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المطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية
Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah
كتاب الخلافة والإمارة
Book of the Caliphate and Leadership
بَابُ عهد الْإِمَامِ إِلَى عماله كيف يسيرون فِي أهل الإسلام والكفر
Chapter: The ruler's instructions to his governors on how to deal with Muslims and disbelievers
Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2171 — The ruler's instructions to his governors
اُردوEn
قَالَ الْحَارِثُ : حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ الْمُحَبَّرِ ، ثَنَا أَبِي الْمُحَبَّرُ بْنُ قَحْذَمٍ ، عَنِ الْمِسْوَرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْبَاهِلِيِّ ، عَنْ بَعْضِ وَلَدِ الْجَارُودِ ، عَنِ الْجَارُودِ أَنَّهُ أَخَذَ هَذِهِ النُّسْخَةَ [مِنْ نُسْخَةِ] عَهْدِ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ الَّذِي كَتَبَهُ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، حِينَ بَعَثَهُ عَلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ : بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ هَذَا كِتَابٌ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الْقُرَشِيِّ الْهَاشِمِيِّ رَسُولِ اللهِ ، وَنَبِيِّهِ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ كَافَّةً ؛ لِلْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ ، وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ، عَهْدًا عَهِدَهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ، اتَّقُوا اللهَ أَيُّهَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ بَعَثْتُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَلَاءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ وَأَمَّرْتُهُ ؛ أَنْ يَتَّقِيَ اللهَ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَأَنْ يُلِينَ لَكُمُ الْجَنَاحَ ، وَيُحْسِنَ فِيكُمُ السِّيرَةَ بِالْحَقِّ ، وَيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَنْ لَقِيَ مِنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ ، وَأَمَرْتُكُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِ إِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ وَقَسَمَ فَقَسَطَ ، وَاسْتُرْحِمَ فَرَحِمَ ، فَاسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَأَطِيعُوا ، وَأَحْسِنُوا مُؤَازَرَتَهُ وَمُعَاوَنَتَهُ ، فَإِنَّ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ طَاعَةً وَحَقًّا عَظِيمًا ، لَا تَقْدُرُونَ كُلَّ قَدْرِهِ ، وَلَا يَبْلُغُ الْقَوْلُ كُنْهَ [حَقِّ] عَظَمَةِ اللهِ ، وَحَقِّ رَسُولِهِ ، كَمَا أَنَّ لِلهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً ، وَعَلَيْكُمْ خَاصَّةً حَقًّا وَاجِبًا ، فَطَاعَتُهُ وَالْوَفَاءُ بِعَهْدِهِ [وَرَضِيَ اللهُ عَمَّنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِالطَّاعَةِ ، وَعَظَّمَ حَقَّ أَهْلِهَا وَحَقَّ وُلَاتِهَا] كَذَلِكَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عَلَى وُلَاتِهِمْ حَقًّا [وَاجِبًا وَطَاعَةً ، فَرَضَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَمَّنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِالطَّاعَةِ ، وَعَظَّمَ حَقَّ أَهْلِهَا وَحَقَّ وُلَاتِهَا] ، فَإِنَّ فِي الطَّاعَةِ دَرْكًا لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ يُبْتَغَى ، وَنَجَاةً مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ يُتَّقَى ، وَأَنَا أُشْهِدُ اللهَ عَلَى مَنْ وَلَّيْتُهُ شَيْئًا مِنْ أُمُورِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَلِيلًا أَوْ كَثِيرًا فَلَمْ يَعْدِلْ فِيهِمْ أَنْ لَا طَاعَةَ لَهُ ، وَهُوَ خَلِيعٌ مِمَّا وَلَّيْتُهُ ، وَقَدْ بَرِئَتْ ذِمَّةُ الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ وَعَهْدُهُمْ [وَذِمَّتُهُمْ] ، وَلْيَسْتَخِيرُوا اللهَ تَعَالَى عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ لِيَسْتَعْمِلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ أَفْضَلَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ ، أَلَا وَإِنْ أَصَابَتِ الْعَلَاءَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ ، فَخَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ سَيْفُ اللهِ فِيهِمْ خَلَفٌ لِلْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فَاسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَأَطِيعُوا مَا عَرَفْتُمْ أَنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ ، حَتَّى يُخَالِفَ الْحَقَّ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ ، فَسِيرُوا عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللهِ وَعَوْنِهِ وَنَصْرِهِ وَعَافِيَتِهِ وَرُشْدِهِ وَتَوْفِيقِهِ ، فَمَنْ لَقِيتُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَادْعُوهُمْ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللهِ الْمُنَزَّلِ وَسُنَنِهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَإِحْلَالِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللهُ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ ، وَتَحْرِيمِ مَا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ ، وَأَنْ يَخْلَعُوا الْأَنْدَادَ وَيَبْرَؤُوا مِنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالْكُفْرِ ، وَيَكْفُرُوا بِعِبَادَةِ الطَّاغُوتِ وَاللَّاتِ وَالْعُزَّى ، وَأَنْ يَتْرُكُوا [عِبَادَةَ] عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ، وَعُزَيْرِ بْنِ حَرْوَةَ . ، وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ [وَالنِّيرَانِ] وَكُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُتَّخَذُ ضِدًّا مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ تَعَالَى ، وَأَنْ يَتَوَلَّوُا اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ، وَأَنْ يَتَبَرَّأُوا مِمَّا بَرِئَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِنْهُ ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ وَأَقَرُّوا بِهِ وَدَخَلُوا فِي الْوِلَايَةِ ، فَبَيِّنُوا لَهُمْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ مَا فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ الَّذِي تَدْعُونَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ ، فَإِنَّهُ كِتَابُ اللهِ الْمُنَزَّلُ مَعَ الرُّوحِ الْأَمِينِ عَلَى صَفْوَتِهِ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ [عَبْدِ اللهِ] وَرَسُولِهِ وَنَبِيِّهِ [وَحَبِيبِهِ] ، أَرْسَلَهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ [عَامَّةً] الْأَبْيَضِ [مِنْهُمْ] وَالْأَسْوَدِ ، الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ ، كِتَابُ اللهِ فِيهِ نَبَأُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ ، وَمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ بَعْدَكُمْ ، لِيَكُونَ حَاجِزًا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ، يَحْجِزُ اللهُ تَعَالَى بِهِ بَعْضَهُمْ عَنْ بَعْضٍ ، [وَفِيهِ] إِعْرَاضُ بَعْضِهِمْ عَنْ بَعْضٍ ، وَهُوَ كِتَابُ اللهِ مُهَيْمِنًا عَلَى الْكُتُبِ ، مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا فِيهَا مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالزَّبُورِ ، يُخْبِرُكُمْ فِيهِ اللهُ بِمَا كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ مِمَّا فَاتَكُمْ دَرْكُهُ فِي آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ، الَّذِينَ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُ اللهِ وَأَنْبِيَاؤُهُ ، كَيْفَ كَانَ جَوَابُهُمْ وَبِمَا أَرْسَلَهُمْ ، وَكَيْفَ كَانَ تَصْدِيقُهُمْ بِآيَاتِ اللهِ تَعَالَى أَوْ تَكْذِيبُهُمْ بِهِمَا ، وَأَخْبَرَ اللهُ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ بِشَأْنِهِمْ وَعَمَلِهِمْ ، وَعَمَلِ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْهُمْ بِدِينِهِ ، لِتَجْتَنِبُوا ذَلِكَ ، وَأَنْ لَا تَعْمَلُوا مِثْلَهُ ، لِئَلَّا يَحِقَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ عِقَابِهِ وَسُخْطِهِ وَنِقْمَتِهِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي حَلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سُوءِ أَعْمَالِهِمْ ، [لِتَهَاوُنِهِمْ بِأَمْرِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، وَأَخْبَرَكُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ بِأَعْمَالِ مَنْ مَضَى مِمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ لِتَعْمَلُوا بِمِثْلِ أَعْمَالِهِمْ] بَيَّنَ لَكُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ هَذَا شَأْنَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ ، رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ بِكُمْ ، وَشَفَقَةً مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ، وَهُوَ هُدًى مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ ، وَتِبْيَانٌ مِنَ الْعَمَى ، وَإِقَالَةٌ مِنَ الْعَثْرَةِ ، وَنَجَاةٌ مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ ، وَنُورٌ مِنَ الظُّلْمَةِ ، وَشِفَاءٌ عِنْدَ الْأَحْدَاثِ ، وَعِصْمَةٌ مِنَ التَّهْلُكَةِ ، وَرُشْدٌ مِنَ الْغِوَايَةِ ، وَبَيَانٌ مِنَ اللَّبْسِ ، وَفَيْصَلُ مَا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ، فِيهِ كَمَالُ دِينِكُمْ ، فَإِذَا عَرَضْتُمْ هَذَا عَلَيْهِمْ ، فَأَقَرُّوا لَكُمْ بِهِ فَاسْتَكْمِلُوا الْوِلَايَةَ ، فَاعْرِضُوا عَلَيْهِمْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ الْإِسْلَامَ ، وَهُوَ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ ، وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ ، وَحَجُّ الْبَيْتِ ، وَصِيَامُ رَمَضَانَ ، وَالْغُسْلُ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ ، وَالطُّهُورُ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ ، وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ ، وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ ، وَحُسْنُ الصُّحْبَةِ [حَتَّى] لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ الْمُشْرِكَيْنِ ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ أَسْلَمُوا ، فَادْعُوهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ وَانْصِبُوا لَهُمْ شَرَائِعَهُ وَمَعَالِمَهُ ، وَالْإِيمَانُ بِشَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ [وَرَسُولُهُ] ، وَأَنَّ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ الْحَقُّ ، وَأَنَّ مَا سِوَاهُ الْبَاطِلُ ، وَالْإِيمَانُ بِاللهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَأَنْبِيَائِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ، وَالْإِيمَانُ بِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَمَا خَلْفَهُ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالزَّبُورِ [وَالْبَعْثِ وَالنُّشُورِ وَالْحِسَابِ] وَالْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ وَالْمَوْتِ وَالْحَيَاةِ وَالْإِيمَانُ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَافَّةً ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ وَأَقَرُّوا بِهِ فَهُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ مُؤْمِنُونَ ، ثُمَّ دُلُّوهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْإِحْسَانِ ، وَعَلِّمُوهُمْ [أَنَّ] الْإِحْسَانَ أَنْ يُحْسِنُوا فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ اللهِ تَعَالَى فِي أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ ، وَعَهْدِهِ الَّذِي عَهِدَهُ إِلَى رُسُلِهِ ، وَعَهْدِ رُسُلِهِ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ وَأَئِمَّةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ، وَالتَّسْلِيمِ وَسَلَامَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ كُلِّ غَائِلَةِ لِسَانٍ أَوْ يَدٍ ، وَأَنْ يَبْتَغِيَ لِبَقِيَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَمَا يَبْتَغِي لِنَفْسِهِ ، وَالتَّصْدِيقِ لِمَوَاعِيدِ الرَّبِّ وَلِقَائِهِ وَمُعَايَنَتِهِ وَالْوَدَاعِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ ، وَالْمُحَاسَبَةِ لِلنَّفْسِ عِنْدَ اسْتِيفَاءِ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ ، وَتَزَوُّدٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ ، وَالتَّعَاهُدِ لِمَا فَرَضَ اللهُ تَأْدِيَتَهُ إِلَيْهِ فِي السِّرِّ وَالْعَلَانِيَةِ ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَهُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُحْسِنُونَ ، ثُمَّ انْعَتُوا لَهُمُ الْكَبَائِرَ ، وَدُلُّوهُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ ، وَخَوِّفُوهُمْ مِنَ الْهَلَكَةِ فِي الْكَبَائِرِ ، فَإِنَّ الْكَبَائِرَ هِيَ الْمُوبِقَاتُ ، وَأُولَاهُنَّ : الشِّرْكُ بِاللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ لا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَالسِّحْرُ ، وَمَا لِلسَّاحِرِ مِنْ خَلاقٍ ، وَقَطِيعَةُ الرَّحِمِ لَعَنَهُمُ اللهُ ، وَالْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ ، فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللهِ ، وَالْغُلُولُ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُمْ ، وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنَةِ فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ ، وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَةِ لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ ، وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا ، وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ .
