Sahih al-Bukhari — Fighting for the Cause of Allah

Narrated Anas:(Wearing of silk) was allowed to them (i.e. `AbdurRahman and Az-Zubair) because of the itching they suffered from

حدثني محمد بن بشار، حدثنا غندر، حدثنا شعبة، سمعت قتادة، عن انس، رخص او رخص لحكة بهما

Narrated Umaiya Ad-Damri:I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) eating of a shoulder (of a sheep) by cutting from it and then he was called to prayer and he prayed without repeating his ablution. Narrated Az-Zuhri: as above (Hadith No. 173...) and added that the Prophet (ﷺ) put the knife down

حدثنا عبد العزيز بن عبد الله، قال حدثني ابراهيم بن سعد، عن ابن شهاب، عن جعفر بن عمرو بن امية، عن ابيه، قال رايت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ياكل من كتف يحتز منها، ثم دعي الى الصلاة فصلى ولم يتوضا. حدثنا ابو اليمان اخبرنا شعيب عن الزهري وزاد فالقى السكين

Narrated Khalid bin Madan:That 'Umair bin Al-Aswad Al-Ansi told him that he went to 'Ubada bin As-Samit while he was staying in his house at the sea-shore of Hims with (his wife) Um Haram. 'Umair said. Um Haram informed us that she heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Paradise is granted to the first batch of my followers who will undertake a naval expedition." Um Haram added, I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will I be amongst them?' He replied, 'You are amongst them.' The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, 'The first army amongst' my followers who will invade Caesar's City will be forgiven their sins.' I asked, 'Will I be one of them, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?' He replied in the negative

حدثني اسحاق بن يزيد الدمشقي، حدثنا يحيى بن حمزة، قال حدثني ثور بن يزيد، عن خالد بن معدان، ان عمير بن الاسود العنسي، حدثه انه، اتى عبادة بن الصامت وهو نازل في ساحل حمص، وهو في بناء له ومعه ام حرام، قال عمير فحدثتنا ام حرام انها سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول " اول جيش من امتي يغزون البحر قد اوجبوا ". قالت ام حرام قلت يا رسول الله انا فيهم. قال " انت فيهم ". ثم قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم " اول جيش من امتي يغزون مدينة قيصر مغفور لهم ". فقلت انا فيهم يا رسول الله. قال " لا

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews until some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O `Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him

حدثنا اسحاق بن محمد الفروي، حدثنا مالك، عن نافع، عن عبد الله بن عمر رضى الله عنهما ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " تقاتلون اليهود حتى يختبي احدهم وراء الحجر فيقول يا عبد الله هذا يهودي ورايي فاقتله

Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him

حدثنا اسحاق بن ابراهيم، اخبرنا جرير، عن عمارة بن القعقاع، عن ابي زرعة، عن ابي هريرة رضى الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " لا تقوم الساعة حتى تقاتلوا اليهود حتى يقول الحجر وراءه اليهودي يا مسلم، هذا يهودي ورايي فاقتله

Narrated `Amr bin Taghlib:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "One of the portents of the Hour is that you will fight with people wearing shoes made of hair; and one of the portents of the Hour is that you will fight with broad-faced people whose faces will look like shields coated with leather

حدثنا ابو النعمان، حدثنا جرير بن حازم، قال سمعت الحسن، يقول حدثنا عمرو بن تغلب، قال قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم " ان من اشراط الساعة ان تقاتلوا قوما ينتعلون نعال الشعر، وان من اشراط الساعة ان تقاتلوا قوما عراض الوجوه، كان وجوههم المجان المطرقة

Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Turks; people with small eyes, red faces, and flat noses. Their faces will look like shields coated with leather. The Hour will not be established till you fight with people whose shoes are made of hair

حدثنا سعيد بن محمد، حدثنا يعقوب، حدثنا ابي، عن صالح، عن الاعرج، قال قال ابو هريرة رضى الله عنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " لا تقوم الساعة حتى تقاتلوا الترك صغار الاعين، حمر الوجوه، ذلف الانوف، كان وجوههم المجان المطرقة، ولا تقوم الساعة حتى تقاتلوا قوما نعالهم الشعر

Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established till you fight with people wearing shoes made of hair. And the Hour will not be established till you fight with people whose faces look like shields coated with leather. " (Abu Huraira added, "They will be) small-eyed, flat nosed, and their faces will look like shields coated with leather

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله، حدثنا سفيان، قال الزهري عن سعيد بن المسيب، عن ابي هريرة رضى الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " لا تقوم الساعة حتى تقاتلوا قوما نعالهم الشعر، ولا تقوم الساعة حتى تقاتلوا قوما كان وجوههم المجان المطرقة ". قال سفيان وزاد فيه ابو الزناد عن الاعرج عن ابي هريرة، رواية " صغار الاعين، ذلف الانوف، كان وجوههم المجان المطرقة

Narrated Abu 'Is-haq:A man asked Al-Bara', "O Abu '`Umara! Did you all flee on the day (of the battle) of Hunain?" He replied, "No, by Allah! Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not flee, but his young unarmed companions passed by the archers of the tribe of Hawazin and Bani Nasr whose arrows hardly missed a target, and they threw arrows at them hardly missing a shot. So the Muslims retreated towards the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was riding his white mule which was being led by his cousin Abu Sufyan bin Al-Harith bin `Abdul Muttalib. The Prophet (ﷺ) dismounted and invoked Allah for victory; then he said, 'I am the Prophet, without a lie; I am the son of `Abdul Muttalib, and then he arranged his companions in rows

حدثنا عمرو بن خالد، حدثنا زهير، حدثنا ابو اسحاق، قال سمعت البراء، وساله، رجل اكنتم فررتم يا ابا عمارة يوم حنين قال لا، والله ما ولى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولكنه خرج شبان اصحابه واخفاوهم حسرا ليس بسلاح، فاتوا قوما رماة، جمع هوازن وبني نصر، ما يكاد يسقط لهم سهم، فرشقوهم رشقا ما يكادون يخطيون، فاقبلوا هنالك الى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو على بغلته البيضاء، وابن عمه ابو سفيان بن الحارث بن عبد المطلب يقود به، فنزل واستنصر ثم قال انا النبي لا كذب انا ابن عبد المطلب ثم صف اصحابه

Narrated `Ali:When it was the day of the battle of Al-Ahzab (i.e. the clans), Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Fill their (i.e. the infidels') houses and graves with fire as they busied us so much that we did not perform the prayer (i.e. `Asr) till the sun set

حدثنا ابراهيم بن موسى، اخبرنا عيسى، حدثنا هشام، عن محمد، عن عبيدة، عن علي رضى الله عنه قال لما كان يوم الاحزاب قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ملا الله بيوتهم وقبورهم نارا، شغلونا عن الصلاة الوسطى حين غابت الشمس

Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the following invocations during Qunut: "O Allah! Save Salama bin Hisham. O Allah! Save Al-Walid bin Al-Walid. O Allah! Save `Aiyash bin Rabi`a O Allah ! Save the weak Muslims. O Allah! Be very hard on Mudar tribe. O Allah! Afflict them with years (of famine) similar to the (famine) years of the time of Prophet Joseph

حدثنا قبيصة، حدثنا سفيان، عن ابن ذكوان، عن الاعرج، عن ابي هريرة رضى الله عنه قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يدعو في القنوت " اللهم انج سلمة بن هشام، اللهم انج الوليد بن الوليد، اللهم انج عياش بن ابي ربيعة، اللهم انج المستضعفين من المومنين، اللهم اشدد وطاتك على مضر، اللهم سنين كسني يوسف

Narrated `Abdullah bin Abi `Aufa:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) invoked evil upon the pagans on the ay (of the battle) of Al-Ahzab, saying, "O Allah! The Revealer of the Holy Book, the Swift-Taker of Accounts, O Allah, defeat Al-Ahzab (i.e. the clans), O Allah, defeat them and shake them

حدثنا احمد بن محمد، اخبرنا عبد الله، اخبرنا اسماعيل بن ابي خالد، انه سمع عبد الله بن ابي اوفى رضى الله عنهما يقول دعا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم الاحزاب على المشركين فقال " اللهم منزل الكتاب سريع الحساب، اللهم اهزم الاحزاب، اللهم اهزمهم وزلزلهم

