Letters to Kings and Emperors

Notes
One of the terms of the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah was no war between the
Quraysh and the Muslims. In the month of ZilHajj, 7A.H, on his return
from Hudaibiyyah, the Prophet (S) decided to take advantage of this
peaceful phase, by sending his ambassadors to different rulers beyond
Arabia, inviting them to Islam. In order to authenticate his envoys’
credentials, and because the Prophet (S) couldn’t sign his own name, a
silver seal was made in which were engraved the words: “Muhammad
the Messenger of Allah”.
Negus, whose real name was Ashamah bin Al-Abjar, was the Christian
ruler of Abyssinia. He had given shelter to the Muslims when they had
migrated to Abyssinia to escape the persecution of the Quraysh. Amr
bin Umayyah (R.A) was sent to invite Negus to Islam, who accepted it
and showed great respect to the envoy. He also sent presents to the
Prophet S. When Negus died, the Prophet (S) offered funeral prayers
for him.
Hatib bin Abi Baltah (R.A) was sent to deliver the message to
Muqawqis, the King of Egypt and a Coptic Christian. Muqawqis did not
accept Islam, but behaved respectfully and sent gifts to the Prophet (S),
including 2 maids named Maria and Sirin and a mare. The Prophet S
have Sirin to Hassan bin Thabit (R.A) and married Maria Qibtia (R.A),
who gave birth to his son Ibrahim.
Abdullah bin Abi Hudaifah (R.A) was sent to Chosroes (Khusro Pervez),
the Emperor of Persia. Chosroes was furious when he saw the Prophet
(S) had addressed him on equal terms:
“From Muhammad (S) bin Abdullah to Chosroes the Chief of Persia”
He was so enraged he tore the letter into pieces. On hearing this, the
Prophet (S) said:
“May Allah tear his empire into pieces”
Chosroes even ordered the Governor of Yemen to arrest the Prophet
(S). When his men reached Madinah, he said to them:
“Of course Islamic rule would prevail in the Persian Empire” He then
surprised them by saying: “My Lord has killed Chosroes last night”
This turned out to be true as Chosroes son had killed him that night.
Afterwards, there was great chaos in Persia, and the empire fell apart.
The Governor of Yemen was so impressed he accepted Islam.
Dahyah Kalbi (R.A) was sent to Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor,
inviting him to Islam. Wanting to know more about the Prophet (S),
Heraclius sent for some Arabs who were there on a trade mission in
Syria, for enquiry. Among them was Abu Sufyan, who testified the
morals and character of the Prophet (S). The emperor was very
impressed by the answers and remarked that Islam was the Message of
Truth; but he did not accept Islam, under the influence of the court, but
still treated the envoy with respect.
The Prophet (S) dispatched Ala’a bin Al-Hadrami (R.A) to the Governor
of Bahrain, Munzir bin Sawa, carrying the letter inviting him to Islam.
Munzir bin Sawa accepted Islam and wrote the following letter:
“Allah’s Messenger (S)! I read your letter, which you wrote to the
people of Bahrain extending to them an invitation to Islam. Islam
appealed to some of them and they entered the fold of Islam, while
others did not find it appealing. In my country, there live Magians and
Jews and therefore you may inform me of the treatment to be
extended to them”
The Prophet (S) praised him and instructed him to pardon the
offenders.
Haudhah bin Ali, the Chief of Yamamah, was delivered his letter by Salit
bin Umar (R.A). On receiving it, he said:
“Your teachings are very nice and if there is a share for me in your
kingdom, I am ready to follow”
The Prophet (S) sent him a negative answer and he did not embrace
Islam.
Shuja bin Wahab (R.A) was sent to Harith Ghissani, the King of
Damascus, who got angry after reading the letter and ordered his army
to attack Madinah and kill the Prophet (S). The Muslims awaited his
attack every day, but his army never appeared.
Amr bin Al-Aas (R.A) was chosen to carry the letter to the rulers of
Oman, Jaifer and his brother Abd bin Al-Julandai, asking the people of
Oman to convert to Islam. In response to the letter, Oman was the First
country to convert to Islam without any war. The Prophet (S) made a
prayer for the Omani people that they would never have enemies from
the outside.
Part b)