فَإِذَا انْتَهَوْا عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ فَهُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُحْسِنُونَ مُتَّقُونَ ، فَادْعُوهُمْ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْعِبَادَةِ ، وَالْعِبَادَةُ : الصِّيَامُ ، وَالْقِيَامُ ، وَالْخُشُوعُ ، [وَالْخُضُوعُ] ، وَالرُّكُوعُ ، وَالسُّجُودُ ، وَالْإِنَابَةُ ، وَالْيَقِينُ ، وَالْإِخْبَاتُ ، وَالتَّهْلِيلُ ، وَالتَّسْبِيحُ ، وَالتَّحْمِيدُ ، وَالتَّكْبِيرُ ، وَالصَّدَقَةُ بَعْدَ الزَّكَاةِ ، وَالتَّوَاضُعُ ، وَالسُّكُونُ ، وَالْمُوَاسَاةُ ، وَالدُّعَاءُ ، وَالتَّضَرُّعُ ، وَالْإِقْرَارُ بِالْمُلْكِ وَالْعُبُودِيَّةِ ، وَالِاسْتِقْلَالُ بِمَا كَثُرَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَهُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُسْلِمُونَ مُحْسِنُونَ مُتَّقُونَ عَابِدُونَ ، وَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلُوا الْعِبَادَةَ فَادْعُوهُمْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْجِهَادِ وَبَيِّنُوهُ لَهُمْ ، وَرَغِّبُوهُمْ فِيمَا رَغَّبَهُمُ اللهُ فِيهِ مِنْ فَضِيلَةِ الْجِهَادِ وَثَوَابِهِ عِنْدَ اللهِ ، فَإِنِ انْتُدِبُوا فَبَايِعُوهُمْ وَادْعُوهُمْ حَتَّى تُبَايِعُوهُمْ إِلَى سُنَّةِ اللهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ ، عَلَيْكُمْ عَهْدُ اللهِ وَذِمَّتُهُ سَبْعُ كَفَالَاتٍ ، يَعْنِي : اللهُ كَفِيلٌ عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ - لَا تَنْكُثُونَ أَيْدِيَكُمْ مِنْ بَيْعَةٍ وَلَا تَنْقُضُونَ أَمْرَ وَالٍ مِنْ وُلَاةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ، فَإِذَا أَقَرُّوا بِهَذَا فَبَايِعُوهُمْ ، وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللهَ لَهُمْ ، فَإِذَا خَرَجُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ غَضَبًا لِلهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنَصْرًا لِدِينِهِ ، فَمَنْ لَقُوا مِنَ النَّاسِ فَلْيَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى مَا دُعُوا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ بِإِجَابَتِهِ ثُمَّ إِسْلَامِهِ وَإِيمَانِهِ وَإِحْسَانِهِ وَتَقْوَاهُ وَعِبَادَتِهِ وَجِهَادِهِ ، فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَهُمْ فَهُوَ الْمُسْتَحَثُّ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ [الْمُسْلِمُ] الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُحْسِنُ الْمُتَّقِي الْعَابِدُ الْمُجَاهِدُ ، لَهُ مَا لَكُمْ وَعَلَيْهِ مَا عَلَيْكُمْ ، وَمَنْ أَبَى هَذَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى يَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللهِ وَإِلَى دِينِهِ ، وَمَنْ عَاهَدْتُمْ وَأَعْطَيْتُمُوهُ ذِمَّةَ اللهِ فَفُوا لَهُ بِهَا ، وَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَأَعْطَاكُمُ الرِّضَا فَهُوَ مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ ، وَمَنْ قَاتَلَكُمْ عَلَى هَذَا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا سَمَّعْتُمُوهُ لَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ ، وَمَنْ صَالَ بِكُمْ فَحَارِبُوهُ ، وَمَنْ كَايَدَكُمْ فَكَايِدُوهُ ، وَمَنْ جَمَعَ لَكُمْ فَاجْمَعُوا لَهُ ، وَمَنْ غَالَكُمْ فَغِيلُوهُ ، أَوْ خَادَعَكُمْ فَاخْدَعُوهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَعْتَدُوا أَوْ مَاكَرَكُمْ فَامْكُرُوا بِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَعْتَدُوا سِرًّا أَوْ عَلَانِيَةً ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنِ انْتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللهَ مَعَكُمْ يَرَاكُمْ وَيَرَى أَعْمَالَكُمْ ، وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَهُ كُلَّهُ ، فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا عَلَى حَذَرٍ ، فَإِنَّمَا هَذِهِ أَمَانَةٌ أَمَّنَنِي رَبِّي عَلَيْهَا ، أُبَلِّغُهَا عِبَادَهُ ، عُذْرًا مِنْهُ إِلَيْهِمْ ، وَحُجَّةً مِنْهُ ، أَحْتَجُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ بَلَغَهُ هَذَا الْكِتَابُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ جَمِيعًا فَمَنْ عَمِلَ بِمَا فِيهِ نَجَا ، وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ بِمَا فِيهِ اهْتَدَى ، وَمَنْ خَاصَمَ بِهِ أَفْلَحَ ، وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ بِهِ نُصِرَ ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَهُ ضَلَّ حَتَّى يُرَاجِعَهُ ، فَتَعَلَّمُوا مَا فِيهِ ، وَأَسْمِعُوا آذَانَكُمْ ، وَأَوْعُوهُ أَجْوَافَكُمْ ، وَاسْتَحْفِظُوهُ قُلُوبَكُمْ ; فَإِنَّهُ نُورُ الْأَبْصَارِ ، وَرَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ ، وَكَفَى بِهَذَا أَمْرًا وَمُعْتَبَرًا ، وَزَاجِرًا وَعِظَةً وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللهِ [وَرَسُولِهِ] ، فَهَذَا هُوَ الْخَيْرُ الَّذِي لَا شَرَّ فِيهِ ، كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَنَبِيِّهِ لِلْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ حِينَ بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَدْعُو إِلَى اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ، يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَلَالٍ ، وَيَنْهَى عَمَّا فِيهِ مِنْ حَرَامٍ ، وَيَدُلَّ عَلَى مَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُشْدٍ ، وَيَنْهَى عَمَّا فِيهِ مِنْ غَيٍّ ، كِتَابٌ ائْتَمَنَ عَلَيْهِ نَبِيُّ اللهِ الْعَلَاءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ وَخَلِيفَتَهُ سَيْفَ اللهِ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ ، وَقَدْ أَعْذَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ بِمَا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ [وَ] إِلَى مَنْ مَعَهُمَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ، وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ عُذْرًا فِي إِضَاعَةِ شَيْءٍ مِنْهُ ، لَا الْوُلَاةِ وَلَا الْمُتَوَلَّى عَلَيْهِمْ ، فَمَنْ بَلَغَهُ هَذَا الْكِتَابُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ جَمِيعًا فَلَا عُذْرَ لَهُ وَلَا حُجَّةَ ، وَلَا يُعْذَرُ بِجَهَالَةِ شَيْءٍ مِمَّا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ ، كُتِبَ هَذَا الْكِتَابُ لِثَلَاثٍ مِنْ ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ ، لِأَرْبَعِ سِنِينَ مَضَيْنَ مِنْ مُهَاجَرِ نَبِيِّ اللهِ إِلَّا شَهْرَيْنِ ، شَهِدَ الْكِتَابَ يَوْمَ كَتَبَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ يُمِلُّهُ عَلَيْهِ عُثْمَانُ [ ابْنُ عَفَّانَ ] رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ [جَالِسٌ] ، الْمُخْتَارُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الْقُرَشِيُّ ، وَأَبُو ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيُّ ، وَحُذَيْفَةُ بْنُ الْيَمَانِ الْعَبْسِيُّ ، وَقُصَيُّ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ ، وَشَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْثَدٍ الْغَسَّانِيُّ ، وَالْمُسْتَنِيرُ ابْنُ أَبِي صَعْصَعَةَ الْخُزَاعِيُّ ، وَعَوَانَةُ بْنُ شَمَّاخٍ الْجُهَنِيُّ ، وَسَعْدُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ ، وَسَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ ، وَزَيْدُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ ، وَالنُّقَبَاءُ ، وَرَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ ، وَرَجُلٌ مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ ، وَأَرْبَعَةٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ حَتَّى دَفَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ وَسَيْفِ اللهِ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ .
فَإِذَا انْتَهَوْا عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ فَهُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُحْسِنُونَ مُتَّقُونَ ، فَادْعُوهُمْ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْعِبَادَةِ ، وَالْعِبَادَةُ : الصِّيَامُ ، وَالْقِيَامُ ، وَالْخُشُوعُ ، [وَالْخُضُوعُ] ، وَالرُّكُوعُ ، وَالسُّجُودُ ، وَالْإِنَابَةُ ، وَالْيَقِينُ ، وَالْإِخْبَاتُ ، وَالتَّهْلِيلُ ، وَالتَّسْبِيحُ ، وَالتَّحْمِيدُ ، وَالتَّكْبِيرُ ، وَالصَّدَقَةُ بَعْدَ الزَّكَاةِ ، وَالتَّوَاضُعُ ، وَالسُّكُونُ ، وَالْمُوَاسَاةُ ، وَالدُّعَاءُ ، وَالتَّضَرُّعُ ، وَالْإِقْرَارُ بِالْمُلْكِ وَالْعُبُودِيَّةِ ، وَالِاسْتِقْلَالُ بِمَا كَثُرَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَهُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُسْلِمُونَ مُحْسِنُونَ مُتَّقُونَ عَابِدُونَ ، وَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلُوا الْعِبَادَةَ فَادْعُوهُمْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْجِهَادِ وَبَيِّنُوهُ لَهُمْ ، وَرَغِّبُوهُمْ فِيمَا رَغَّبَهُمُ اللهُ فِيهِ مِنْ فَضِيلَةِ الْجِهَادِ وَثَوَابِهِ عِنْدَ اللهِ ، فَإِنِ انْتُدِبُوا فَبَايِعُوهُمْ وَادْعُوهُمْ حَتَّى تُبَايِعُوهُمْ إِلَى سُنَّةِ اللهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ ، عَلَيْكُمْ عَهْدُ اللهِ وَذِمَّتُهُ سَبْعُ كَفَالَاتٍ ، يَعْنِي : اللهُ كَفِيلٌ عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ - لَا تَنْكُثُونَ أَيْدِيَكُمْ مِنْ بَيْعَةٍ وَلَا تَنْقُضُونَ أَمْرَ وَالٍ مِنْ وُلَاةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ، فَإِذَا أَقَرُّوا بِهَذَا فَبَايِعُوهُمْ ، وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللهَ لَهُمْ ، فَإِذَا خَرَجُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ غَضَبًا لِلهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنَصْرًا لِدِينِهِ ، فَمَنْ لَقُوا مِنَ النَّاسِ فَلْيَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى مَا دُعُوا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ بِإِجَابَتِهِ ثُمَّ إِسْلَامِهِ وَإِيمَانِهِ وَإِحْسَانِهِ وَتَقْوَاهُ وَعِبَادَتِهِ وَجِهَادِهِ ، فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَهُمْ فَهُوَ الْمُسْتَحَثُّ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ [الْمُسْلِمُ] الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُحْسِنُ الْمُتَّقِي الْعَابِدُ الْمُجَاهِدُ ، لَهُ مَا لَكُمْ وَعَلَيْهِ مَا عَلَيْكُمْ ، وَمَنْ أَبَى هَذَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى يَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللهِ وَإِلَى دِينِهِ ، وَمَنْ عَاهَدْتُمْ وَأَعْطَيْتُمُوهُ ذِمَّةَ اللهِ فَفُوا لَهُ بِهَا ، وَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَأَعْطَاكُمُ الرِّضَا فَهُوَ مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ ، وَمَنْ قَاتَلَكُمْ عَلَى هَذَا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا سَمَّعْتُمُوهُ لَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ ، وَمَنْ صَالَ بِكُمْ فَحَارِبُوهُ ، وَمَنْ كَايَدَكُمْ فَكَايِدُوهُ ، وَمَنْ جَمَعَ لَكُمْ فَاجْمَعُوا لَهُ ، وَمَنْ غَالَكُمْ فَغِيلُوهُ ، أَوْ خَادَعَكُمْ فَاخْدَعُوهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَعْتَدُوا أَوْ مَاكَرَكُمْ فَامْكُرُوا بِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَعْتَدُوا سِرًّا أَوْ عَلَانِيَةً ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنِ انْتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللهَ مَعَكُمْ يَرَاكُمْ وَيَرَى أَعْمَالَكُمْ ، وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَهُ كُلَّهُ ، فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا عَلَى حَذَرٍ ، فَإِنَّمَا هَذِهِ أَمَانَةٌ أَمَّنَنِي رَبِّي عَلَيْهَا ، أُبَلِّغُهَا عِبَادَهُ ، عُذْرًا مِنْهُ إِلَيْهِمْ ، وَحُجَّةً مِنْهُ ، أَحْتَجُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ بَلَغَهُ هَذَا الْكِتَابُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ جَمِيعًا فَمَنْ عَمِلَ بِمَا فِيهِ نَجَا ، وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ بِمَا فِيهِ اهْتَدَى ، وَمَنْ خَاصَمَ بِهِ أَفْلَحَ ، وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ بِهِ نُصِرَ ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَهُ ضَلَّ حَتَّى يُرَاجِعَهُ ، فَتَعَلَّمُوا مَا فِيهِ ، وَأَسْمِعُوا آذَانَكُمْ ، وَأَوْعُوهُ أَجْوَافَكُمْ ، وَاسْتَحْفِظُوهُ قُلُوبَكُمْ ; فَإِنَّهُ نُورُ الْأَبْصَارِ ، وَرَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ ، وَكَفَى بِهَذَا أَمْرًا وَمُعْتَبَرًا ، وَزَاجِرًا وَعِظَةً وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللهِ [وَرَسُولِهِ] ، فَهَذَا هُوَ الْخَيْرُ الَّذِي لَا شَرَّ فِيهِ ، كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَنَبِيِّهِ لِلْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ حِينَ بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَدْعُو إِلَى اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ، يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَلَالٍ ، وَيَنْهَى عَمَّا فِيهِ مِنْ حَرَامٍ ، وَيَدُلَّ عَلَى مَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُشْدٍ ، وَيَنْهَى عَمَّا فِيهِ مِنْ غَيٍّ ، كِتَابٌ ائْتَمَنَ عَلَيْهِ نَبِيُّ اللهِ الْعَلَاءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ وَخَلِيفَتَهُ سَيْفَ اللهِ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ ، وَقَدْ أَعْذَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ بِمَا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ [وَ] إِلَى مَنْ مَعَهُمَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ، وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ عُذْرًا فِي إِضَاعَةِ شَيْءٍ مِنْهُ ، لَا الْوُلَاةِ وَلَا الْمُتَوَلَّى عَلَيْهِمْ ، فَمَنْ بَلَغَهُ هَذَا الْكِتَابُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ جَمِيعًا فَلَا عُذْرَ لَهُ وَلَا حُجَّةَ ، وَلَا يُعْذَرُ بِجَهَالَةِ شَيْءٍ مِمَّا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ ، كُتِبَ هَذَا الْكِتَابُ لِثَلَاثٍ مِنْ ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ ، لِأَرْبَعِ سِنِينَ مَضَيْنَ مِنْ مُهَاجَرِ نَبِيِّ اللهِ إِلَّا شَهْرَيْنِ ، شَهِدَ الْكِتَابَ يَوْمَ كَتَبَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ يُمِلُّهُ عَلَيْهِ عُثْمَانُ [ ابْنُ عَفَّانَ ] رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ [جَالِسٌ] ، الْمُخْتَارُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الْقُرَشِيُّ ، وَأَبُو ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيُّ ، وَحُذَيْفَةُ بْنُ الْيَمَانِ الْعَبْسِيُّ ، وَقُصَيُّ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ ، وَشَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْثَدٍ الْغَسَّانِيُّ ، وَالْمُسْتَنِيرُ ابْنُ أَبِي صَعْصَعَةَ الْخُزَاعِيُّ ، وَعَوَانَةُ بْنُ شَمَّاخٍ الْجُهَنِيُّ ، وَسَعْدُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ ، وَسَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ ، وَزَيْدُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ ، وَالنُّقَبَاءُ ، وَرَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ ، وَرَجُلٌ مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ ، وَأَرْبَعَةٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ حَتَّى دَفَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ وَسَيْفِ اللهِ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ .
It is narrated from one of the descendants of al-Jarud (may Allah be pleased with him) that al-Jarud took this copy of the decree from the copy of the covenant of Sayyiduna al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami (may Allah be pleased with him), which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote for him when he sent him to al-Bahrayn:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This letter is from Muhammad bin Abdullah, the unlettered Prophet, of Quraysh, of Banu Hashim, the Messenger of Allah and His Prophet to all creation, to al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami and the Muslims with him: a covenant that he (peace and blessings be upon him) has made with you.
O Muslims, fear Allah as much as you are able. I have appointed al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami as commander over you and have ordered him to fear Allah alone, who has no partner, to deal gently with you, to conduct himself among you in the best manner with truth, and to judge between you and the people he encounters according to the justice that Allah has revealed in His Book.
And I have ordered you to obey him as long as he does that, and when he distributes (wealth and the like) he does so justly, and when mercy is asked of him he shows mercy. So listen to him and obey, and support and help him well; for I have over you a great right and obedience that is due, the full worth of which you cannot appreciate, and no words can reach the depth of the greatness and right of Allah and His Messenger. Just as Allah and His Messenger have a binding right over people in general and over you in particular, so obedience to him and fulfilment of his covenant (is necessary).
And indeed the Muslims too owe their commanders a binding right and obedience. For in obedience lies the attainment of every good that is sought and deliverance from every evil that is guarded against. And I call Allah to witness against anyone whom I have made governor (ruler) over any matter of the Muslims, small or large, and who does not act justly among them: no obedience is owed to him, he will be considered removed from the post to which I appointed him, and the Muslims with him will be free of their obligation, their oaths and their covenant to him. At that point let them seek good from Allah Almighty (perform istikharah) and then appoint as their commander the one whom they find most excellent among themselves.
Take note: if some calamity (death or the like) befalls al-Ala', then Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him), the Sword of Allah among the Muslims, will be the successor of al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami; so listen to him too and obey as long as you see that he is upon the truth, until he deviates from the truth.
