مسند احمد
Musnad Ahmad
مُسْنَدُ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا
Musnad of Abdullah ibn al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with them)
Hadith Number: 2361
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، قال: حدثني عبد الله بن طاوس ، عن ابيه ، عن ابن عباس ، قال:" ما اعمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عائشة ليلة الحصبة إلا قطعا لامر اهل الشرك، فإنهم كانوا يقولون: إذا برا الدبر، وعفا الاثر، ودخل صفر، فقد حلت العمرة لمن اعتمر".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) perform Umrah on the occasion of «لَيْلَةَ الْحَصْبَةِ» only to refute the notion of the polytheists who used to say that when the back of the she-camel becomes sound, the footprints of the pilgrims have disappeared, and the month of Safar has ended, then it becomes permissible for those performing Umrah to do so.
حكم دارالسلام: حديث صحيح، وهذا إسناد حسن
Hadith Number: 2362
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، حدثني عبد الله بن ابي نجيح ، عن مجاهد بن جبر ، عن ابن عباس ، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد كان" اهدى جمل ابي جهل، الذي كان استلب يوم بدر في راسه برة من فضة، عام الحديبية في هديه" , وقال في موضع آخر:" ليغيظ بذلك المشركين".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that (on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم sacrificed one hundred camels), among which was a red camel belonging to Abu Jahl, which had a silver ring in its nose, so that it would enrage the polytheists.
حكم دارالسلام: حسن لغيره، وتصريح ابن إسحاق هنا بالتحديث فيه وقفة
Hadith Number: 2363
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، قال: حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، حدثنا بشير بن يسار مولى بني حارثة، عن عبد الله بن عباس ، قال:" خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عام الفتح في رمضان، فصام رمضان، وصام المسلمون معه، حتى إذا كان بالكديد، دعا بماء في قعب وهو على راحلته، فشرب، والناس ينظرون، يعلمهم انه قد افطر، فافطر المسلمون".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set out from Madinah Munawwarah with the intention of Makkah Mukarramah in the year of the conquest of Makkah during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Muslims were fasting, but when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached the place of Kadid, he called for a vessel and placed it on his hand so that everyone could see, then he broke his fast, and the Muslims also broke their fast.
حكم دارالسلام: حديث صحيح، وهذا إسناد حسن
Hadith Number: 2364
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثني ابي ، عن الزهري ، عن عبيد الله بن عبد الله ، عن ابن عباس ، انه قال: كان اهل الكتاب يسدلون اشعارهم، وكان المشركون يفرقون رءوسهم، قال: وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم" يعجبه موافقة اهل الكتاب في بعض ما لم يؤمر فيه، فسدل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ناصيته، ثم فرق بعد".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the polytheists used to part their hair, while the People of the Book would leave them as they were, and the blessed habit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was that in matters where no command had come, he preferred to follow and agree with the People of the Book rather than the polytheists. Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would also not part his hair, but later he (peace and blessings be upon him) started parting his hair.
حكم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 5917، م: 2336
Hadith Number: 2365
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، حدثني صالح بن كيسان ، عن عبد الله بن الفضل بن عباس بن ربيعة ، عن نافع بن جبير بن مطعم ، عن عبد الله بن عباس ، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال:" الايم اولى بامرها، واليتيمة تستامر في نفسها، وإذنها صماتها".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A previously married woman has more right over herself than her guardian, but a virgin should be asked for her permission, and her silence is her permission."
حكم دارالسلام: حديث صحيح. م: 1421
Hadith Number: 2366
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، قال: حدثني داود بن الحصين ، عن عكرمة ، عن ابن عباس ، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم" رد ابنته زينب على ابي العاص بن الربيع، وكان إسلامها قبل إسلامه بست سنين على النكاح الاول، ولم يحدث شهادة ولا صداقا".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) handed over his daughter, Sayyidah Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her), to her husband Abu Al-As ibn Al-Rabi’ (upon his acceptance of Islam) on the basis of the previous marriage, without renewing the marriage contract or setting a new dowry, even though Sayyidah Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) had accepted Islam six years before her husband.
