Authored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (ḥafiẓahullāh)
It is narrated that when Hazrat Dihyah al-Kalbī returned after delivering the letter of the Prophet ﷺ to the Roman Emperor (Caesar), messengers arrived from the governor of Ṣanʿāʼ (Yemen) who was under Kisra (the Persian emperor). Kisra had written a harsh and threatening letter to the governor of Ṣanʿāʼ, ordering:
“Eliminate this man (i.e., the Prophet ﷺ) who has appeared in your region and who dares invite me to accept his religion or to pay jizyah (tribute). If you do not kill him, I will kill you and deal with you severely.”
In compliance, the governor sent 25 men to approach the Prophet ﷺ. When Hazrat Dihyah returned, he found these emissaries already present with the Prophet ﷺ.
After their representative read the letter to the Prophet ﷺ, he remained silent for fifteen days. Once this period had passed, they appeared again before the Prophet ﷺ. Upon seeing them, the Prophet ﷺ summoned them and said:
“Go and inform your governor that tonight, my Lord has killed his lord.”
The messengers returned and narrated the entire incident to their governor, who then told them:
“Note the exact date of that night,”
and asked,
“What kind of man did you find him (i.e., the Prophet ﷺ) to be?”
They replied:
“We have never seen a more blessed king than him. He walks freely among the people without fear. His clothing is plain and modest. He has no guards or sentinels. No one raises their voice in his presence.”
Hazrat Dihyah reports that soon afterward, news arrived confirming that Kisra was killed precisely on the night foretold by the Prophet ﷺ.
Status of the chain: ✖ Weak (Ḍaʿīf)
✔ Al-Haythamī in Majmaʿ al-Zawā’id (Vol. 5, p. 309, Book of Jihād, Ḥadīth no. 9591) says:
“This was narrated by al-Bazzār (no. 2374). The chain includes:
Ibrāhīm ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Yaḥyā ibn Salamah, who narrates from his father—both are weak narrators.”
Hence, the narration is not authentic due to the presence of weak narrators in its chain.
❖ The Incident: Kisra’s Threat and the Prophet’s ﷺ Prophecy
It is narrated that when Hazrat Dihyah al-Kalbī returned after delivering the letter of the Prophet ﷺ to the Roman Emperor (Caesar), messengers arrived from the governor of Ṣanʿāʼ (Yemen) who was under Kisra (the Persian emperor). Kisra had written a harsh and threatening letter to the governor of Ṣanʿāʼ, ordering:
“Eliminate this man (i.e., the Prophet ﷺ) who has appeared in your region and who dares invite me to accept his religion or to pay jizyah (tribute). If you do not kill him, I will kill you and deal with you severely.”
In compliance, the governor sent 25 men to approach the Prophet ﷺ. When Hazrat Dihyah returned, he found these emissaries already present with the Prophet ﷺ.
After their representative read the letter to the Prophet ﷺ, he remained silent for fifteen days. Once this period had passed, they appeared again before the Prophet ﷺ. Upon seeing them, the Prophet ﷺ summoned them and said:
“Go and inform your governor that tonight, my Lord has killed his lord.”
The messengers returned and narrated the entire incident to their governor, who then told them:
“Note the exact date of that night,”
and asked,
“What kind of man did you find him (i.e., the Prophet ﷺ) to be?”
They replied:
“We have never seen a more blessed king than him. He walks freely among the people without fear. His clothing is plain and modest. He has no guards or sentinels. No one raises their voice in his presence.”
Hazrat Dihyah reports that soon afterward, news arrived confirming that Kisra was killed precisely on the night foretold by the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Ḥadīth Authentication:
Status of the chain: ✖ Weak (Ḍaʿīf)
✔ Al-Haythamī in Majmaʿ al-Zawā’id (Vol. 5, p. 309, Book of Jihād, Ḥadīth no. 9591) says:
“This was narrated by al-Bazzār (no. 2374). The chain includes:
Ibrāhīm ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Yaḥyā ibn Salamah, who narrates from his father—both are weak narrators.”
Hence, the narration is not authentic due to the presence of weak narrators in its chain.
