أحمد محمد لبن Ahmad.M.Lbn
مؤسس ومدير المنتدى
عدد المساهمات : 49318
العمر : 72
 | | موضوع: The Call to Islam الإثنين 12 فبراير 2018, 9:21 am | |
| The Call to Islam
Book 18
“Say (O Muhammad): “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him.” (TMQ Al-`Imran: 64)
(Scene:1)
After Al-Hudaibiyah peace treaty, many people embraced Islam. Since Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be upon him) message was to all people, he decided to send messengers to the kings of nearby countries to call them to Islam. One day, he wrote several letters to those kings, but his companions suggested that he should put a stamp on them because those kings did not read any letter unless it was stamped.
Thus, Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) made a rubber stamp on which was engraved (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). All letters were then stamped. He then had to choose the messengers that would carry those letters to the kings. As Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) knew his people's nature, he recognized that those assigned for near countries would joyfully accept the mission. However, those assigned for remote ones would be reluctant and may even refuse.
Thus, he gathered his companions and said, “O people! Allah sent me to all people so that they would believe in Him, and, thus, deserve His mercy. I want you to represent me, may Allah have mercy on you all. Do not disobey me as Isa's (Jesus) disciples did.” His Companions asked, “How did they disobey Isa (Peace be upon him), O Messenger of Allah?” He (Peace be upon him) replied, “He asked them to do what I am asking you. Yet, those assigned for nearby regions complied with the order, but those assigned for remote regions refused to go. Isa, thus, complained to Allah (Almighty). On the next day, each one of those disciples was talking the very same language of the people he was sent to.” The Prophet's (Peace be upon him) Companions did not disobey his orders as Isa's followers did. On the contrary, they were willing to go where the Messenger ordered them.
(Scene: 2)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) sent Dahya Al-Kalby to the Caesar of Rome with a letter calling him to embrace Islam. Dahya went to the Levant and headed for the Caesar's palace. Arriving there, Dahya asked permission to meet the Caesar.
Before entering, Caesar's attendant said, “When you see the Caesar, prostrate before him and never raise your head till he permits you to do so.” Dahya said, “No, I will never prostrate before anyone save Allah.” The attendant replied, “Then he will never accept your letter.”
Dahya entered to the Caesar, raising his head. He presented to him the Prophet's letter. The Caesar was really surprised to see the man not prostrating before him.
Nevertheless, he took the letter and asked for a translator. The translator read the letter containing the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) call to the Caesar to embrace Islam. Knowing nothing about the Prophet and his character, he asked his attendant to bring him an Arab so that he would ask him about the Prophet (Peace be upon him).
They started searching in the Levant’s markets and found Abu-Sufyan trading in Gaza with some men from the tribe of Quraysh. They, thus, took them all to the palace in Jerusalem. Abu-Sufyan and the men from Quraysh were admitted to the Caesar's court. He was sitting and putting on his crown, with all the senior and significant men around him. He called his translator and ordered him to ask them, “Who amongst you is closely related to the man who claims to be a Prophet?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “I am the nearest relative (amongst the group) to him.”
- The Caesar asked again, “What is the status of his family among the Arabs?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “He belongs to a noble family.”
- He further asked, “Has anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same (that is, to be a Prophet) before him?”
- Abu-Sufyan answered, “No.”
- The Caesar asked, “Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?”
- Abu-Sufyan answered, “No.”
- The Caesar asked, “How about his mind and reasoning?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “Perfect and sound.”
- A further question was about the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) followers, whether they were the nobles or the poor, and Abu-Sufyan replied that they were the poor.
- The Caesar asked, “Are those followers increasing or decreasing (day by day)?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “They are increasing.”
- Again, he asked, “Does he break his promises?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “No.”
- The Caesar asked, “Have you ever had war with him?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “Yes.”
- Then, the Caesar said, “What was the outcome of these battles?”
- Abu-Sufyan replied, “Victory was shared by turns among us.”
- The Caesar asked, “What is his call?”
- Abu-Sufyan said, “He calls us to worship Allah Alone and not to associate any partner along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors have said. He orders us to perform prayers, to give money in charity, not to break promises, and to be honest.”
Although Abu-Sufyan hated Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he had spoken the truth about him because he was afraid of his companions calling him a liar. Then Caesar said, “He is a Prophet and I knew (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear, but I did not know that he would be from among you. If I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.” Abu-Sufyan left the court amazed at the Prophet (Peace be upon him) who became more and more prestigious.
