Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 368
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 368 suggested that the letter should be turned down as the writer had been guilty of disrespect towards the Emperor as he had put his own name ahead of the Emperor’s name in the letter and instead of describing him as the Emperor of Byzantium, he has merely ca lled him Chief of Byzantium. Heraclius waived aside his nephew’s criticisms, and, taking the letter, directed that the bearer of the letter should be treated as a royal guest during the time that the letter was under his consideration. The Emperor also gav e orders that search should be made for any compatriot of the writer of the letter who might be available and to arrange to present him before the Emperor. Bokhari has narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas the following account in Abu Sufyan’s words of wh at transpired as that of the Emperor’s direction: ‘I had then gone to Syria with a few companions on a commercial errand. The time was after the Truce of Hudaibiyya. The Emperor’s men searched for us and, taking us to Jerusalem, presented us before the Emp eror, who was holding court wearing his crown and surrounded by his courtiers. He directed his interpreter to enquire from us which of us was most closely related to the claimant of prophethood. I submitted that I was his closest relative in that he was my cousin. The Emperor asked me to step forward and directed that my companions should stand behind me, and told the interpreter to warn my companions that he desired to put some questions to me concerning the person who claimed to be a prophet and that if I made any misstatement in answer to his questions, they should point this out to him. Thereafter, he asked me the following questions: Emperor: What is the status of this claimant among his