The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 185
VI - All Races Invited to Islām 185 Empire of Persia were fire-worshippers and polytheists. As mentioned in volume 1 and volume 2 of this book 1 , in this era, these two sovereignties were at war. Moreover, defeating the Caesar again and again, the Chosroes of Persia had snatched much of his land. Since the people of Makkah were also polytheists and idol-worshippers for this reason they were naturally more sympathetic towards the Iranians. It was at this time when the Holy Prophet sa received revelation from Allāh the Almighty and made that prophecy which has been mentioned in Sūrah Rūm of the Holy Qur’ān. The words are as follows: ُ لْاَمْر ِ هلل َ بِضْعِ سِنِين بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ فِي مِّن الْاَرْضِ وَهُم اَدْنَى غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ فِي ُ ُ وَهُوَالْعَزِيز ء يَشَا بَعْد ُ وَيَوْمَئِذ ٍ يَفْرَح ُ الْمُؤْمِنُون َ بِنَصْر ِ اهلل ِ يَنصُر ُ مَن قَبْل ُ وَمِن مِن َ يَعْلَمُون يُخْلِفُ اهللُ وَعْدَهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا الرَّحِيمُ وَعْدَ اهللِ لَا The Romans have been defeated in the nearby land. After their defeat, they shall soon be victorious. This revolution would come about in nine years. 2 Before and after that, true sovereignty belongs to God. (In other words, prior to it, the spiritual Kingdom belongs to God and afterwards, the worldly government shall also be for Allāh, through the dominance of Islām. ) And on that day the believers will rejoice because of the help of Allāh. He helps whom He pleases; for He is the Mighty and Merciful. This is the definite promise of God. God breaks not His promise, but most men know not. ” 3 This Qur ’ ānic verse was revealed to the Holy Prophet sa when he was still in Makkah and the flood of the Chosroes ’ victories were at full force. This was to such an extent that seizing a large region of Caesar and plundering Syria, Egypt and Asia Minor, he was knocking on the gates of Constantinople, the capital of the Caesar. However, according to this Qur ’ ānic prophecy, the war suddenly took a turn and after the effort and striving of a few years not only 1 * The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter VI, Mahomet Watches Struggle Between Persia and Roman Empire. . . , pp. 122-123, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923) * The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XX, Embassies to Various Sovereigns and Princes, pp. 368-369, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923) 2 In Ara bic the word بضع is used to refer to a period between three to nine years. * Aqrabul-Mawāridi Fī Fuṣaḥil-‘Arabiyyati Wash-Shawāridi, By Sa‘īd Al-Khūrī Ash-Shartūnī, Under the root Ba-ḍa-‘a, Dārul-Uswati, Tehran (First Edition) 3 Ar-Rūm (30:3-7)