He (Ibn Sad) said: Muhammad IbnUmar al-Aslami informed us; he
said: Mamar Ibn Rashid and Muhammad IbnAbd Allah related to me
on the authority of al-Zuhri, he on the authority of ‘Ubayd Allah IbnAbd Allah Ibn 'Utbah, he on the authority of IbnAbbas; (second chain)
he (Ibn Sad) said: Abu Bakr IbnAbd Allah Ibn Abi Sabrah related to
us on the authority of al-Miswar Ibn Rifàah; (third chain) he (Ibn Sad)
said: Abd al-Hamid Ibn Jafar related to us on the authority of his
father; (fourth chain) he (Ibn Sad) said:Umar Ibn Sulaymàn Ibn Abi
Hathmah related to us on the authority of Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Hathmah,
he on the authority of his grandmother al-Shifa; (fifth chain) he (Ibn
Sad) said: Abu Bakr IbnAbd Allah Ibn Abi Sabrah related to us on the
authority of Muhammad Ibn Yusuf, he on the authority of al-Sà’ib Ibn
Yazid, he on the authority of al-Ala Ibn al-Hadhrami; (sixth chain) he (Ibn Sa'd) said: Mu'adh Ibn Muhammad a1-Ansári related to us on the authority of Jafar Ibn Amr Ibn Jafar Ibn Amr Ibn Umayyah al Damri, he on the authority of one of his relatives, he on the authority of 'Amr Ibn Umayyah al-Damri; their narrations are mixed up; they said: When the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him returned from al Hudaybiyah in (the month of) Dhu al-Hijjah, 6 H. (April-May A.C. 628), he sent messengers to the chiefs inviting them to join the fold of Islam, and he wrote epistles to them. Then it was said to him: 0 Apostle of Allah ! verily, the rulers do not read but sealed epistles. Thereupon, the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, got a silver ring prepared; its signet was also of silver in which was engraved Muhammad Rasul Allah (Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah) in three lines. Then he sealed the epistles with it. Six of the messengers set out, in one day, and this was in Muharram, 7 H. (May, A. C. 628). Everyone of the persons despatched, spoke the language of the people to whom he was sent. The first messenger whom the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent was Amr Ibn Umayyah al-Damri, who was sent to al-Najáshi. He wrote two
epistles to him, in one of them he invited him to join the fold of Islam; it
contained the verses of the Qur’an. He (Negus) took the epistle of the
Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, and rubbed his eyes on it and
alighted from his throne and came to the ground in all humbleness. Then
he embraced Islam and bore witness to the truth, and said: I would have
gone to him if I could.
He wrote to the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, about his
accepting, believing in, and embracing Islam at the hands of Jafar Ibn Abi Tàlib. In another epistle he (Prophet) had asked him to marry Umm Habibah Bint Abi Sufyan Ibn Harb to him (Prophet). She had migrated to Abyssinia with her husbandUbayd Allah Ibn Jahsh al-Asadi. There
he had embraced Christianity and had died. The Apostle of Allah, may
Allah bless him, had asked him in his letter to send back those of his
Companions who were there. He did accordingly and married Umm
Habibah Bint Abi Sufyan to him. [P. 16] and paid to her a dower of four
hundred dinars on his behalf. He ordered that the Muslims be provided
with necessaries and sent them in two boats with Amr Ibn Umayyah al Damri. He then sent for a vessel of ivory and placed in it the epistles of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, and said: Abyssinia will not cease receiving blessings as long as these letters are there. They said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent Dahyah Ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi, who was one of the six (messengers) to Ceasar, inviting him to embrace Islam, and he wrote (and sent) another epistle to the governor (azim) of Busra to hand it over to Ceasar. The governor of Busra handed it over to Ceasar who happened to be at Emessa, as he was going on foot from Constantinople to Iliya (Jerushalem) in fulfilment of a vow. It was that in case the Romans overpowered the Persians he would go up to Iliya on foot. He (Caesar) read the epistle and then addressed the Roman grandees in a church at Emessa. He said: 0 people of Rome ! will you like guidance and prosperity, so that your kingdom may be stable and you may follow whatIsà Ibn Maryam had said. The Romans said:
What is it, your majesty? He said: Follow this Arabian Prophet. He (the
narrator) said: They ran away like wild asses, snorting and with their
crosses raised. When Caesar Heraclius saw this, he was disappointed as
to their joining the faith of Islam and became apprehensive of the safety
of his person and authority. So he consoled them and said: I said this to
test your stead-fastness in your religion and now I have seen what I like
most. They prostrated before him.
