Ancients knew and recognised the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَسَلَّم at the end of times
foretold in their scriptures.
Caesar of Rome had
pictures of the great prophets including one of the last Prophet صَلَّى
اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم which
he showed to the companions of the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم.
--
Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas,
Allah's Apostle (sallallaho alaihi wasallam) wrote to Caesar and invited him to
Islam and sent him his letter with Diha AI-KaIbi whom Allah's Apostle
(sallallaho alaihi wasallam) ordered to hand it over to the Governor of Basra
who would forward it to Caesar.
Caesar as a sign of gratitude to God. had walked
from Hims to llya (i. e. Jerusalem) When Allah had granted him victory over the
Persian forces. So, when the letter of Allah's Apostle (sallallaho
alaihi wasallam) reached Caesar, he said after reading it, "Seek one of his followers present here,
in order to ask him about Allah's Apostle (sallallaho alaihi
wasallam)."
At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham
(Syria) with some men from Quraish who had come to Sham as merchants during the
truce that had been concl concluded between Allah's Apostle (sallallaho
alaihi wasallam) and the infidels of Quraish.
Abu Sufyan said," Caesar's
messenger found us somewhere in Sham, so he took me and my companions to llya
and we were admitted into Caesar's court to find him sitting in his Royal court
wearing a crown and surrounded by the senior dignitaries of the Byzantines.
He said to his translator: Ask
them who among them is a close relation to the man who claims to be a
Prophet."
Abu Sufyan added," I
replied, 'I am the nearest relative to him.'
He asked," What degree
of relationship do you have with him?"
I replied,' He is my cousin, and there was none of
Bani Abd Manaf in the caravan except myself.
Caesar said,' Let him come nearer.' He then ordered
that my companions stand behind me near my shoulder and said to his
translator,' Tell his companions that I am going to ask this man about the man
who claims to be a Prophet. If he tell"; a lie, they should contradict him
immediately.'
Abu Sufyan added," By
Allah! Had it not been shameful that my companions label me a liar, I would not
have spoken the truth about him when he asked me. But I considered it shameful
to be called a liar by my companions. So I told the truth. "
He then said to his translator. 'Ask him what kind of family does he belong to.'
I
replied," He belongs to a noble family amongst us."
Caesar Said, "Have
anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him?"
I replied, " No."
Caesar said," Had you
ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he claimed?"
I replied " No."
Caesar asked," Was any
body amongst his ancestors a king?"
I replied, " No."
Caesar asked, " Do the
noble or poor follow him?"
I replied, " It is the poor who follow
him."
Caesar asked, " Are
they increasing or decreasing (day by day)?"
I replied, "They are increasing."
Caesar asked, " Does
any body amongst those who embrace his (the Prophet's ) religion become
displeased and discard the religion?"
I replied. " No."
Caesar asked," Does he
break his promises?"
I replied, " No, but we are now at truce with
him and we are afraid that he may betray us."
Abu Sufyan added," other
than the last sentence, I could not say any thing against him (Muhammad)."
Caesar then asked, "
Have you ever had a war with him?"
I replied, "Yes."
Caesar asked, " What
was the outcome of your battles with him?"
I replied, " The result was unstable;
sometimes he was victorious and some-times we."
Caesar inquired," What
does he order you to do?"
I said, " He tells us to worship God alone and
not to seek partners with Him, and to leave all that our forefather's used to
worship. He orders us to pray, give in charity, be chaste, keep promises and
return what is entrusted to us."
When I had said that, Caesar said to his
translator,
"Say to him: I asked
you about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family.
In fact all the Apostles came from the
noblest lineage of their nations.
Then I questioned you whether anybody
else amongst you had claimed such a thing, and your reply was in the negative.
If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man
following a claim that had been said before him.
When I asked you whether he was ever
blamed for telling lies, your reply was in the negative, so I took it for
granted that a person who did not tell a lie about others could never tell a
lie about God.
Then I asked you whether any of his
ancestors was a king.
Your reply was in the negative, and if it
had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take
back his ancestral kingdom.
When I asked you whether the rich or the
poor people follow him, you replied that it was the poor who followed him. In
fact, such are the followers of the apostles.
Then I asked you whether his followers
were increasing or decreasing.
You replied that they were increasing. In
fact, this is the result of true faith till it is complete (in all respects).
I asked you whether there was anybody
who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his
religion; your reply was in the negative. In fact, this is the sign of true
faith, for when its cheerfulness enters and mixes in the hearts completely
nobody will be displeased with it.
I asked whether he had ever broken his
promise. You replied in the negative. And such are the apostles; they never
break their promises.
When I asked you whether you fought with
him and he fought with you, you replied that he did, and that sometimes he was
victorious and sometimes you. Indeed such are the apostles; they are put to
trials and the final victory is always theirs.