حكم دارالسلام: إسناده حسن
Hadith Number: 2367
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، قال: وذكر طلحة بن نافع ، عن سعيد بن جبير ، عن ابن عباس ، قال:" تزوج رجل امراة من الانصار من بلعجلان، فدخل بها فبات عندها، فلما اصبح، قال: ما وجدتها عذراء , قال: فرفع شانهما إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فدعا الجارية رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فسالها، فقالت: بلى، قد كنت عذراء , قال: فامر بهما رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فتلاعنا، واعطاها المهر".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man married a woman from the Ansar tribe of Banu Ajlan. He spent the night with her, and in the morning he said that he did not find her to be a virgin. This matter was presented before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called the girl and asked her, and she said: Why not, I was indeed a virgin. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered both of them to perform li'an (mutual cursing) and had the girl given her dowry.
حكم دارالسلام: إسناده ضعيف، لتدليس محمد بن إسحاق
Hadith Number: 2368
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، وسعد , قالا: حدثنا ابي ، عن ابن إسحاق ، قال: وحدثني محمد بن طلحة بن يزيد بن ركانة ، عن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم الشيباني ، عن ابن عباس ، قال:" امر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم برجم اليهودي واليهودية، عند باب مسجده، فلما وجد اليهودي مس الحجارة قام على صاحبته، فجنا عليها يقيها مس الحجارة، حتى قتلا جميعا، فكان مما صنع الله عز وجل لرسوله في تحقيق الزنا منهما".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered a Jewish man and woman to be stoned at the door of the mosque. When the Jew felt the pain of the stones, he began to bend over to shield the woman, until both of them perished. In reality, the punishment that was given to them was the punishment prescribed by Allah, because proof of adultery had been established regarding both of them, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) carried out this punishment upon them.
حكم دارالسلام: صحيح لغيره، وهذا إسناد حسن
Hadith Number: 2369
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا ابي ، عن صالح ، قال: وحدث ابن شهاب ، ان عبيد الله بن عبد الله اخبره، ان ابن عباس اخبره، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مر بشاة ميتة، فقال:" هلا استمتعتم بإهابها؟" , فقالوا: يا رسول الله، إنها ميتة , فقال:" إنما حرم اكلها".
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a dead goat. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Why did you not benefit from its skin?" The people said: O Messenger of Allah! It is dead. He said: "Its eating is forbidden (but its skin can be purified by tanning)."
حكم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 1492، م: 363
Hadith Number: 2370
