Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
As the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had said, so it happened.
Both Persia and Rome were conquered by the Muslims, and their treasures came entirely into the hands of the Muslims.
The prophecy was fulfilled word for word.
From that day until today, Persia has remained under the dominion of the Muslims.
The Messenger of Allah spoke the truth.

Hadith Commentary:
What the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said was proven to be true word for word, as history bears witness.

In the narration, by Ibn Shihab is meant the famous Tabi‘i, Imam al-Zuhri, who was from the lineage of Zuhrah ibn Kilab, and for this reason he was called al-Zuhri. His kunya was Abu Bakr and his name was Muhammad. He was the son of Abdullah ibn Shihab.

Some hadith deniers, such as Tamanna Imadi and others, have denied that he was from the lineage of Zuhrah ibn Kilab, which is completely incorrect; in reality, he was indeed al-Zuhri.

He was a great hadith scholar and jurist, a venerable Tabi‘i, and an imam in the sciences of the Shari‘ah. Among his students were many of the leading imams of hadith.

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz rahimahullah said, “In my time, I have not found anyone more learned than him.”

He passed away in the month of Ramadan in the year 124 AH.

Rahimahullah rahmatan wasi‘ah. Amin.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
“Kisra” was the title of the king of Persia, while the king of Rome was called “Qaisar.”
➋
When the Quraysh embraced Islam, they expressed concern that their trade with Iraq and Syria would come to an end due to their acceptance of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) encouraged them by saying:
“There will no longer be the rule of Kisra and Qaisar in Iraq and Syria.” Accordingly, during the era of Umar (radi Allahu anhu), the rule of Kisra was wiped off the face of the earth, because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had supplicated against him, that his kingdom would be shattered and come to an end.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Maghazi, Hadith: 4424)
Similarly, Qaisar also fled from Syria after being defeated.
In any case, the rule of both of them came to an end, and their treasures were spent in the military expeditions.
➌
This was also a prophecy of the unseen which was fulfilled word for word.
Their awe and grandeur were reduced to dust, and Islam was elevated.
This is a miracle of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and a proof of his prophethood.
And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
This prophecy of the Noble Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was fulfilled word for word: the ancient Persian empire came to an end, and Islam prevailed there forever.
The same occurred in Syria.
What is meant is that their treasures came into the hands of the Muslims and those treasures were distributed in the way of Allah (fi sabilillah).

Explanation of the Hadith:

Kisra was the title of the king of Iran; whoever ruled over the empire of Iran was called "Kisra." Similarly, Qaysar was the title of the ruler of Rome. Just as in the time of Sayyiduna Musa alayhis salam, whoever assumed power was called "Fir‘awn" (Pharaoh). Likewise, the king of Abyssinia was titled "Najashi." In this hadith, along with the mention of Kisra being torn apart, there is also mention of the destruction of Qaysar. However, Imam Baghawi rahimahullah has mentioned in his book "Sharh al-Sunnah" a hadith in which it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "I wrote a letter to the king of Iran inviting him to Islam, but the king of Iran tore up that letter." Similarly, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam wrote a letter to the king of Rome. He looked at the letter with respect and placed it in musk. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "He has preserved his kingdom." That is, he kept it intact. [شرح السنة: 310/13]

From this hadith, it is clearly established that the kingdom of the king of Rome was preserved, whereas from the aforementioned hadith in the Sahifah, according to the statement of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the destruction of Qaysar is known. In this regard, there appears to be an apparent contradiction between the two aforementioned hadiths.

Imam Baghawi rahimahullah, regarding the resolution of this contradiction, states: The reconciliation between the two hadiths is possible in this way: the entire kingdom of Kisra was annihilated, and control over that land came into the hands of the Muslims, and the treasures of that country were spent in the way of Allah, whereas the dominion of Qaysar (the king of Rome) remained, but was also annihilated, and the treasures of that kingdom were also spent in the way of Allah.

