koi usse naraaj nahi hota. Maine tumse pucha kya unhone kabhi apna waada toda. Tumne na mein jawab diya. Aur aise hi Rasool hote hain; woh kabhi apne waade nahi todte. Jab maine tumse pucha kya tum unse lade aur woh tumse lade, tumne jawab diya haan, aur kabhi woh jeete kabhi tum. Beshak, aise hi Rasool hote hain; unhe azmaishon mein daala jaata hai magar aakhri fatah hamesha unhi ki hoti hai. Phir maine tumse pucha unhone tumhe kya hukum diya. Tumne jawab diya woh tumhe sirf Allah ki ibadat karne aur uske saath kisi aur ki ibadat na karne, sab kuch jo tumhare pura-khe poojte the woh chhodne, namaz padhne, sach bolne, pakbaaz rehne, waade poore karne, aur amanat wapas karne ka hukum dete hain. Yeh sach mein ek Nabi ki khaasiyaten hain jise (purani Kitaabon se) main jaanta tha ke aayega, magar mujhe nahi pata tha ke woh tum mein se hoga. Agar tumhari baat sach hai, woh jald hi mere paon ke neeche ki zameen par bhi kaboo kar lega, aur agar mujhe yaqeen hota ke main zaroor unhe pahunch sakunga, main foran unse milne jata; aur agar main unke saath hota, to main zaroor unke paon dhota.'" Abu Sufyan ne joda, "Caesar ne phir Allah ke Rasool ka khat maanga aur woh padha gaya. Iske alfaaz the: 'Allah ke naam se jo bahut zyada meharbaan, nihaayat reham karne wala hai. (Yeh khat) Muhammad, Allah ke bande aur uske Rasool ki taraf se, Heraclius, Byzantine ke hukmaran ko. Salaam ho hidayat ke pairokaron par. Iske baad, main tumhe Islam ki taraf bulata hoon (yaani Allah ke aage samarpit ho jaao), Islam qubool karo aur tum surakshit rahoge; Islam qubool karo aur Allah tumhe dohra ajr dega. Magar agar tum Islam ki yeh dawat radd karte ho, tum apni raaya (yaani apni qaum) ko galat raah dikhane ke zimmedaar hoge. Aye Kitaab walon! Aao ek aisi baat par jo hum sab mein saanjhi hai, ke hum sirf Allah ki ibadat karen, aur uske saath kisi ko na joden; aur hum mein se koi Allah ke siwa doosron ko Rab na maane. Phir agar woh mun mode, kaho: Gawaahi do ke hum (Allah ke aage) samarpit hain' (3:64)." Abu Sufyan ne joda, "Jab Heraclius ne apni baat khatam ki, uske aas-paas ke Byzantine shaahi logon ne bahut zyada hangama macha diya, aur itni shorgul thi ke maine samajha nahi woh kya keh rahe the. Isliye humein darbaar se bahar nikal diya gaya. Jab main apne sathiyon ke saath bahar gaya aur hum akele the, maine unse kaha, 'Beshak, Ibn Abi Kabsha (yaani Nabi) ka maamla taakatvar ho gaya hai. Yeh dekho Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) ka Raja bhi unse darta hai.'" Abu Sufyan ne joda, "Allah ki qasam, main hamesha yaqeen rakhta raha ke unka deen zaroor kaamyaab hoga jab tak Allah ne mujhe Islam ki taraf moda, chahe mujhe napasand tha."

Sahih al-Bukhari 2941 · Book 56, Hadith 153