The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 193
VI - All Races Invited to Islām 193 polytheism, observe prayer, give alms, abstain from evil, fulfil our promises and not to be dishonest in our trusts. These are indeed the qualities of a prophet. After this Caesar said, I knew that a prophet was soon to be raised but O Ye Arabs! I did not believe he would be raised from among you. If what you have said is true, I believe the time is not far when this man would indeed, soon occupy the earth which is beneath my two feet at this time. If it is possible for me, I would travel to meet him; and if I were to reach him, I would find comfort in washing his feet. Abu Sufyān says that after this, Caesar asked for the letter of the Holy Prophet sa and ordered for it to be read in the royal court. The following passage was written in this letter: ٌ إِلَى هِرَقْل َ عَظِيم ِ الرُّوم ِ سَلَام ا ِ بِسْم ِ اللّٰه ِ الرَّحْمٰن ِ الرَّحِیْمِ. مِن ْ مُحَمَّد ٍ عَبْد ِ اللَّه ِ وَرَسُولِه ُ َأسْلِم ْ تَسْلَم ْ يُؤْتِك َ اللَّه ا ِ إ ِسْلَام ا ْ َأدْعُوك َ بِدِعَايَة ِ ال ا إِنِّي ا َأمَّا بَعْد ُ فَ ا عَلَى مَن ْ اتَّبَع َ الْهُدَى ٍ َأرِيسِيِّينَ. وَیَا اَھْل َ الْكِتَاب ِ تَعَالُوْا اِلی ٰ كَلِمَة ا ْ إِثْم َ ال ا َ إِن َّ عَلَيْك ا إِن ْ تَوَلَّيْت َ فَ ا َأجْرَك َ مَرَّتَيْن ِ فَ ا سَوَاء ٍ بَیْنَنَا وَبَیْنَكُم ْ اَن ْ لَا نَعْبُد َ اِلَّا اللّٰه َ وَلَا نُشْرِك َ بِه ٖ شَیْئًا وَلَا یَتَّخِذ َ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا اَرْبَابًا ا مُسْلِمُوْنَ. َّ مِن ْ دُوْن ِ اللّٰه ِ فَاِن ْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُوْلُوْا اشْھَدُوْا بِاَن Translation: I write this letter in the name of Allāh, the Gracious, who grants the best reward of our deeds. This letter is from Muḥammad, the servant of Allāh and His Messenger, to Heraclius the King of Rome. Peace be on him who follows the guidance. After this, O King of Rome! I invite you to the guidance of Islām. Embrace Islām and accept the peace of God, for this is the only way to salvation. Embrace Islām and God the Exalted shall grant you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation, then remember, the sin of your subjects 1 shall be on your shoulders. O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you - that we worship none but Allāh; and that we associate no partner with Him and that some of us take not others as our Master and Lord. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are followers of the One God and obedient to Him. ’ 1 The word اریس (of which the plural is اریسیین ) means ‘farmer ’ or ‘peasant, ’ but here, the meaning is ‘subjects ’.