The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 325
IX - Exile 325 of the ground. Finally, with great difficulty it stood up, and due to its effort, I was surrounded by a cloud of dust. At that time, I sought an omen once again, but it turned out the same, upon which I relinquished my intention, and gave the Holy Prophet sa and his companions a call of reconciliation. Upon this, they all waited, and I reached them astride my horse. This entire ordeal led me to believe that this man’s star is prosperous and that in the end, the Holy Prophet sa would be victorious. Therefore, in a gesture of peace, I said, ‘Your people have set such and such a bounty for your assassination or capture, and people have planned such and such against you. I also came with the same intention, but now I shall return. ’ After this, I offered them some provisions, but they did not accept them, nor did they question me further. All they asked was that their whereabouts be kept secret. Following this, (with the conviction that the Holy Prophet sa would someday acquire victory in this country) I requested him to prepare me a written declaration of peace. The Holy Prophet sa instructed ‘ Āmir bin Fuhairah ra , and on a piece of hide, he wrote me a declaration of peace. 1 After this, the Holy Prophet sa and his companions continued forward. 2 When Surāqah was about to return, the Holy Prophet sa said, “What shall be your state when the bangles of the Chosroes shall be on your wrists?” 3 Flabbergasted, Surāqah inquired, “Chosroes son of Hormizd, the Emperor of Iran?” “Yes” responded the Holy Prophet sa. Surāqah’s eyes were left wide open in amazement. A Bedouin of the Arabian Desert and the bangles of the Chosroes, Emperor of Iran! But look at the display of the power of truth. When Iran was conquered in the reign of Ḥaḍrat ‘ Umar ra , the treasure of the Chosroes came to the Muslims as spoils of war. The bangles of the Chosroes also came to Madīnah in these spoils. Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra summoned Surāqah, who had become Muslim after the Fall of Makkah, and put the bangles of the Chosroes on his wrists, which were laden with precious jewels. 4 After deliverance from the pursuit of Surāqah, the Holy Prophet sa moved forward. On the way, he met Zubair bin Al-‘Awwām ra , who was returning to Makkah with a small party of Muslims after business in Syria. Zubair ra gifted 1 It is a strange fact to note that even in such a sensitive and destitute state, writing material was kept on hand. (Author) 2 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Hijratin-Nabiyyi sa wa Aṣḥābihī ilal-Madīnah, Ḥadīth No. 3906 3 At that time, t his sight was perhaps shown to the Holy Prophet sa in a vision. (Author) 4 Usdul-Ghābah, Volume 2, p. 198, ‘Surāqah bin Mālik’, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut (2003)