Now, in this case, the meaning of «لَا يَكُوْنُ قَيْصَرُ بَعْدَهُ» will be that no Qaysar will be (born) in the land of Sham (Greater Syria). And the words of the hadith narrated in "Sharh al-Sunnah," "thabata mulkahu," will mean "he preserved his kingship over the land of Rome." [شرح السنة: 310/13]

Similarly, Imam Nawawi rahimahullah has written in "Sharh Muslim": "By the supplication of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Kisra was destroyed and all his kingship and dominion on the face of the earth was torn apart and annihilated, whereas the kingship and dominion of Qaysar was annihilated from the land of Sham. From this, the Muslims benefited in that they entered the cities of Qaysar and Kisra and conquered them, and the public treasuries of these governments were spent in the way of Allah, just as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had foretold. This is considered among the manifest miracles of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam." [شرح صحيح مسلم، للنووي: 766/5]

The war is "khud‘ah"—"a means of deception, a tool of trickery":

There are five qira’at (recitations) in the reading of the word «خُدْعَة».
➊ «خَدْعَةٌ» ➋ «خُدْعَةٌ» ➌ «خُدَعَةٌ» ➍ «خَدَعَةٌ» ➎ «خِدْعَةٌ»

It has been said regarding the round (ta marbuta) at the end of this word that it indicates singularity; therefore, during war, Muslims should certainly deceive the disbelievers at least once, so that the Muslims may prevail, and at the same time, Muslims are warned that the disbelieving nation will certainly be deceived at least once. «والله اعلم بالصواب»

Khud‘ah: ........
To express something with the tongue contrary to what is hidden in the heart, in order to keep someone unaware of the reality of the situation.

Whereas some people have interpreted khud‘ah to mean wisdom. Therefore, according to them, war is the name of strategy. In the entire text of this hadith, there is a prophecy of the dominance of the people of Islam over the lands of Qaysar and Kisra. It should be noted that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made this statement with his blessed tongue on the occasion of the Battle of Khandaq (the Trench). Moreover, this prophecy is also established from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam on other occasions.

In Musnad Ahmad, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ radi Allahu anhu: During the digging at the Battle of Khandaq, a very hard rock appeared, from which the pickaxe would rebound, and nothing could be moved from its place. Bara’ radi Allahu anhu says: We complained about this to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. So he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam immediately came there, took the pickaxe in his hand, called out "Bismillah," struck a powerful blow, and said: "Allahu Akbar! The keys of the kingdom of Sham have been given to me." That is, a part of the kingdom of Qaysar. "By Allah! At this moment, I am seeing the red palaces of that place." Then, striking a second time, another part broke off, and he said: "Allahu Akbar! Persia has been shown to me. By Allah! At this moment, I am seeing the white palace of Mada’in." Then, saying "Bismillah," he struck a third time, and the remaining rock was shattered, and he said: "Allahu Akbar! The keys of Yemen have been given to me. By Allah! At this moment, I am seeing the gates of Sana’a from my place." Similarly, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, on the occasion of the Battle of Khandaq, described war as "a means of deception." That is, a man from the tribe of Ghatafan, whose name was Nu‘aym ibn Mas‘ud ibn ‘Amir al-Ashja‘i, came to the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have accepted Islam, and my tribe is unaware of my acceptance of Islam. Therefore (if you wish, take advantage of this), issue a command for me so that I may fulfill it." (After this, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told him some confidential matters, then said:) "Al-harbu khud‘ah"—"War is but deception." From the above hadith, it is understood that on any occasion of war, it is permissible to outwit the opposing party with strategy. However, Imam Nawawi rahimahullah has discussed this in detail. He says: The scholars are of the opinion that it is permissible to deceive the opposing party on any occasion of war. Deception is general; there is no specification. However, if there is an expectation of breach of covenant in the deception, or there is a fear of sabotaging someone’s security, then deception is absolutely not permissible. (As the battles of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum bear witness to this.) The upshot is that, except for breach of covenant, every kind of stratagem may be employed against the opposing party. [فتح الباري: 168/6]

Benefit:
In this hadith, there is a great proof of the truth of Islam: just as the Leader of the Prophets (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, it happened exactly so—Caesar and Chosroes were destroyed, and after them, there has never been another Caesar or Chosroes, nor will there be until the Day of Resurrection.

Qadi Iyad (rahimahullah) says that there will be no Chosroes in Iraq and no Caesar in Syria, as there was during the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Thus, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) foretold the end of the rule of both, and it happened exactly as he said. The matter of Chosroes was completely finished, and his kingdom was shattered into pieces. As for Caesar, he left Syria and entered his city Constantinople; his cities were also conquered, and all his treasures came into the possession of the Muslims, just as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had informed. (Ikmal al-‘Ilm 8/230)

The details regarding Caesar have been mentioned by Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) in al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah (4/71–73). Also see (Tarikh al-Islam Sindhi: 2/511–512).