So go forth with the blessing of Allah, His help, support, well-being, guidance and enabling grace. Whomever of the people you meet, invite them to the revealed Book of Allah, to its ways and to the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and invite them to hold lawful what Allah has made lawful for them in His Book and to hold unlawful what He has made unlawful. And (tell them) to abandon all rivals and idols, to dissociate themselves from polytheism and disbelief, and to reject the worship of the Taghut, al-Lat and al-Uzza; and to abandon the worship of Isa son of Maryam, Uzayr, the angels, the sun, the moon, fire and everything that is taken as an object of worship besides Allah; to take Allah and His Messenger as their protector and friend, and to dissociate themselves from everything from which Allah and His Messenger have declared themselves free.
When they have done this, affirmed it and entered into allegiance, then make clear to them the rulings of this Book of Allah to which you are inviting them. For it is the divine Book revealed through the Trustworthy Spirit (Jibril, peace be upon him) to the chosen and elect one among all the worlds, Muhammad bin Abdullah, who is His servant, Messenger, Prophet and beloved, whom He sent as a mercy to all the worlds, whether white or black, human or jinn.
In this Book of Allah are recorded all the reports of those before you and all the events that will happen after you, so that it may be a barrier between people, through which Allah Almighty restrains some from (the evil of) others. This Book is the guardian (muhaymin) over all the previous Books and confirms what is in them of the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms. In it Allah Almighty tells you of the circumstances of your forefathers to whom the messengers and prophets of Allah came: what their response was, what the prophets were sent with, and whether they affirmed or denied the signs of Allah. Allah mentioned their condition and their deeds, and also those who perished because of their religion, so that you may avoid that and not do the like of it, lest there come upon you the punishment and wrath of Allah that came upon them because of their evil deeds.
The explanation of all these matters for you in this Book is out of mercy and compassion from your Lord. This Book is guidance out of misguidance, sight out of blindness, a steadying out of stumbling, deliverance from trial, light out of darkness, healing in times of calamity, protection from destruction, right guidance out of error, clarification out of doubt, and the decisive word between this world and the Hereafter. In it lies the perfection of your religion.
When you have presented this to them and they have affirmed it, complete the allegiance, and then present Islam (its other pillars) to them: that is, the five prayers, paying the zakah, Hajj to the House, fasting in Ramadan, the ritual bath (ghusl) from major impurity, purification before prayer, kindness to parents, upholding ties with Muslim relatives, and good treatment even of polytheist parents. When they have done this, they have become Muslims.
After that, invite them to faith (iman) and establish for them its laws and landmarks. Faith is to bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, that what Muhammad brought is the truth and everything besides it is falsehood; and to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, His prophets and the Last Day, as well as in the previous Books (the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms), the resurrection after death, the reckoning, Paradise, Hell, death and life; and to be sincere towards Allah, His Messenger and all the believers. When they have done this and affirmed it, they are Muslims and believers.
Then after that guide them to ihsan (excellence), and teach them that ihsan is that a person excels in what is between him and Allah in fulfilling the trust; fulfils His covenant which He took from His messengers, and the covenant of the messengers with the creation and with the leaders of the believers; adopts submission; keeps the Muslims safe from every harm of his tongue and hand; wishes for the rest of the Muslims what he wishes for himself; affirms the promises of the Lord, the meeting with Him and seeing Him; lives every moment in a state of bidding farewell to this world; takes account of himself at the close of every day and night; gathers provision (for the Hereafter) day and night; and safeguards all the obligations that Allah has made binding upon him, in private and in public. When they have done this, they are Muslims, believers and muhsinun (people of excellence).
Then explain the major sins to them, point them out, and warn them of perishing through the major sins. For the major sins are the ruinous sins:
1. The first of them is associating partners with Allah (indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him).
2. Sorcery (and the sorcerer has no share in the Hereafter).
3. Severing the ties of kinship (those upon whom is the curse of Allah).
4. Fleeing from the battlefield (he has returned with the wrath of Allah).
5. Embezzling from the spoils of war (he will come on the Day of Resurrection with what he embezzled, and it will not be accepted).
6. Unjustly killing a believing soul (whose recompense is Hell).
7. Slandering chaste women (they are cursed in this world and the Hereafter).
8. Consuming the wealth of the orphan (they fill their bellies with fire and will soon enter a blazing Fire).
9. Consuming usury (riba) (then take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger).
So when they refrain from the major sins, they are Muslims, believers, muhsinun and muttaqun (God-fearing). Then invite them in the same way to worship; and worship is: fasting, standing (in prayer), humility, submissiveness, bowing, prostration, inabah (turning to Allah), certainty, ikhbat (humbleness), tahlil (La ilaha illallah), tasbih, tahmid, takbir, general charity after the zakah, modesty, tranquillity, muwasat (sharing with others), supplication, earnest entreaty, acknowledging Allah's dominion and one's servitude, and regarding even an abundance of righteous deeds as little. When they have done this, they are believers, Muslims, muhsinun, muttaqun and worshippers.
And when they have completed the acts of worship, then invite them to jihad, explain it to them, and encourage them in what Allah has encouraged them in, namely the excellence of jihad and its reward with Allah. If they come forward, take their pledge, and invite them to pledge that they will remain upon the Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger. Upon you is the covenant and protection of Allah with seven guarantees (that is, Allah is guarantor of its fulfilment seven times) that you will not withdraw your hands from the pledge and will not break the command of any of the rulers of the Muslims.
When they affirm this, take their pledge and seek forgiveness from Allah for them. Then when they go out to fight in the path of Allah, out of anger for the sake of Allah and in support of His religion, let them invite whomever they meet to that to which they themselves were invited through the Book of Allah: accepting it, then its Islam, its faith, its ihsan, its taqwa, its worship and its jihad. Whoever follows them is one who is urged on and seeks more (of good), a Muslim, a believer, a muhsin, God-fearing, a worshipper and a mujahid; he has the same rights and duties as you. And whoever refuses you, fight them until they return to the command of Allah and to His religion.
Whomever you make a covenant with and give the protection of Allah, fulfil it for him; and whoever accepts Islam and shows his consent is of you and you are of him. Whoever fights you even after hearing all these things from you, fight him; whoever attacks you, wage war on him; whoever schemes against you, answer his scheming; whoever gathers against you, gather against him; whoever ambushes you, ambush him; or whoever deceives you, deceive him without transgressing; or whoever plots against you, plot against him without transgressing, whether in secret or in public! For whoever takes revenge after being wronged, there is no blame upon them.
