Takhrij Hadith 217: "Heraclius sent for me while…"

Heraclius sent for me while I was traveling with a caravan of Quraysh merchants in Syria during the truce between the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the disbelievers of Quraysh. We came to him in Jerusalem, and he summoned us to his court, surrounded by the nobles of Rome. Then he called for his translator and asked, “Which of you is most closely related to the man who claims to be a prophet?” Abu Sufyan said, “I replied, ‘I am the nearest to him in lineage.’” Heraclius said, “Bring him close to me and place his companions behind him.” Then he told the translator, “Tell them that I am going to ask this man about that person. If he lies to me, let them expose his lie.” Abu Sufyan said, “By Allah, had I not been ashamed that they might accuse me of lying, I would have lied about him.” The first thing he asked me was, “How is his lineage among you?” I replied, “He is of noble lineage among us.” He asked, “Has anyone among you ever claimed such a thing before him?” I said, “No.” He asked, “Was any of his forefathers a king?” I said, “No.” He asked, “Do the nobles follow him, or the weak?” I replied, “Rather, the weak follow him.” He asked, “Are his followers increasing or decreasing?” I said, “They are increasing.” He asked, “Does anyone abandon his religion out of displeasure after entering it?” I replied, “No.” He asked, “Did you ever accuse him of lying before he said what he said?” I answered, “No.” He asked, “Does he betray his promises?” I said, “No. But we are currently in a truce with him and do not know what he may do in it.” Abu Sufyan said, “I could not insert any statement against him except this one.” Heraclius asked, “Have you fought him?” I said, “Yes.” He asked, “How has your warfare with him been?” I replied, “The war between us has been undecided; sometimes he defeats us and sometimes we defeat him.” He asked, “What does he command you to do?” I said, “He tells us to worship Allah alone and not associate anything with Him, to abandon what our forefathers used to worship, and he commands us to pray, speak truthfully, remain chaste, and maintain family ties.” Then Heraclius told the translator, “Tell him: I asked you about his lineage, and you said he is of noble lineage. Likewise, messengers are sent among noble families of their people. I asked whether anyone had made such a claim before him, and you said no. Had someone said it before him, I would have thought he was merely following a previous claim. I asked whether any of his ancestors had been kings, and you said no. Had one of his ancestors been a king, I would have thought he was seeking his forefathers’ kingdom. I asked whether you ever accused him of lying before his claim, and you said no. I know that a man who does not lie to people would not lie about God. I asked whether the nobles or the weak followed him, and you said the weak follow him. Such are the followers of prophets. I asked whether his followers increase or decrease, and you said they increase. This is the nature of true faith until it is complete. I asked whether anyone leaves his religion after entering it out of displeasure, and you said no. This is how faith is when its joy enters the hearts. I asked whether he betrays, and you said no. Likewise, prophets do not betray. And I asked what he commands you to do, and you said he commands you to worship Allah alone, avoid idolatry, pray, speak truthfully, and remain chaste. If what you say is true, he will soon possess the land beneath my feet. I already knew that a prophet was to appear, but I did not think he would come from among you. If I knew I could reach him safely, I would undertake the journey to meet him. And if I were with him, I would wash his feet.” Then Heraclius called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which had been brought by Dihyah to the ruler of Busra and delivered to Heraclius. He read it, and in it was written: “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. From Muhammad, the servant of Allah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, the ruler of Rome: Peace be upon whoever follows guidance. I invite you to Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe, and Allah will grant you a double reward. But if you turn away, then upon you shall be the sin of your subjects. {O People of the Book! Let us come to common terms: that we will worship none but Allah, associate none with Him, nor take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we have submitted ˹to Allah alone˺} Abu Sufyan said, “When Heraclius finished speaking and reading the letter, voices rose loudly in his court and we were ordered out. As we left, I said to my companions, ‘The matter of Ibn Abi Kabsha [meaning the Messenger of Allah ﷺ] has become great indeed. Even the king of the Romans fears him.’ From that time, I remained certain that he would prevail, until Allah brought Islam into my heart.” Abu al-Nadur — the governor of Jerusalem and a close associate of Heraclius — related that when Heraclius arrived in Jerusalem, one morning he appeared deeply troubled. Some of his senior officials said to him, “We find your appearance changed.” Heraclius was a man skilled in astrology and the reading of stars. He replied, “Last night, while observing the stars, I saw that the king of the people who practice circumcision has appeared. Who among the nations practices circumcision?” They answered, “No one practices circumcision except the Jews. Do not let them concern you. Write to the cities of your kingdom ordering that all Jews there be killed.” While they were discussing this matter, a man sent by the king of Ghassan arrived with news about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. After Heraclius questioned him, he said, “Go and see whether he is circumcised or not.” They examined the man and informed him that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the Arabs, and the man replied, “They also practice circumcision.” Heraclius said, “This is the king of this nation who has appeared.” Then Heraclius wrote to a friend of his in Rome who was equal to him in knowledge. Afterwards, Heraclius traveled to Homs. He had not yet left Homs when a letter arrived from his friend agreeing with Heraclius’ conclusion about the emergence of the Prophet ﷺ and affirming that he truly was a prophet. So Heraclius summoned the leading nobles of Rome to a gathering in one of his palaces at Homs. He ordered all the doors to be locked. Then he appeared before them and said, “O people of Rome! If you desire success, right guidance, and the preservation of your empire, then pledge allegiance to this Prophet!” When they heard this, they rushed toward the doors like frightened wild donkeys, but found the doors locked shut. When Heraclius saw their violent rejection and lost hope that they would believe, he said, “Bring them back to me.” Then he told them, “I only said what I said in order to test the firmness of your commitment to your religion. Now I have seen it.” At that, they prostrated before him and became pleased with him again. And that was the final affair of Heraclius.