(حديث مرفوع) حدثنا يعقوب ، قال: حدثنا ابن اخي ابن شهاب ، عن عمه محمد بن مسلم ، قال: اخبرني عبيد الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة بن مسعود ، ان عبد الله بن عباس اخبره، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كتب إلى قيصر يدعوه إلى الإسلام، وبعث كتابه مع دحية الكلبي، وامره رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ان يدفعه إلى عظيم بصرى، ليدفعه إلى قيصر، فدفعه عظيم بصرى إلى قيصر، وكان قيصر لما كشف الله عز وجل عنه جنود فارس، مشى من حمص إلى إيلياء على الزرابي تبسط له، فقال عبد الله بن عباس: فلما جاء قيصر كتاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال حين قراه: التمسوا لي من قومه من اساله عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم , قال ابن عباس: فاخبرني ابو سفيان بن حرب انه كان بالشام في رجال من قريش قدموا تجارا، وذلك في المدة التي كانت بين رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وبين كفار قريش، قال ابو سفيان: فاتاني رسول قيصر، فانطلق بي وباصحابي، حتى قدمنا إيلياء، فادخلنا عليه، فإذا هو جالس في مجلس ملكه، عليه التاج، وإذا حوله عظماء الروم، فقال لترجمانه: سلهم ايهم اقرب نسبا بهذا الرجل الذي يزعم انه نبي؟ قال ابو سفيان: انا اقربهم إليه نسبا , قال: ما قرابتك منه؟ قال: قلت: هو ابن عمي , قال ابو سفيان: وليس في الركب يومئذ رجل من بني عبد مناف غيري، قال: فقال قيصر: ادنوه مني , ثم امر باصحابي، فجعلوا خلف ظهري عند كتفي، ثم قال لترجمانه: قل لاصحابه: إني سائل هذا عن الرجل الذي يزعم انه نبي، فإن كذب، فكذبوه , قال ابو سفيان: فوالله لولا الاستحياء يومئذ ان ياثر اصحابي عني الكذب لكذبته حين سالني، ولكني استحيت ان ياثروا عني الكذب، فصدقته عنه، ثم قال لترجمانه: قل له: كيف نسب هذا الرجل فيكم؟ قال: قلت: هو فينا ذو نسب، قال: فهل قال هذا القول منكم احد قط قبله؟ قال: قلت: لا , قال: فهل كنتم تتهمونه في الكذب قبل ان يقول ما قال؟ قال: فقلت: لا , قال: فهل كان من آبائه من ملك؟ قال: قلت: لا , قال: فاشراف الناس اتبعوه ام ضعفاؤهم؟ قال: قلت: بل ضعفاؤهم , قال: فيزيدون ام ينقصون؟ قال: قلت: بل يزيدون , قال: فهل يرتد احد سخطة لدينه بعد ان يدخل فيه؟ قال: قلت: لا , قال: فهل يغدر؟ قال: قلت: لا , ونحن الآن منه في مدة، ونحن نخاف ذلك , قال: قال ابو سفيان: ولم تمكني كلمة ادخل فيها شيئا انتقصه به غيرها، لا اخاف ان يؤثر عني، قال: فهل قاتلتموه او قاتلكم؟ قال: قلت: نعم , قال: كيف كانت حربكم وحربه؟ قال: قلت: كانت دولا سجالا ندال عليه المرة، ويدال علينا الاخرى , قال: فبم يامركم، قال: قلت: يامرنا ان نعبد الله وحده ولا نشرك به شيئا، وينهانا عما كان يعبد آباؤنا، ويامرنا بالصلاة، والصدق، والعفاف، والوفاء بالعهد، واداء الامانة , قال: فقال لترجمانه حين قلت له ذلك: قل له: إني سالتك عن نسبه فيكم، فزعمت انه فيكم ذو نسب، وكذلك الرسل تبعث في نسب قومها , وسالتك: هل قال هذا القول احد منكم قط قبله؟ فزعمت ان لا، فقلت: لو كان احد منكم قال هذا القول قبله، قلت: رجل ياتم بقول قيل قبله , وسالتك: هل كنتم تتهمونه بالكذب قبل ان يقول ما قال؟ فزعمت ان لا، فقد اعرف انه لم يكن ليذر الكذب على الناس، ويكذب على الله عز وجل , وسالتك: هل كان من آبائه من ملك؟ فزعمت ان لا، فقلت: لو كان من آبائه ملك، قلت: رجل يطلب ملك آبائه , وسالتك: اشراف الناس يتبعونه ام ضعفاؤهم؟ فزعمت ان ضعفاءهم اتبعوه، وهم اتباع الرسل , وسالتك: هل يزيدون ام ينقصون؟ فزعمت انهم يزيدون، وكذلك الإيمان حتى يتم , وسالتك: هل يرتد احد سخطة لدينه بعد ان يدخل فيه؟ فزعمت ان لا، وكذلك الإيمان حين يخالط بشاشة القلوب لا يسخطه احد , وسالتك: هل يغدر؟ فزعمت ان لا، وكذلك الرسل , وسالتك: هل قاتلتموه وقاتلكم؟ فزعمت ان قد فعل، وان حربكم وحربه يكون دولا، يدال عليكم المرة، وتدالون عليه الاخرى، وكذلك الرسل تبتلى، ويكون لها العاقبة , وسالتك: بماذا يامركم؟ فزعمت انه يامركم ان تعبدوا الله عز وجل، وحده لا تشركوا به شيئا، وينهاكم عما كان يعبد آباؤكم، ويامركم بالصدق، والصلاة، والعفاف، والوفاء بالعهد، واداء الامانة، وهذه صفة نبي قد كنت اعلم انه خارج، ولكن لم اظن انه منكم , فإن يكن ما قلت فيه حقا، فيوشك ان يملك موضع قدمي هاتين، والله لو ارجو ان اخلص إليه، لتجشمت لقيه، ولو كنت عنده، لغسلت عن قدميه , قال ابو سفيان: ثم دعا بكتاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فامر به، فقرئ، فإذا فيه:" بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، من محمد عبد الله ورسوله إلى هرقل عظيم الروم، سلام على من اتبع الهدى، اما بعد، فإني ادعوك بدعاية الإسلام , اسلم تسلم، واسلم يؤتك الله اجرك مرتين، فإن توليت فعليك إثم الاريسيين يعني: الاكارة , و ياهل الكتاب تعالوا إلى كلمة سواء بيننا وبينكم الا نعبد إلا الله ولا نشرك به شيئا ولا يتخذ بعضنا بعضا اربابا من دون الله فإن تولوا فقولوا اشهدوا بانا مسلمون سورة آل عمران آية 64" , قال ابو سفيان: فلما قضى مقالته، علت اصوات الذين حوله من عظماء الروم، وكثر لغطهم، فلا ادري ماذا قالوا، وامر بنا فاخرجنا، قال ابو سفيان: فلما خرجت مع اصحابي وخلصت لهم، قلت لهم: امر امر ابن ابي كبشة، هذا ملك بني الاصفر يخافه، قال ابو سفيان: فوالله ما زلت ذليلا مستيقنا ان امره سيظهر، حتى ادخل الله قلبي الإسلام، وانا كاره.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote a letter to Caesar, the ruler of Rome, inviting him to Islam. He sent this letter with Sayyiduna Dihyah Kalbi (may Allah be pleased with him), instructing him to deliver it to the governor of Busra so that he could forward it to Caesar. Accordingly, the governor of Busra delivered the letter to Caesar. Since Allah Almighty had granted Caesar victory over the Persian armies, he had, in gratitude, traveled on foot from Homs to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). Carpets were laid out for him along the entire route during this journey.
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that when Caesar received the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) letter, he read it and said,“Find me a man from his people so that I may ask him some questions.”Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan ibn Harb (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to me that Heraclius (the king of Rome) sent a man to him while he was among a group of Quraysh horsemen who had come to Syria as traders. This incident occurred at a time when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had made a limited truce with Abu Sufyan and the disbelievers of Quraysh.
So the Quraysh came to Heraclius, and they were in Aelia (Jerusalem) at that time. Heraclius summoned them to his court, surrounded by the Roman dignitaries. He called all the Quraysh closer to him and summoned his interpreter. Addressing the Quraysh, he asked,“Who among you is the closest in lineage to the man who claims to be a prophet?”Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) said,“I am the closest in lineage among them.”Upon hearing this, Heraclius said,“Bring Abu Sufyan closer to me and keep his companions near him, standing behind him.”Then he said to his interpreter,“Tell these people that I will ask Abu Sufyan about this man (who claims to be a prophet). If he lies to me, you should immediately refute him.”
