Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 186
186 told that the Prophet lived in Medina. So they went to Medina. On arrival this army chief told the Prophet that Badhan, the Governor of Yemen, had been ordered by the Chosroes to arrange for the Prophet’s arrest and despatch to Iran. If the Prophet refused to obey, he and his people were to be destroyed and their country made desolate. Out of compassion for the Prophet, this delegate from Yemen insisted that the Prophet should obey and agree to be led to Iran. Having listened to this, the Prophet suggested that the delegates should see him again the following day. Overnight the Prophet prayed to God Who informed him that the insolence of the Chosroes had cost him his life. "We have set his own son against him, and this son will murder his father on Monday the 10 th Jumadiyul-Ula of this year. " According to some reports, the revelation said, "The son has murdered the father this very night. " It is possible that that very night was the 10 th Jumadiyul-Ula. In the morning, the Prophet sent for the Yemen delegates and told them of what had been revealed to him overnight. Then he prepared a letter for Badhan saying that the Chosroes was due to be murdered on a certain day of a certain month. When the Governor of Yemen received the letter he said, "If this man be a true Prophet, it will be even as he says. If he be not true, then God help him and his country. " Soon after, a boat from Iran anchored at the port of Yemen. It brought a letter from the Emperor of Iran to the Governor of Yemen. The letter bore a new seal, from which the Governor concluded that the prophecy of the Arabian Prophet had proved true. A new seal meant a new king. He opened the letter. It said: From Chosroes Siroes to Badhan, the Governor of Yemen. I have murdered my father because his rule had become corrupt and unjust. He murdered the nobles and treated his subjects with cruelty. As soon as you receive this letter, collect all officers and ask them to affirm their loyalty to me. As for my father’s orders for the arrest of an Arabian Prophet, you should regard those orders as cancelled. 214 Badhan was so impressed by these events that he and many of his friends at once declared their faith in Islam and informed the Prophet accordingly. Letter to the Negus The letter to the Negus, King of Abyssinia, was carried by ‘Amr bin Umayyah Damri. It ran as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful, Muhammad, the Messenger of God, writes to the Negus, King of Abyssinia. O King, peace of God be upon you. I praise before you the One and Only God. None else is worthy of worship. He is the King of kings, the source of all excellences, free from all defects, He provides peace to all His servants and protects His creatures. I bear witness that Jesus, son of Mary was a Messenger of God, who came in fulfilment of promises made to Mary by God. Mary had consecrated her life to God. I invite you to