Then I asked you what he ordered you. You
replied that he ordered you to worship God alone and not to worship others
along with him, to leave all that your forefathers used to worship, to offer
prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises, and to return what
is entrusted to you.
These are really the qualities of a
prophet who I knew (from the previous Scripture) would appear, but I did not know that he would be from amongst you.
If what you say should be true, he will
very soon occupy the earth under my feet, and If
I knew that I would reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him;
and were I with him, then I would certainly wash his feet."
Abu Sufyan added Caesar then
asked for the letter of Allah's Apostle (sallallaho alaihi wasallam) and
it was read:
LETTER OF THE PROPHET
"In the name of Allah the most Beneficent
the most Merciful.
(This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of
Allah, and His Apostle to Hercules, the Ruler of the Byzantines.
Peace be upon
the followers of guidance.
Now then I
invite you to Islam (i.e. surrender to Allah), embrace Islam and you will be
safe; embrace Islam and Allah will bestow on you a double reward. But if you
reject this invitation of lslam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the
peasants (i. e. your nation).
0 people of the Scriptures! Come to an
agreement which is common between us and you, that we shall worship none but
Allah, and that we shall not worship others along with Him; and that none of us
shall take others for Lords instead of Allah (God). And if they turn away then
say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).
. . . (i.e. Muslims)
Abu Sufyan added, "When
Hercules had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused by the
Byzantinian Royalities surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did
not understand what they said.
We were ordered to be sent out of the court.
When I went out with my companions and we were
alone, I said to them, verily Ibn Abi Kabsha's (i. e. the Prophet's)
matter has gained power.
This is the king of Bani AI-Asfar (i. e. Hercules)
fearing him.' Abu Sufyan added: By Allah I remained low and was sure
that his religion would be victorious till Allah converted me to Islam, though
(before) I disliked it" (Bukhari)
The above historical event leads us to the
following conclusions:
Other nations were waiting the appearance of the
Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wasallam) who was to be sent towards the mankind. His qualities, habits, teachings, and his person
were so much described in the Old Scriptures, that left no doubt as to the
universality of his prophet-hood.
Caesar's queries to Abu Sufyan were simply
verification of facts mentioned in the Scriptures.
After hearing Abu Sufyan, he
was completely satisfied as to the appearance of the Prophet and openly
declared his intention to serve him. The prophecy of the Old Scriptures that the Prophet
will certainly occupy the land the then under the feet of Hercules, did happen
and the Muslims occupied the entire land under Byzantine kingdom.
The great hue and cry of the Byzantinian Royalities
was due to the fact, that they and others considered Arabs as a degenerated
nation, so they disliked the kings announcement raising their voices for
expressing their dissatisfaction.
---
---
Sahih
Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 1, Number 6 :
Narrated
by 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas
[...]
Heraclius then
asked for the letter addressed by Allah's Apostle which was delivered by Dihya
to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read.
The
contents of the letter were as follows: "In
the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad
the slave of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace
be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and
if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and
if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by
misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:)
'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship
none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none
of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say:
Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).'
(3:64).
Abu Sufyan then added, "When Heraclius
had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was a great hue and cry
in the Royal Court.
So
we were turned out of the court. I told my companions that the question of
Ibn-Abi-Kabsha) (the Prophet Muhammad) has become so prominent that even the
King of Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) is afraid of him. Then I started to become
sure that he (the Prophet) would be the conqueror in the near future till I
embraced Islam (i.e. Allah guided me to it)."
The
sub narrator adds, "Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of llya' (Jerusalem) and
Heraclius was the head of the Christians of Sham.
Ibn
An-Natur narrates that once while Heraclius was visiting ilya' (Jerusalem), he
got up in the morning with a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him why he was
in that mood? Heraclius was a foreteller and an astrologer. He replied, 'At
night when I looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice
circumcision had appeared (become the conqueror). Who are they who practice
circumcision?' The people replied, 'Except the Jews nobody practices
circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews). 'Just Issue orders to
kill every Jew present in the country.' While they were discussing it, a
messenger sent by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of Allah's Apostle to
Heraclius was brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the
people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The
people, after seeing him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius
then asked him about the Arabs. The messenger replied, 'Arabs also practice
circumcision.' (After hearing that) Heraclius remarked that sovereignty of the
'Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who
was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left for Homs. (a town in
Syrian and stayed there till he received the reply of his letter from his
friend who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet
and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that Heraclius invited all the heads of
the Byzantines to assemble in his palace at Homs.
When
they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he
came out and said, 'O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek
right guidance and want your empire to remain then give a pledge of allegiance
to this Prophet (i.e. embrace Islam).' (On hearing the views of Heraclius) the
people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors
closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost the hope
of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in
audience. (When they returned) he said, 'What already said was just to test the
strength of your conviction and I have seen it.' The people prostrated before
him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of Heraclius's story (in
connection with his faith).
--
WARQUA BIN NAUFIL AND THE PROPHET
(SALLALLAHO ALAIHI WASALLAM)
Syed Muhammad Badar Alam
a famous Medinite scholoar referring to tradition reported in 'Bukhari',
in his Book' Tarjuman al Su-nnah' writes:
"Warqua Bin Naufil a
famous Christian Priest among Arab, after hearing the detail as to how the
Prophet gets the revelation through angel Gabriel, from Khadija, the first
mother of the faithful, said,
"He is the angel who was sent to the
Prophet Moses, would that had I been young in the time of your Prophet-hood,
would that had I been alive when your people would turn you out (of Mecca). The
Prophet inquired,' My people will turn me out.' He said 'Yes.'
The aforesaid Scholar mentioned, "this proved
that people were well informed not only about the advent of the Prophet
(sallallaho alaihi wasallam) but also of the events of his future life (through
the Old Scriptures). The said Christian Priest described the incoming event of the
Prophet's emigration, as if it was definite in happening, and it did happen.'
KING HERCULES & THE MUSLIM ENVOY
"Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet
who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and
the Gospel (which are) with them.". . . . .(7/157)
Ibn Kathir in his Book of
Tafsir, giving the explanatory notes of the above revelation quoted historical
evidence on the Universal Prophet-Hood of Muhammad (sallallaho alaihi
wasallam).
He writes: "AI-Hakim in his Book 'AL-Mustadrak'
mentioning the chain of narrators quoted from Hisham bin AI-Aas having
said," I and one another man were sent as envoy to Hercules, the Roman
Ruler to invite him to Islam. We reached Ghauta (Damascus).
ablah AI-Ghassani the Governor invited us to have a
talk with him.
'We asserted that if you allowed us to appear
before the King, we would talk with you otherwise not. ‘He promised and I
invited him to Islam. The Governor was wearing a black dress."
Hisham asked the Governor,
'Why are you wearing the black dress. He replied, ' I have worn it taking oath
that I will not put it off till I oust all of you from Syria. '
Hisham said, ' By God we
shall occupy all this territory, not only this but if God wishes, also the
country of your King and our Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wasallam) prophesied
for it.'
He said, ' You are not among those people, the
people who will take this country from us they observe fast during the day and
pray during the night. How do you observe fast?'
Hisham said, 'we informed him of our fast.
Immediately after hearing us his face blackened with disappointment. He asked
us to get up and sent a messenger with us to the King.'
When we reached to the city, we were told that our
camels cannot enter this city, if we wished, we could be given horses or mules,
We refused and told them that we would not enter the city except on these
animals.
The King was informed that the envoy refused to
leave their camels. The King allowed and we entered the city riding on our
mounts and with swords hanging on our sides, till we reached his 'Divan', and
he was watching us. We knelt down our camels and raised a slogan 'There is
no God but He alone, and He is the Greatest! We felt as if our slogan
caused a tremor and 'Divan' was trembling like a cluster of dates quivered by
air. He sent us words that we should not proclaim our religion like that and
called us in. We entered and found him on a bed surrounded by Roman Patriarchs.
Everything around him was red and he was dressed in
red, we came close to him.
He laughed and said', "Why you didn't offer
your compliments as you do among yourselves? "
He had a very good Arabic translator.
We said, "We don't deem it proper to offer you
our specific salutations, and your way of salutation doesn't suit us."
He inquired, “How do you offer salutations among
yourselves?"
We said, "We say peace be on you."
He said, " How do you salute your king?"
We said, "In the same manner."
He
inquired, " How does he reply? "
We said, “With the same words."
He asked. " What is your specific slogan."
We raised our voices, 'There is no God but He
alone He is the Greatest.
When we said the 'Divan' shook again and he raised
up his head and asked, “When you say these words in your houses, do they
tremble?"
We said,. "We never saw it happening except at
your place."
He said, ' I wish would that everything got shaken
from this slogan, and it would have made to forsake half of my country, and
half remained for me."
We said, "Why do you so desire?"
He said,
" It is better than the prophet-hood may get firm among the people."
Then he asked us the purpose of our visit. We
informed him of our; mission to call him to Islam.
He questioned, " How do you observe ' fast and
offer your prayers."
We explained to him. He stayed us in a beautiful
house for three days.
After three days he called us in the night. When we
appeared before him, he again asked us our purpose.
We repeated what we had said.
Then he asked for
something with gold engravings (like a big cup-board) which had holes, and the
(small) opening of each hole had a door and lock. He unlocked a door and took
out a black rolled silken cloth, when he unrolled it we found sketched on it a
red picture.
This was the picture of a man having big eyes,
heavy thy and such a long neck which we had never seen before, with beard and
long beautiful hairs parted in two.
