Chief of the Prophets

Chief of the Prophets — Page 182

Chapter Eight 182 (O ruler of Persia!) Accept Islam. If you turn away, you will be responsible for the sins of your Zoroastrian subjects. 1 ‘Abdullāh bin Ḥudhāfah says that when a translator read out the letter to Khosrau, he was enraged. He took the letter from the hands of the translator and tore it into pieces and said, “My subject addresses me like this?” 2 The tradition says that when Muḥammad sa was informed about the reaction of Khosrau, he, due to his sense of honour for his religion, said, “May God Himself tear these people into pieces. ” 3 And according to another tradition he said, “Now these people will themselves be torn to pieces. ” 4 Khosrau and his people were fire worshippers, but were greatly influenced by the Jewish propaganda against the Muslims. Because of that influence, Khosrau not only tore up Muḥammad’s letter, but also instructed Bādhān, the Governor of Yemen, to immediately send two strong troopers to Ḥijāz to arrest the claimant of prophethood and summon him before him, killing him if he resists. Bādhān sent two sturdy troopers with a letter to Muḥammad sa. On reaching Madīnah, the troopers presented the letter to Muḥammad sa and counselled him to go along with them; otherwise, the Khosrau might destroy his country and nation. Muḥammad sa smiled, invited them to Islam, and told them to stay the night and that he would God willing ( In shā’ Allah ) answer them the next day. The next day, Muḥammad sa addressing them said: 1 Tārīkhul-Khamīs and Az-Zarqānī, narrated by Wāqadī. 2 Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Tārīkhul-Khamīs , and Az-Zarqānī. 3 Bukhārī, Kitābul-Jihād (Book of Fighting for the Cause of Allah) and Kitābul-‘Ilm (Book of Learning). 4 Kitābul-Amwāl, cited by Az-Zarqānī.