They said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent Abd Allah Ibn Hudhafah al-Sahmi, one of the six {messengers) to Kisra, inviting him to embrace Islam; he also wrote an epistle to him.Abd
Allah said: I handed over the epistle of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah
bless him, to him. It was read to him. Then he took it and tore it (into
pieces). When the news reached the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless
him, he said: O Allah: Tear (break) his kingdom (into pieces).
Kisra wrote to Badhan, who was his (ámil) over Yaman, asking him to send two sturdy persons to the man who was in al-Hijàz and to bring information about him. Thereupon, Badhan sent Qahramanah with another man with a letter. They came to al-Madinah and handed over Bàdhán's letter to the Prophet, may Allah bless him. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, smiled and invited them to embrace Islam while they were trembling (with fear). Thereupon, he (Prophet) said: Retire today and come tomorrow and I shall inform you what I want (of you). They came on the following day and he said to them: Inform your master that my Lord has killed Kisra last night at the seventh hour. It was Tuesday, 10th First Jumada', 7 H. (13th September, A.C. 628). Verily, Allah, the Blessed, the Great, made his (Kisrá s) son, Shiruyah overpower and kill him. They returned to Milan with this (information), and he and his sons, who were in Yaman, joined the fold of Islam. They said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent Hatib Ibn Abi Baltaah al-Lakhmi, one of the six (messengers) to al-Muqawqis, the
ruler of Alexandria, [P. 17] the cheif of the Copts, inviting him to
embrace Islam; he also wrote an epistle for him. He (Hatio) delivered the
epistle of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, to him. He read it
and called it a blessing, and then placing it in a vessel of ivory he sealed it
and handed it over to his slave-girl. He sent this reply to the Prophet,
may Allah bless him; I knew that a prophet was yet to appear, but I
thought he would rise in Syria. However, I have shown due honour to
your messenger and I am sending two slave-girls, who command respect
among the Copts, and a mantle and a mule for riding, as presents to you.
There was nothing in it besides this, and he did not embrace Islam. The
Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, accepted his presents, the two
slave girls, Mariyah, subsequently the mother of Ibrahim, the son of the
Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, and her sister Shirin, and the
white she-mule, like which there was not one in Arabia in those days, and
that was Duldul. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, said: The
mischievous person was niggardly because of his sovereignty which
however will not last.
Hatib said: He extended respect and hospitality to me and I stayed
there for five days.
They said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent Shujá Ibn Wahb al-Asadi, one of the six (messengers), to al-Harith Ibn Abi Shimr al-Ghassani inviting him to embrace Islam; he also wrote an epistle for him. Shuja said: I approached him when he was at Ghutah of
Damascus making preparations for the reception of Ceasar who had
come from Emessa to Iliya. I waited for two or three days at his door and
said to his hájib: I am the messenger of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah
bless him. He said: You will not see him till such and such a day has
passed. The hájib who was a Roman, bearing the name, Muri, asked
about the Apostle of Allah may Allah bless him. I described the qualities
of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, and explained to him what
he preached; he could not control weeping. He said: I have read the
Gospels and I have seen the description of this Prophet and so I believe in
him and have faith in him, but I fear al-Harith will slay me. He extended
respect and good hospitality to me. Al-Harith appeared one day and
placed the diadem on his head. He granted me permission (to wait on
him) and I delivered to him, the epistle of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah
bless him. He read it and threw it away, and said: Whoever disputes with
me about my country I shall march against him even though he be in
Yaman and shall send men to bring him to me. He continued repeating
such imaginary words. He then stood up and ordered his horses to be
shoed, and said to me: Convey to your master what you have seen. He
also wrote (a letter) to Caesar containing information about me and what
he intended to do. Caesar wrote to him (in reply) not to march against
him (Prophet) but to show regard to him; he also asked him to join him
(Caesar) at-Iliya. When he received this reply to his letter he called me
and inquired: When do you intend to go back to your master. I said:
Tomorrow. He ordered hundred mithqàl (A mithqual is equal to 4-1/2
mashahas, or about 67 grains) of gold to be given to me. Muri came to me
and gave orders for my provisions and clothes and said: Convey my
respects to the Apostle of Allah, may peace be on him. Then I returned to
the Prophet and informed him (about my journey). Thereupon, he said:
His sovereignty is lost. Then I conveyed Muri’s greetings and narrated
what he had told me. On this the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him,
said: He was true. Al-Harith [P. 18] Ibn Abi shamir died in the year of
Victory (of Makkah).