(Abu Sufyan says:) By Allah! If I had not been ashamed that people would accuse me of lying, I would have certainly fabricated things about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The first thing Heraclius asked me was,“How is his lineage among you?”I replied,“He is of noble lineage among us.”Then Heraclius asked,“Has anyone among you ever made such a claim (of prophethood) before him?”I said,“No.”Heraclius asked,“Was there any king among his ancestors?”I said,“No.”Heraclius asked,“Have the influential people followed him or the weak?”I said,“Rather, the weak have followed him.”Heraclius asked,“Are his followers increasing or decreasing?”I said,“They are increasing.”Heraclius asked,“Does anyone, after embracing his religion, become displeased with it and leave it?”I said,“No.”Heraclius asked,“Does he ever break his promises?”I said,“No, and we are currently in a truce with him. We do not know what he will do during this period.”(Abu Sufyan says:) Other than this statement, I could not find any opportunity to insert anything against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Heraclius asked,“Have you ever fought him?”I said,“Yes.”He asked,“How did your battles with him go?”I said,“The fighting between us and him is like a seesaw; sometimes he prevails over us, and sometimes we prevail over him.”Heraclius asked,“What does he command you to do?”I said,“He tells us to worship Allah alone and not to associate anything with Him, and to abandon what our forefathers used to worship. He commands us to pray, to speak the truth, to be pious, and to maintain family ties.”
After this, Heraclius said to his interpreter,“Tell Abu Sufyan: I asked you about his lineage, and you said he is of noble lineage among you. Indeed, all the prophets are sent from the noblest lineage of their people. I asked you if anyone among you had made such a claim before him, and you said no. If you had said yes, I would have thought that he was imitating what had been said before him. I asked you if any of his ancestors was a king, and you said no. If you had said yes, I would have thought that he was a man seeking to reclaim his ancestral kingdom. I asked you if you ever accused him of lying before he made this claim, and you said no. I know that a person who does not lie to people would not lie about Allah. I asked you whether the influential or the weak followed him, and you said the weak. Indeed, they are the followers of the prophets. I asked you whether his followers are increasing or decreasing, and you said increasing. This is the nature of faith until it reaches its perfection. I asked you if anyone, after embracing his religion, becomes displeased and leaves it, and you said no. This is how faith is when its delight enters the hearts. I asked you if he ever breaks his promises, and you said no. Likewise, the prophets never break their promises. I asked you what he commands you to do, and you said he commands you to worship Allah alone, not to associate anything with Him, forbids you from worshipping idols, and commands you to pray, speak the truth, and be pious. If what you say is true, then soon he will own the very place beneath my feet. I knew from the previous scriptures that he was going to appear, but I did not think he would be from among you. If I knew I could reach him, I would go to great lengths to meet him, and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.”
Then Heraclius called for the (blessed) letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and had it read. In it was written:“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Allah’s servant and His Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), to the ruler of Rome. Peace be upon him who follows guidance. After this, I invite you to Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe, and Allah will grant you your reward twice over. But if you turn away, then upon you will be the sin of your subjects. And: ‘O People of the Book! Come to a word that is just between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting to Allah).’”
Abu Sufyan says: When Heraclius had finished saying what he wanted and finished reading the letter, there was a great commotion, voices were raised, and we were expelled from there. I said to my companions, when we were turned out,“Look! The matter of the son of Abu Kabshah (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) has become so great that even the king of the Romans fears him.”I always remained certain that he would soon prevail, until Allah compelled me to accept Islam.
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that when Caesar received the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) letter, he read it and said,“Find me a man from his people so that I may ask him some questions.”Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan ibn Harb (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to me that Heraclius (the king of Rome) sent a man to him while he was among a group of Quraysh horsemen who had come to Syria as traders. This incident occurred at a time when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had made a limited truce with Abu Sufyan and the disbelievers of Quraysh.