Narrated `Abdullah:Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was offering the prayer in the shade of the Ka`ba. Abu Jahl and some Quraishi men sent somebody to bring the Abdominal contents of a she-camel which had been slaughtered somewhere in Mecca, and when he brought them, they put them over the Prophet (ﷺ) Then Fatima (i.e. the Prophet's daughter) came and threw them away from him, and he said, "O Allah! Destroy (the pagans of) Quraish; O Allah! Destroy Quraish; O Allah Destroy Quraish," naming especially Abu Jahl bin Hisham, `Utba bin Rabi`a, Shaiba bin Rabi`a, Al Walid bin `Utba, Ubai bin Khalaf and `Uqba bin Abi Muait. (The narrator, `Abdullah added, "I saw them all killed and thrown in the Badr well)

حدثنا عبد الله بن ابي شيبة، حدثنا جعفر بن عون، حدثنا سفيان، عن ابي اسحاق، عن عمرو بن ميمون، عن عبد الله رضى الله عنه قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي في ظل الكعبة، فقال ابو جهل وناس من قريش، ونحرت جزور بناحية مكة، فارسلوا فجاءوا من سلاها، وطرحوه عليه، فجاءت فاطمة فالقته عنه، فقال " اللهم عليك بقريش، اللهم عليك بقريش، اللهم عليك بقريش ". لابي جهل بن هشام، وعتبة بن ربيعة، وشيبة بن ربيعة، والوليد بن عتبة، وابى بن خلف، وعقبة بن ابي معيط. قال عبد الله فلقد رايتهم في قليب بدر قتلى. قال ابو اسحاق ونسيت السابع. وقال يوسف بن اسحاق عن ابي اسحاق امية بن خلف. وقال شعبة امية او ابى. والصحيح امية

Narrated `Aisha:Once the Jews came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "Death be upon you." So I cursed them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What is the matter?" I said, "Have you not heard what they said?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Have you not heard what I replied (to them)? (I said), ('The same is upon you)

حدثنا سليمان بن حرب، حدثنا حماد، عن ايوب، عن ابن ابي مليكة، عن عايشة رضى الله عنها ان اليهود، دخلوا على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا السام عليك. فلعنتهم. فقال " ما لك ". قلت اولم تسمع ما قالوا قال " فلم تسمعي ما قلت وعليكم

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wrote a letter to Caesar saying, "If you reject Islam, you will be responsible for the sins of the tillers (i.e. your people)

حدثنا اسحاق، اخبرنا يعقوب بن ابراهيم، حدثنا ابن اخي ابن شهاب، عن عمه، قال اخبرني عبيد الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة بن مسعود، ان عبد الله بن عباس رضى الله عنهما اخبره ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كتب الى قيصر، وقال " فان توليت فان عليك اثم الاريسيين

Narrated Abu Huraira:Tufail bin `Amr Ad-Dausi and his companions came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The people of the tribe of Daus disobeyed and refused to follow you; so invoke Allah against them." The people said, "The tribe of Daus is ruined." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Give guidance to the people of Daus, and let them embrace Islam

حدثنا ابو اليمان، اخبرنا شعيب، حدثنا ابو الزناد، ان عبد الرحمن، قال قال ابو هريرة رضى الله عنه قدم طفيل بن عمرو الدوسي واصحابه على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا يا رسول الله، ان دوسا عصت وابت، فادع الله عليها. فقيل هلكت دوس. قال " اللهم اهد دوسا وايت بهم

Narrated Anas:When the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to write a letter to the ruler of the Byzantines, he was told that those people did not read any letter unless it was stamped with a seal. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) got a silver ring-- as if I were just looking at its white glitter on his hand ---- and stamped on it the expression "Muhammad, Apostle of Allah

حدثنا علي بن الجعد، اخبرنا شعبة، عن قتادة، قال سمعت انسا رضى الله عنه يقول لما اراد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ان يكتب الى الروم، قيل له انهم لا يقرءون كتابا الا ان يكون مختوما. فاتخذ خاتما من فضة، فكاني انظر الى بياضه في يده، ونقش فيه محمد رسول الله

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent his letter to Khusrau and ordered his messenger to hand it over to the Governor of Bahrain who was to hand it over to Khusrau. So, when Khusrau read the letter he tore it. Sa`id bin Al- Musaiyab said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) then invoked Allah to disperse them with full dispersion, (destroy them (i.e. Khusrau and his followers) severely