They said: Farwah Ibn ‘Amr al-Judhami was Caesar’s governor (inAmman) in the land of al-Balqa. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, did not write (any epistle) to him. But Farwah embraced Islam and wrote about his joining the fold of Islam to the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him. He sent a messenger from among his people, named Mas'ud Ibn Sad with a present. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless
him, read his letter, accepted his present and wrote a reply. He gave to
Masud twelve ounces and a half (of silver) equal in value to five hundred dirhams. They said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent Salit Ibn 'Amr al-Amiri, one of the six (messengers), to Hawdhah Ibn Ali al Hanafi, inviting him to embrace Islam. He also sent an epistle to him. When he (messenger) reached there, he (Hawdhah) welcomed him and entertained him. He read the epistle of the Prophet, may Allah bless him, and sent a reply which was much below his dignity; he wrote to the Prophet, may Allah bless him: To what you invite is good and noble but I am the poet of my people and their preacher. The Arabs fear me on account of my position; share with me a part of your affairs, so that I may follow you. He gave a suitable reward to Salit IbnAmr and dressed
him in clothes from Hajar. He (Salit) brought all these things to the
Prophet, may Allah bless him, and informed him of what he had said. He
read his letter and said: If he had asked for the flowing of water, I would
not have given him; may he perish! When he (the Prophet) returned after
the Victory (of Makkah), Gabriel came and informed him that he
(Hawdhah) had died.
They said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent ‘Amr Ibn
al-‘As, in (the month of) Dhu al-Qadah, 8 H. to Jayfar and 'Abd sons of al-Julanda. They belonged (to the tribe) of al-Azd, and Jayfar was their ruler. He invited them to join the fold of Islam and wrote an epistle for them, and sealed it. 'Amr said: When I reachedUman, I dicided to
(approach) ‘Abd who was more forbearing of the two and of more
pleasing manners. I said to him: I am the messenger of the Apostle of
Allah, may Allah bless him, sent to you and to your brother. He said: My
brother is to be preferred because of his age and sovereignty. I shall
conduct you to him so that he may read the letter. I waited for several
days. Then he called me, and I entered and delivered the sealed letter to
him. He broke the seal and read it upto the end. Then he handed it over
to his brother who also read it like him; but I found his brother more
courteous than him. He said: Leave me today and come tomorrow. On
the next day I returned to him, and he said to me: I have thought over the
acceptance of your invitation, but I shall become the weakest of the
Arabs if I make another person master of my territory. Then I said: 1 am
leaving tomorrow. When he became sure of my return, he called me; I
appeard before him. He and his brother accepted Islam. They believed in
the Prophet, may Allah bless him, and allowed me to collect sadaqah and
to rule and he supported me against those who opposed me. As for the
sadaqah, I collected it from the wealthy persons among them and paid to
the poor. I remained there till the news of the death of the Apostle of
Allah, may Allah bless him, reached us.
[P. 19] He (Ibn Sad) said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, on his return from al-Jiirranah, sent al-Ala Ibn al-Hadrami to al Mundhir Ibn Sawa al-Abdi who was in al-Bahrayn, inviting him to join the fold of Islam. He (Prophet) wrote an epistle to him, and in reply he (al Mundhir) informed him of his joining the fold of Islam and testifying (to the truth of his mission). (He added): I read your epistle before the people of Hajar, some of whom liked Islam and joined its fold while others disliked it. In my country there are Magians, and Jews also, so give your orders about them. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, wrote to him: As long as you do your work efficiently, you will not be removed. He who continues to remain a Magian or a Jew, shall pay jizyah. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, wrote an epistle to the Magians of Hajar presenting Islam to them. In case they declined the offer, they would have to pay jizyah and their women would not be married (to Muslims) and the meat of animals slaughtered by them would not be eaten (by Muslims). The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, sent Abu Hurayrah with al-A1á al-Hadrami, and advised him to
treat them well.
The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, wrote for al-`A1á the
rates of zakáh on camels cows, sheep, fruits and other properties. He
read the epistle of the Prophet to the people and realized their, sadaqahs.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 