So the Quraysh came to Heraclius, and they were in Aelia (Jerusalem) at that time. Heraclius summoned them to his court, surrounded by the Roman dignitaries. He called all the Quraysh closer to him and summoned his interpreter. Addressing the Quraysh, he asked,“Who among you is the closest in lineage to the man who claims to be a prophet?”Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) said,“I am the closest in lineage among them.”Upon hearing this, Heraclius said,“Bring Abu Sufyan closer to me and keep his companions near him, standing behind him.”Then he said to his interpreter,“Tell these people that I will ask Abu Sufyan about this man (who claims to be a prophet). If he lies to me, you should immediately refute him.”
(Abu Sufyan says:) By Allah! If I had not been ashamed that people would accuse me of lying, I would have certainly fabricated things about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The first thing Heraclius asked me was,“How is his lineage among you?”I replied,“He is of noble lineage among us.”Then Heraclius asked,“Has anyone among you ever made such a claim (of prophethood) before him?”I said,“No.”Heraclius asked,“Was there any king among his ancestors?”I said,“No.”Heraclius asked,“Have the influential people followed him or the weak?”I said,“Rather, the weak have followed him.”Heraclius asked,“Are his followers increasing or decreasing?”I said,“They are increasing.”Heraclius asked,“Does anyone, after embracing his religion, become displeased with it and leave it?”I said,“No.”Heraclius asked,“Does he ever break his promises?”I said,“No, and we are currently in a truce with him. We do not know what he will do during this period.”(Abu Sufyan says:) Other than this statement, I could not find any opportunity to insert anything against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Heraclius asked,“Have you ever fought him?”I said,“Yes.”He asked,“How did your battles with him go?”I said,“The fighting between us and him is like a seesaw; sometimes he prevails over us, and sometimes we prevail over him.”Heraclius asked,“What does he command you to do?”I said,“He tells us to worship Allah alone and not to associate anything with Him, and to abandon what our forefathers used to worship. He commands us to pray, to speak the truth, to be pious, and to maintain family ties.”
After this, Heraclius said to his interpreter,“Tell Abu Sufyan: I asked you about his lineage, and you said he is of noble lineage among you. Indeed, all the prophets are sent from the noblest lineage of their people. I asked you if anyone among you had made such a claim before him, and you said no. If you had said yes, I would have thought that he was imitating what had been said before him. I asked you if any of his ancestors was a king, and you said no. If you had said yes, I would have thought that he was a man seeking to reclaim his ancestral kingdom. I asked you if you ever accused him of lying before he made this claim, and you said no. I know that a person who does not lie to people would not lie about Allah. I asked you whether the influential or the weak followed him, and you said the weak. Indeed, they are the followers of the prophets. I asked you whether his followers are increasing or decreasing, and you said increasing. This is the nature of faith until it reaches its perfection. I asked you if anyone, after embracing his religion, becomes displeased and leaves it, and you said no. This is how faith is when its delight enters the hearts. I asked you if he ever breaks his promises, and you said no. Likewise, the prophets never break their promises. I asked you what he commands you to do, and you said he commands you to worship Allah alone, not to associate anything with Him, forbids you from worshipping idols, and commands you to pray, speak the truth, and be pious. If what you say is true, then soon he will own the very place beneath my feet. I knew from the previous scriptures that he was going to appear, but I did not think he would be from among you. If I knew I could reach him, I would go to great lengths to meet him, and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.”
Then Heraclius called for the (blessed) letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and had it read. In it was written:“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Allah’s servant and His Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), to the ruler of Rome. Peace be upon him who follows guidance. After this, I invite you to Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe, and Allah will grant you your reward twice over. But if you turn away, then upon you will be the sin of your subjects. And: ‘O People of the Book! Come to a word that is just between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting to Allah).’”
Abu Sufyan says: When Heraclius had finished saying what he wanted and finished reading the letter, there was a great commotion, voices were raised, and we were expelled from there. I said to my companions, when we were turned out,“Look! The matter of the son of Abu Kabshah (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) has become so great that even the king of the Romans fears him.”I always remained certain that he would soon prevail, until Allah compelled me to accept Islam.
حكم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 7، م: 1773