He (Hercules) asked us if we knew him. We said,
"No." He said, “This is Adam."
He had a lot of hair on his body"
He opened another lock, and took out a cloth of
black silk, on it was the picture of a man of white complexion, curly hair, red
ball eyes, big head and a beautiful beard.
He said, "Do you know him?" We replied in
negative. He said, "This is the picture of Noah."
Having
unlocked another door he took out a picture sketched on black silk, of a very
white man, beautiful eyes, broad forehead, big cheeks, white beard and smiling
face.
He asked us, if we knew him. We replied in the
negative. He said: This is Abraham."
He opened another door, we found in it a
white picture, and By God it was the picture of our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaho alaihi wasallam).
He asked us about it and we said it was
the picture of our Prophet, and looking at it our eyes filled with tears.
He said, "God knows, he is Muhammad,
the Prophet: 'Then he stood and sat (as if perturbed), inquiringly he again
asked us," Is he the same man?"
We said yes "He is our Prophet"(sallallaho alaihi wasallam).
He gazed on the picture for a little
while and said, "This was the last one, but I placed it before you
hastily, to test your integrity."
He uncovered another picture drawn on black silk,
brownish complexion, soft face with curly hair, deep sharp eyes, irascible
face, well set teeth and fat lips.
He asked us if we knew him. We replied in the
negative. He said that was Moses.
There was another picture by its side which has
some resemblance with the first picture, but it had oiled and combed hair, and
broad forehead, he asked if we knew him. We said, "No."
He said, " He is Aaron son of Imran'.
'Opening another door he took out white silk, on it
was a picture of brown colour, of medium height, straight hair, and choleric
face. He asked us if we knew him. He
told it was Lut.
He opened another door and took out on white silk,
the picture of a man nearly white complexion, with a deep red beautiful face
with light cheeks, he asked us if we knew him. We said, "No."
He told us'.he was Isaac'.'
Taking out another white silk, he showed us a
picture resembling Isaac, except on its lip was a mole. He asked us if we knew
him. we said, "No." He said he was Jacob.
Opening
another door he took out on a black silk, the picture of a man of white
complexion, beautiful solemn face with a reddish nose, of good stature. He
asked us if we knew him. We said, "No."He said
he was Ismail, the ancestor of your Prophet.
Opening
another door he took out a picture of a man on white silk, resembling to Adam,
with a sunny face. He asked us if we knew him. We said, "No." He said, "This is Joseph."
Opening
another door he took out a picture of a man on white silk of red complexion,
thick shins, small eyes and of medium height, with a hanging sword. He asked us
if we knew him. We said, "No." He said he was David.
Opening another hole, he took out a picture of a
man on white silk, with heavy thies long legs, mounted on a horse. He asked us
if we knew him. We replied in negative. He said that was Soloman son of David.
Opening another hole he unfolded a black silk on it
was white picture of a young man, with a black beard and thick hair. He asked
us if we knew him. We said, "No." He said, "This is Jesus Christ."
We asked him, "How did he get these
pictures?"
We got sure that these pictures would certainly
have been of the prophets, as we had found the picture of our prophet.
He said, "Adam
requested God to show him the pictures of the prophets in his descent, so God
sent him the pictures. Adam
preserved them in the west of his Kingdom. Zulqarnain got them and it were passed on to
'Daniel".
Then he said, He wanted to leave his country and
enslave himself to any one lowest among us, till he died.
He departed us very honourably giving us presents
and arranged our return journey.
When we came back to the first Califh Abu Bakar
(radiallah-anho), we narrated (the entire event) i.e. what we were told and
what we were shown, and what was presented to us. His eyes filled with
tears, and said, "Had Allah willed, He would have certainly guided
him."
A similar event has been reported with King
Maquqas of Egypt and Mughira bin Shoba, wherein King Maquqas asked
many questions and after getting satisfied he also testified that Muhammad
(sallallaho alaihi wasallam) is the true Prophet for whom Jesus Christ had
given glad tidings and ordered to follow him.
Imam Bukhari in his Book of 'History' reported,
'narrated
Jubair that when he reached Basra he met some Christian
Priests who took him to a church and showed him the picture of the Prophet.
Jubair
confirmed them that it was the picture of the Prophet Muhammad
(sallallaho alaihi wasallam).
The Christian Priest also told him that
after every prophet there came some prophet but after Muhammad there would not
be any prophet.'
History recorded other similar events all prove
that the advent of the Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wasallam) was well
renowned throughout the Christian and Jewish world.
They not only had undeniable signs told by the
prophet of their times, but also they had pictures of the Prophet
(sallallaho alaihi wasallam) which left them no place to carry any doubt as to
his great personality.
That is the reason that the Holy Quran lays down:
"Those unto whom we gave the
Scripture recognise him (Muhammad) as they recognise their sons."
---
(Edited by ADHM)