And know that Allah is with you; He sees you and your deeds and knows everything you do. So fear Allah and be on your guard! This is a trust which my Lord has entrusted to me so that I may convey it to His servants, as an excuse from Him to them and as a proof from Him, by which I argue against everyone of the whole creation whom this letter reaches. So whoever acts upon the rulings in it is saved, whoever follows it is guided, whoever argues by it succeeds, whoever fights for it is helped, and whoever abandons it goes astray until he returns to it.
So learn what is in it, turn your ears to it, preserve it in your breasts and guard it with your hearts; for it is the light of the eyes, the spring of the hearts and a healing for what is in the breasts. And this suffices as a command, a lesson, a deterrent, an admonition and a caller to Allah and His Messenger; this is the good in which there is no evil.
This letter is from Muhammad, the servant of Allah and His Messenger and Prophet, to al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami when he was sent to al-Bahrayn to invite to Allah and His Messenger; he orders him to call to the lawful that is in it, to forbid the unlawful that is in it, to guide to the right guidance that is in it, and to forbid the error that is in it. This is a letter with which the Prophet of Allah entrusted al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami and his successor (deputy), the Sword of Allah, Khalid bin al-Walid; and he has left them, and the Muslims with them, no excuse through the instructions in this letter, and has given none of them, neither the rulers nor those ruled, any excuse for neglecting anything of it. So for anyone of the whole creation whom this letter reaches, no excuse or argument remains, nor will ignorance of the rulings of this letter be accepted as an excuse.
This letter was written on the 3rd of Dhu al-Qa'dah, two months before the completion of four years from the Hijrah of the Prophet. On the day it was written, Ibn Abi Sufyan wrote it, Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) dictating it to him, while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was seated; and al-Mukhtar bin Qays al-Qurashi, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman al-Absi, Qusayy bin Abi Umar al-Himyari, Shabib bin Abi Marthad al-Ghassani, al-Mustanir bin Abi Sa'sa'ah al-Khuza'i, Awanah bin Shammakh al-Juhani, Sa'd bin Malik al-Ansari, Sa'd bin Ubadah al-Ansari, Zayd bin Umayr, all the Nuqaba' (chiefs), a man of Quraysh, a man of Juhaynah and four men of the Ansar witnessed it, until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) handed this covenant to al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami and the Sword of Allah, Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with them all)."
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This letter is from Muhammad bin Abdullah, the unlettered Prophet, of Quraysh, of Banu Hashim, the Messenger of Allah and His Prophet to all creation, to al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami and the Muslims with him: a covenant that he (peace and blessings be upon him) has made with you.
O Muslims, fear Allah as much as you are able. I have appointed al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami as commander over you and have ordered him to fear Allah alone, who has no partner, to deal gently with you, to conduct himself among you in the best manner with truth, and to judge between you and the people he encounters according to the justice that Allah has revealed in His Book.
And I have ordered you to obey him as long as he does that, and when he distributes (wealth and the like) he does so justly, and when mercy is asked of him he shows mercy. So listen to him and obey, and support and help him well; for I have over you a great right and obedience that is due, the full worth of which you cannot appreciate, and no words can reach the depth of the greatness and right of Allah and His Messenger. Just as Allah and His Messenger have a binding right over people in general and over you in particular, so obedience to him and fulfilment of his covenant (is necessary).
And indeed the Muslims too owe their commanders a binding right and obedience. For in obedience lies the attainment of every good that is sought and deliverance from every evil that is guarded against. And I call Allah to witness against anyone whom I have made governor (ruler) over any matter of the Muslims, small or large, and who does not act justly among them: no obedience is owed to him, he will be considered removed from the post to which I appointed him, and the Muslims with him will be free of their obligation, their oaths and their covenant to him. At that point let them seek good from Allah Almighty (perform istikharah) and then appoint as their commander the one whom they find most excellent among themselves.
Take note: if some calamity (death or the like) befalls al-Ala', then Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him), the Sword of Allah among the Muslims, will be the successor of al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami; so listen to him too and obey as long as you see that he is upon the truth, until he deviates from the truth.
So go forth with the blessing of Allah, His help, support, well-being, guidance and enabling grace. Whomever of the people you meet, invite them to the revealed Book of Allah, to its ways and to the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and invite them to hold lawful what Allah has made lawful for them in His Book and to hold unlawful what He has made unlawful. And (tell them) to abandon all rivals and idols, to dissociate themselves from polytheism and disbelief, and to reject the worship of the Taghut, al-Lat and al-Uzza; and to abandon the worship of Isa son of Maryam, Uzayr, the angels, the sun, the moon, fire and everything that is taken as an object of worship besides Allah; to take Allah and His Messenger as their protector and friend, and to dissociate themselves from everything from which Allah and His Messenger have declared themselves free.
When they have done this, affirmed it and entered into allegiance, then make clear to them the rulings of this Book of Allah to which you are inviting them. For it is the divine Book revealed through the Trustworthy Spirit (Jibril, peace be upon him) to the chosen and elect one among all the worlds, Muhammad bin Abdullah, who is His servant, Messenger, Prophet and beloved, whom He sent as a mercy to all the worlds, whether white or black, human or jinn.
In this Book of Allah are recorded all the reports of those before you and all the events that will happen after you, so that it may be a barrier between people, through which Allah Almighty restrains some from (the evil of) others. This Book is the guardian (muhaymin) over all the previous Books and confirms what is in them of the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms. In it Allah Almighty tells you of the circumstances of your forefathers to whom the messengers and prophets of Allah came: what their response was, what the prophets were sent with, and whether they affirmed or denied the signs of Allah. Allah mentioned their condition and their deeds, and also those who perished because of their religion, so that you may avoid that and not do the like of it, lest there come upon you the punishment and wrath of Allah that came upon them because of their evil deeds.
The explanation of all these matters for you in this Book is out of mercy and compassion from your Lord. This Book is guidance out of misguidance, sight out of blindness, a steadying out of stumbling, deliverance from trial, light out of darkness, healing in times of calamity, protection from destruction, right guidance out of error, clarification out of doubt, and the decisive word between this world and the Hereafter. In it lies the perfection of your religion.
When you have presented this to them and they have affirmed it, complete the allegiance, and then present Islam (its other pillars) to them: that is, the five prayers, paying the zakah, Hajj to the House, fasting in Ramadan, the ritual bath (ghusl) from major impurity, purification before prayer, kindness to parents, upholding ties with Muslim relatives, and good treatment even of polytheist parents. When they have done this, they have become Muslims.
