The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page ccxxv
GENERAL INTRODUCTION The Prophet's Letters to Various Kings After settling down in Medina on return from Hudaibiyyah, the Prophet instituted another plan for the spread of his Message. When he mentioned this to the Companions, some of them who were acquainted with the customs and forms observed in the courts of kings told the Prophet that kings did not entertain letters which did not bear the seals of the senders. Accordingly the Prophet had a seal made on which were engraved the words Muḥammad Rasulullah. Out of reverence, Allah was put at the top, beneath it Rasul and lastly Muḥammad. In Muharram 628, envoys went to different capitals, each with a letter from the Prophet, inviting the rulers to accept Islam. Envoys went to Heraclius, the Roman Emperor, the Kings of Iran, Egypt (the King of Egypt was then a vassal of the Kaiser) and Abyssinia. They went to other kings and rulers also. The letter addressed to the Kaiser was taken by Diḥyah Kalbi who was instructed to call first on the Governor of Buṣra. When Diḥyah saw the Governor, the great Kaiser himself was in Syria on a tour of the Empire. The Governor readily passed Diḥyah on to the Kaiser. When Diḥyah entered the court, he was told that whoever was received in audience by the Kaiser must prostrate himself before him. Diḥyah refused to do this, saying that Muslims did not bow before any human being. Diḥyah, therefore, sat before the Kaiser without making the prescribed obeisances. The Kaiser had the letter read by an interpreter and asked if an Arab caravan was in the town. He said he desired to interrogate an Arab about this Arabian Prophet who had sent him an invitation to accept Islam. It so happened that Abū Sufyān was in the town with a commercial caravan. The court officials took him to the Kaiser. Abū Sufyan was ordered to stand in front of the other Arabs, who were told to correct him if he should tell a lie or make a wrong statement. Then Heraclius proceeded to interrogate Abu Sufyān. The conversation is thus recorded in history: H: Do you know this man who claims to be a Prophet and who has sent me a letter? Can you say what sort of family he comes from? A-S: He comes of a noble family and is one of my relations. H: Have there been Arabs before him who have made claims similar to his? A-S: No. H: Did your people ever charge him with lying before he announced his claim? A-S: No. H: Has there been a king or a ruler among his forefathers? A-S: No. cxcix