The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 199
VI - All Races Invited to Islām 199 being influenced by the truth of Islām, the manner in which he gathered his courtiers in an attempt to convince them is not only proof of his wise thinking but also proof of his belief to an extent. However, the bitter fact is that he remained deprived of the blessing of faith and ultimately left this world fighting the armies of Islām. 1 The reason for this is none other than the fact that his soul was not prepared for the weighty sacrifice which is necessary for true belief. Surrounded in the crowd of his courtiers, he desired to take a step towards Islām without losing his greatness and grandeur. To some extent he was a seeker of religion, but he was not prepared to leave the world, and this very weakness became the cause of his downfall. Undoubtedly, Abū Bakr ra and ‘Umar ra also acquired the finest inheritance of the world’s comforts and dignities, but they did not wish to bargain with Islām. They came to Islām empty handed merely for the sake of religion and then God who does not remain indebted to anyone, granted them such a kingdom, before which the collective kingdoms of Caesar and Chosroes were humbled. Caesar, however, was fearful of taking a step towards Islām empty handed. He extended his weak hand towards Islām and kept his strong hand firm upon the staff of his sovereignty. The outcome was that his divided heart could not acquire religion, nor could worldly power remain in his hands for too long thereafter. The heart of the Holy Prophet sa however, was a very sagacious one, and he was not one to forget even the smallest virtue of an individual. As such, there is a narration that when the Holy Prophet sa received news that Chosroes had torn his letter and thrown it away, but Caesar, apparently acted with dignity and respect, though he did not accept the invitation, the Holy Prophet sa said: ٌ اَمَّا ھٰؤُلَاء ِ فَیُمَزَّقُوْن َ وَاَمَّا ھٰؤُلَاء ِ فَسَیَكُوْن ُ لَھُم ْ بَقِیَّة “The Persian Kingdom shall be destroyed at once, but God shall grant some respite to the Roman Empire. ” 2 Thus, precisely did it happen that the Kingdom of Persia fell to dust in 1 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 5, p. 17, Wa Ammā Mukātabatuhū ‘Alaihiṣ-Ṣalātu Was-Salāmu Ilal-Mulūki Wa Ghairihim, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 5, p. 17, Wa Ammā Mukātabatuhū ‘Alaihiṣ-Ṣalātu Was-Salāmu Ilal-Mulūki Wa Ghairihim, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)