(Scene: 3)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) wrote the following letter to Chosroes – King of Persia:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful From Muhammad, Allah's Messenger, to Chosroes, King of Persia. Peace be upon the one who follows guidance, believes in Allah and His Messenger, and testifies that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. I convey to you the message of Allah, for I am His Messenger to mankind. Allah sent me to warn any living man that the disbelievers who reject the truth conveyed to them will receive their due punishment. Embrace Islam and you will be safe and sound. If you refuse, you will bear the responsibility for leading the Majoos (your followers) astray.
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) gave the letter to Abdullah Ibn-Hudhafah and ordered him to hand it to Chosroes. Abdullah obeyed the order. When he reached Persia, he went to the King's palace and asked permission to meet him. He was given the permission, and he handed Allah's Messenger's letter to the King.
Chosroes began to read the letter. When he found that it began with “From Muhammad, Allah's Messenger, to Chosroes, King of Persia” he got furious because the Prophet (Peace be upon him) started the letter by mentioning his name first. So he tore up the letter angrily.
Abdullah Ibn-Hudhafah went out of the palace and left for Madinah.
Abdullah met Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) and told him what happened.
The Messenger (Peace be upon him) said, “May Allah destroy his dominion.”
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) kept silent for a while, and then said to Hudhafah, “Chosroes’ treasures in the White Palace will be seized by the Muslims’ army.”
Indeed, the Messenger's words came true. During the reign of Omar Ibnul-Khattab, the Muslims won victory over the Persians under the leadership of Sa`d Ibn Abu-Waqqas, who conquered Persia and seized Chosroes’ treasures in the White Palace.
(Scene: 4)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) sent Amr Ibn-Omayyah with a letter to Negus. Negus was known for his fair treatment and generosity towards the Muslims who immigrated to Abyssinia and were allowed to attend his council. Thus, when Amr Ibn-Omayyah arrived there with the letter from Allah's Messenger, Negus kissed him personally and took him in as his guest. He entertained him and stepped out of his throne, out of modesty, to receive him. Then, he embraced Islam and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.
In turn, he sent a letter to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him), saying:
To Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, from Negus, Peace be upon you, the Prophet whom Allah sent. May Allah bless you with His mercy. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who guided me to Islam. To proceed: I have received your letter. We took your cousin (Ja`far Ibn Abu-Taleb) and his companions (the Muslims who were with him) in as our guests. I testify that you are Allah's Messenger and that you say nothing but the truth and, thus, your call should be believed. I pledged allegiance to you and to your cousin, and declared myself before him as a Muslim, submitted only to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
(Scene: 5)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) sent Hatib Ibn Abu-Balta`ah to Egypt. His mission was to give Al-Muqawqas, who was the Copts' King, the letter containing the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) call to him to embrace Islam. Hatib took the letter, went to his house to say goodbye to his family, and then rode his camel heading for Egypt. Traveling through the desert, Hatib finally reached Egypt and went immediately to Alexandria. He was told that Al-Muqawqas was attending a council in a palace viewing the sea.
Thus, Hatib embarked a ship and went to the specified place. He waved the letter at Al-Muqawqas, who ordered him to come closer. Hatib did and gave the letter to him. Al-Muqawqas read: In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful:
From Muhammad Ibn `Abdullah to Al-Muqawqas, the Copts' King. Peace be upon the one who follows guidance. I convey to you the message of Islam. Embrace Islam and you will be safe and sound. In addition, Allah will reward you twofold; the first is because you believed in Isa (Peace be upon him) and the second is because you believed in Muhammad (Peace be upon him). If you refuse to embrace Islam, you will bear the responsibility for leading the Copts astray.
He then recited what can be translated as, “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” (TMQ, Al-Imran: 64)
Al-Muqawqas asked, “If he is really a Prophet, why doesn't he invoke his Lord against those who disobey him? Hatib said, “You do believe that Isa is Allah's Messenger, don't you? This being the case, why did not he invoke Allah Almighty to destroy his people when they took him and were about to kill him, until Allah took him up to Heaven?”
Al-Muqawqas said, “Good answer. You are a wise man sent by a wise man.”
Hatib said, “The Prophet (Peace be upon him) has called the people to Islam, and has gone through hell from the tribe of Quraysh in particular, as they gave him a really hard time. The Jews are the most hostile to him, and the closest are the Christians. I swear by Allah that Isa's glad tidings that he would be succeeded by Muhammad was the same as Musa's (Moses) glad tidings that he would be succeeded by Isa (peace be upon them).
Similarly, our call to you to believe in the Holy Qur'an is the same as your call to the Jews to believe in Injil (Gospel).” Al-Muqawqas entertained Hatib and on his return, he sent with him to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) two maids; Mariah the Copt and Sirin. He also sent many clothes and precious gifts.
The messengers went back to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and after only few years, Persia, Levant and Egypt became Muslim countries; the same countries to which the Prophet (Peace be upon him) sent his messengers to call their kings to Islam. |
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