حدثنا عبد الله بن يوسف، حدثنا الليث، قال حدثني عقيل، عن ابن شهاب، قال اخبرني عبيد الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة، ان عبد الله بن عباس، اخبره ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعث بكتابه الى كسرى، فامره ان يدفعه الى عظيم البحرين، يدفعه عظيم البحرين الى كسرى، فلما قراه كسرى خرقه، فحسبت ان سعيد بن المسيب قال فدعا عليهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ان يمزقوا كل ممزق

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him his letter with Dihya Al-Kalbi whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered to hand it over to the Governor of Busra who would forward it to Caesar. Caesar as a sign of gratitude to Allah, had walked from Hims to Ilya (i.e. Jerusalem) when Allah had granted Him victory over the Persian forces. So, when the letter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reached Caesar, he said after reading it, 'Seek for me any one of his people! (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present here, in order to ask him about Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with some men from Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been concluded between Allah's Messenger (ﷺ); and the infidels of Quraish. Abu Sufyan said, Caesar's messenger found us somewhere in Sham so he took me and my companions to Ilya 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 Byzantine. He said to his translator. 'Ask them who amongst 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 Abu 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 tells 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.' He said, 'Has anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him? 'I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Had you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he claimed? ' I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?' I replied, 'No.' He said, "Do the noble or the poor follow him?' I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.' He said, 'Are they increasing or decreasing (day by day)?' I replied,' They are increasing.' He said, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his (the Prophet's) Religion become displeased and then discard his Religion?'. I replied, 'No. ' He said, '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 anything against him. Caesar then asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'What was the outcome of your battles with him?' I replied, 'The result was unstable; sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.' He said, 'What does he order you to do?' I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to leave all that our fore-fathers 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 was 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) the people could never tell a lie about Allah. 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 followed 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 you 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 Allah alone and not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that your fore-fathers 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 Scriptures) 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 Messenger (ﷺ) and it was read. Its contents were: "In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah, and His Apostle, to Heraclius, the Ruler of the Byzantine. 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 Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the tillers (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scriptures! Come to a word common to you and us and you, 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 besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are (they who have surrendered (unto Him)..(3.64) Abu Sufyan added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused by the Byzantine Royalties surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did not understand what they said. So, we were turned 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) affair has gained power. This is the King of Bani Al-Asfar 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 I disliked it

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him his letter with Dihya Al-Kalbi whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered to hand it over to the Governor of Busra who would forward it to Caesar. Caesar as a sign of gratitude to Allah, had walked from Hims to Ilya (i.e. Jerusalem) when Allah had granted Him victory over the Persian forces. So, when the letter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reached Caesar, he said after reading it, 'Seek for me any one of his people! (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present here, in order to ask him about Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with some men from Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been concluded between Allah's Messenger (ﷺ); and the infidels of Quraish. Abu Sufyan said, Caesar's messenger found us somewhere in Sham so he took me and my companions to Ilya 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 Byzantine. He said to his translator. 'Ask them who amongst 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 Abu 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 tells 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.' He said, 'Has anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him? 'I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Had you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he claimed? ' I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?' I replied, 'No.' He said, "Do the noble or the poor follow him?' I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.' He said, 'Are they increasing or decreasing (day by day)?' I replied,' They are increasing.' He said, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his (the Prophet's) Religion become displeased and then discard his Religion?'. I replied, 'No. ' He said, '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 anything against him. Caesar then asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'What was the outcome of your battles with him?' I replied, 'The result was unstable; sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.' He said, 'What does he order you to do?' I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to leave all that our fore-fathers 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 was 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) the people could never tell a lie about Allah. 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 followed 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 you 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 Allah alone and not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that your fore-fathers 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 Scriptures) 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 Messenger (ﷺ) and it was read. Its contents were: "In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah, and His Apostle, to Heraclius, the Ruler of the Byzantine. 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 Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the tillers (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scriptures! Come to a word common to you and us and you, 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 besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are (they who have surrendered (unto Him)..(3.64) Abu Sufyan added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused by the Byzantine Royalties surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did not understand what they said. So, we were turned 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) affair has gained power. This is the King of Bani Al-Asfar 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 I disliked it