Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) related to him face to face that during the period that was fixed between me and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (i.e., the period of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah), I was in the land of Syria when a letter from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was brought to Heraclius, the king of Rome, which Dihyah Kalbi had brought. He gave it to the chief of Busra, and the chief of Busra gave it to Heraclius. Heraclius asked, "Is there anyone here from the people of this man who claims to be a prophet?" The people said, "Yes." Abu Sufyan said, "I was called along with some men from Quraysh." We reached Heraclius, and he made us sit before him and asked, "Who among you is closest in lineage to this man who claims to be a prophet?" Abu Sufyan said, "I am." (Heraclius asked this because the one closest in lineage would know more about the Prophet's condition than others.) Then he made me sit in front of him and my companions behind me. After that, he called his interpreter (who would explain the language of people from other countries to the king) and said to him, "Tell these people that I will ask this man (i.e., Abu Sufyan) about the man who claims to be a prophet. If he lies, then you all should declare his lie." Abu Sufyan said, "By Allah, if I had not feared that I would be accused of lying (and be disgraced), I would have lied (because I was hostile to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him)." Then Heraclius said to his interpreter, "Ask him about this man (i.e., Muhammad), what is his lineage (i.e., family) like?" Abu Sufyan said, "His lineage among us is very noble." Heraclius asked, "Has there been any king among his ancestors?" I said, "No." Heraclius said, "Before his claim (to prophethood), did you ever hear him tell a lie?" I said, "No." Heraclius said, "Well! Do the prominent people follow him or the poor?" I said, "The poor follow him." Heraclius said, "Are his followers increasing or decreasing?" I said, "They are increasing." Heraclius said, "Has anyone among his followers, after embracing his religion, disliked it and left it?" I said, "No." Heraclius said, "Have you fought with him?" I said, "Yes." Heraclius said, "How has your fighting with him been (i.e., who prevails)?" I said, "Our fighting with him is like a bucket (being drawn from a well), sometimes this way, sometimes that way (i.e., sometimes we win, sometimes they win). They harm us, and we harm them." Heraclius said, "Does he break his agreements?" I said, "No. But now there is a truce between us and him for a certain period. Let's see what he does in it." (i.e., perhaps in the future he may break the treaty.) Abu Sufyan said, "By Allah, except for this statement, I did not find any opportunity to insert anything from myself (so out of enmity, I exaggerated that perhaps in this period of truce he may deceive)." Heraclius said, "Has anyone before him (in his people or country) claimed prophethood?" I said, "No." Then Heraclius said to his interpreter, "Tell this man, i.e., Abu Sufyan, that I asked you about his lineage, and you said his lineage is very noble, and this is the way of the prophets; they are always born in the noblest families of their people. Then I asked you if there was any king among his ancestors, and you said no. I asked this because if there had been a king among his ancestors, it could be thought that he wanted to reclaim his forefathers' kingdom. And I asked you whether the prominent people or the poor follow him, and you said the poor, and it is always the case that (in the beginning) the poor follow the prophets. (Because prominent people feel ashamed to obey someone, but the poor do not.) And I asked you if you had ever seen him lie before his claim to prophethood, and you said no. From this, I deduced that it is not possible that he would not lie to people but would lie against Allah (by making a false claim). And I asked you if anyone, after embracing his religion, disliked it and left it, and you said no. And when faith enters the heart, it is just like that. And I asked you whether his followers are increasing or decreasing, and you said they are increasing, and this is the state of faith until it is complete (and after perfection, if it decreases, there is no harm). And I asked you if you fight with him, and you said we fight, and our fighting is equal, like a bucket, sometimes this way, sometimes that way. You harm them, and they harm you, and this is how the prophets are tested (so that they may be rewarded for their patience and suffering, and the ranks of their followers may be raised), but in the end, they prevail. And I asked you if he deceives, and you said he does not deceive, and this is the state of the prophets; they do not deceive (i.e., break their covenants). And I asked you if anyone before him claimed prophethood, and you said no. I asked this because if someone before him had made such a claim, it could be thought that this man is following him." Then Heraclius said, "What does he command you to do?" I said, "He commands us to pray, to give zakat, to maintain good relations with relatives, and to avoid bad deeds." Heraclius said, "If what you say about him is true, then surely he is a prophet, and (because of reading previous scriptures) I knew that a prophet would appear, but I did not think he would appear among you people. And if I thought I could reach him, I would like to meet him. (In the narration of Bukhari, it is mentioned: 'I would go to him even if I had to undergo hardship.') And if I were with him, I would wash his feet, and surely his kingdom will reach the place where my two feet are now." Then Heraclius called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and read it. It was written in it: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the Messenger of Allah, to Heraclius, the chief of Rome. Peace be upon him who follows guidance. After that, I invite you to Islam. Accept Islam, and you will be safe (i.e., your kingdom, life, and honor will all be safe and protected). Accept Islam, and Allah will give you a double reward. If you turn away, then the sin of the Arians will also be upon you. O People of the Book! Come to a word that is just between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. If they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who submit to Allah)." (Surah Al-Imran: 64) Then when Heraclius finished reading the letter, the voices of the people were raised, and there was much commotion, and we were expelled. Abu Sufyan said, "I said to my companions, 'The son of Abu Kabsha (i.e., Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) has gained great status; even the king of Bani Asfar (Romans) fears him.' Abu Sufyan said, 'From that day, I was sure that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would be successful and dominant, until Allah made me a Muslim as well.'"