After that, invite them to faith (iman) and establish for them its laws and landmarks. Faith is to bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, that what Muhammad brought is the truth and everything besides it is falsehood; and to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, His prophets and the Last Day, as well as in the previous Books (the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms), the resurrection after death, the reckoning, Paradise, Hell, death and life; and to be sincere towards Allah, His Messenger and all the believers. When they have done this and affirmed it, they are Muslims and believers.
Then after that guide them to ihsan (excellence), and teach them that ihsan is that a person excels in what is between him and Allah in fulfilling the trust; fulfils His covenant which He took from His messengers, and the covenant of the messengers with the creation and with the leaders of the believers; adopts submission; keeps the Muslims safe from every harm of his tongue and hand; wishes for the rest of the Muslims what he wishes for himself; affirms the promises of the Lord, the meeting with Him and seeing Him; lives every moment in a state of bidding farewell to this world; takes account of himself at the close of every day and night; gathers provision (for the Hereafter) day and night; and safeguards all the obligations that Allah has made binding upon him, in private and in public. When they have done this, they are Muslims, believers and muhsinun (people of excellence).
Then explain the major sins to them, point them out, and warn them of perishing through the major sins. For the major sins are the ruinous sins:
1. The first of them is associating partners with Allah (indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him).
2. Sorcery (and the sorcerer has no share in the Hereafter).
3. Severing the ties of kinship (those upon whom is the curse of Allah).
4. Fleeing from the battlefield (he has returned with the wrath of Allah).
5. Embezzling from the spoils of war (he will come on the Day of Resurrection with what he embezzled, and it will not be accepted).
6. Unjustly killing a believing soul (whose recompense is Hell).
7. Slandering chaste women (they are cursed in this world and the Hereafter).
8. Consuming the wealth of the orphan (they fill their bellies with fire and will soon enter a blazing Fire).
9. Consuming usury (riba) (then take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger).
So when they refrain from the major sins, they are Muslims, believers, muhsinun and muttaqun (God-fearing). Then invite them in the same way to worship; and worship is: fasting, standing (in prayer), humility, submissiveness, bowing, prostration, inabah (turning to Allah), certainty, ikhbat (humbleness), tahlil (La ilaha illallah), tasbih, tahmid, takbir, general charity after the zakah, modesty, tranquillity, muwasat (sharing with others), supplication, earnest entreaty, acknowledging Allah's dominion and one's servitude, and regarding even an abundance of righteous deeds as little. When they have done this, they are believers, Muslims, muhsinun, muttaqun and worshippers.
And when they have completed the acts of worship, then invite them to jihad, explain it to them, and encourage them in what Allah has encouraged them in, namely the excellence of jihad and its reward with Allah. If they come forward, take their pledge, and invite them to pledge that they will remain upon the Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger. Upon you is the covenant and protection of Allah with seven guarantees (that is, Allah is guarantor of its fulfilment seven times) that you will not withdraw your hands from the pledge and will not break the command of any of the rulers of the Muslims.
When they affirm this, take their pledge and seek forgiveness from Allah for them. Then when they go out to fight in the path of Allah, out of anger for the sake of Allah and in support of His religion, let them invite whomever they meet to that to which they themselves were invited through the Book of Allah: accepting it, then its Islam, its faith, its ihsan, its taqwa, its worship and its jihad. Whoever follows them is one who is urged on and seeks more (of good), a Muslim, a believer, a muhsin, God-fearing, a worshipper and a mujahid; he has the same rights and duties as you. And whoever refuses you, fight them until they return to the command of Allah and to His religion.
Whomever you make a covenant with and give the protection of Allah, fulfil it for him; and whoever accepts Islam and shows his consent is of you and you are of him. Whoever fights you even after hearing all these things from you, fight him; whoever attacks you, wage war on him; whoever schemes against you, answer his scheming; whoever gathers against you, gather against him; whoever ambushes you, ambush him; or whoever deceives you, deceive him without transgressing; or whoever plots against you, plot against him without transgressing, whether in secret or in public! For whoever takes revenge after being wronged, there is no blame upon them.
And know that Allah is with you; He sees you and your deeds and knows everything you do. So fear Allah and be on your guard! This is a trust which my Lord has entrusted to me so that I may convey it to His servants, as an excuse from Him to them and as a proof from Him, by which I argue against everyone of the whole creation whom this letter reaches. So whoever acts upon the rulings in it is saved, whoever follows it is guided, whoever argues by it succeeds, whoever fights for it is helped, and whoever abandons it goes astray until he returns to it.
So learn what is in it, turn your ears to it, preserve it in your breasts and guard it with your hearts; for it is the light of the eyes, the spring of the hearts and a healing for what is in the breasts. And this suffices as a command, a lesson, a deterrent, an admonition and a caller to Allah and His Messenger; this is the good in which there is no evil.
This letter is from Muhammad, the servant of Allah and His Messenger and Prophet, to al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami when he was sent to al-Bahrayn to invite to Allah and His Messenger; he orders him to call to the lawful that is in it, to forbid the unlawful that is in it, to guide to the right guidance that is in it, and to forbid the error that is in it. This is a letter with which the Prophet of Allah entrusted al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami and his successor (deputy), the Sword of Allah, Khalid bin al-Walid; and he has left them, and the Muslims with them, no excuse through the instructions in this letter, and has given none of them, neither the rulers nor those ruled, any excuse for neglecting anything of it. So for anyone of the whole creation whom this letter reaches, no excuse or argument remains, nor will ignorance of the rulings of this letter be accepted as an excuse.
This letter was written on the 3rd of Dhu al-Qa'dah, two months before the completion of four years from the Hijrah of the Prophet. On the day it was written, Ibn Abi Sufyan wrote it, Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) dictating it to him, while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was seated; and al-Mukhtar bin Qays al-Qurashi, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman al-Absi, Qusayy bin Abi Umar al-Himyari, Shabib bin Abi Marthad al-Ghassani, al-Mustanir bin Abi Sa'sa'ah al-Khuza'i, Awanah bin Shammakh al-Juhani, Sa'd bin Malik al-Ansari, Sa'd bin Ubadah al-Ansari, Zayd bin Umayr, all the Nuqaba' (chiefs), a man of Quraysh, a man of Juhaynah and four men of the Ansar witnessed it, until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) handed this covenant to al-Ala' bin al-Hadrami and the Sword of Allah, Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with them all)."
