Here are some examples of the Prophet?s actions during the honourable life he led. These examples show the ways by which the Prophet (PBUH) talked with and addressed other nations and civilizations inviting them to unity under one truth.
After the Prophet (PBUH) reached a truce between his people and his enemies in Makkah, who battled with him for over eighteen years, the Prophet (PBUH) took advantage of the truce to contact the leaders and kings in the world for the purpose of introducing Islam to them. In his letters to them he concentrated on the values of peace and freedom and that was very clear in the contents of those letters.
To contemplate on one of his admirable examples, we shall take the Prophet?s letter to the king of Egypt and Alexandria whose full name was Jurayj bin Matti known as al-Muqawqes. The Prophet wrote:
?In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
From Muhammad bin ?Abdullah to al-Muqawqes king of the Copts
Peace upon those who follow the guidance of Allah
I write to you by the virtue of Islam
Follow Islam and you shall be safe
Follow Islam and Allah shall reward you twice
If you turn away, then you shall carry the sin of the Copts?
?O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we do not erect, from among ourselves, lords and patrons other than Allah; if then they turn back, you say: ?bear witness that we are Muslims (bowing to Allah?s will)?? [Qur?an 3:64]
The Prophet chose his companion Hatib bin Abi Balta?a to deliver this letter to the king. It is worth mentioning here the conversation that took place between Hatib and al-Muqawqes, which is a great proof to the West that these letters and messages aimed directly for the fulfilment of their purpose and that their language were highly eloquent.
Hatib said: ?this Prophet preached and called people to Islam, the cruellest to him were the people of Quraish, and his worst enemies were the Jews; while the closest to him were the Christians. And I swear upon my life that the prophecy of Moses about the arrival of Jesus is no different than the prophecy of Jesus about the arrival of Muhammad. And our call to you to accept the Qur?an is no different than your call to the Jews to accept the Bible. And any nation that witness a sent prophet must follow him and adhere to him. Now you are among those who witnessed Muhammad?s arrival and we are not asking you to forsake the religion of Jesus, we rather are ordering you to follow it.?
Al-Muqawqes replied: ?I have looked in the matter of this Prophet and found that he does not order us to accept what we renounce, or to forsake what we desire; neither have I found him to be an aberrant magician nor a fake preacher; and with him I found the signs of prophecy of revealing what is hidden and uncovering what is secret, I?ll see.? He then took the Prophet?s letter and kept it in a socket of ivory; he sealed it and handed it to one of his slave-girls and then called for a clerk to write in Arabic. The king wrote the following:
?In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
To Muhammad bin ?Abdullah from al-Muqawqes king of the Copts.
?I have read your letter and understood its content and what you are calling for. I have known that there was still a Prophet to come and I suspected that he would be from Ash Sham. I have honoured your messenger and I am sending you two of the most respected slave-girls, clothing, and a mule for you to ride.
May peace be upon you?
However, al-Muqawqes did not add anything more and did not embrace Islam later on. The Prophet (PBUH) then married Maria (one of the girls sent by Al Muqawqes) who gave birth to the Prophet?s son ?Ibrahim?, that Muhammad named in respect and recognition of Prophet Ibrahim (the father of all Prophets). As for Sirin (the 2ed slave sent by Al Muqawqes), she married the Prophet?s poet Hassan bin Thabit.
That was an example of the letters sent to some Christians kings and their reactions to them. The Prophet (PBUH) also sent his messengers to the leaders of the Magi to introduce Islam to them and call them to the light of Allah, explaining how accepting Islam will lead them out of the darkness into the light. Some replied with kindness while others with violence; some accepted Islam while others refused.
Hence, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was among the first to begin intercultural exchange between people and countries. His goal was to spread high and valuable moral principles. His manners were of utmost courtesy, great morality, and respect for the opinions of others.
He further sent messengers and mediators to other leaders and kings. Following is a list of the companions that were sent by the Prophet for the noble cause:
1-Duhiyya bin Khalifa al-Kalbi. An elegant and handsome man who was sent to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius.
2-?Abdullah bin Huthafa al-Sahmi. A charismatic and intelligent man full of faith, and he was sent to Chosroes II, the king of Persia.
3-?Amr bin Umayya al-Dhamri. A gentle and intelligent man who was sent to Negus, king of Abyssinia. Afterwards, he was sent to Musaylima bin Habib, often called Musaylama al-Kathab (the liar) because he claimed to be a prophet, to invite him to Islam. The Prophet also sent his companion As-Sa?ib bin Al-?Awwam to Musaylama, but he refused to embrace Islam.
4-In year 8 A.H., ?Amr bin Al-?As, a very intelligent leader, was sent to Jayfar and ?Abdullah bani al-Jalandi, king of Oman.
5-Salit bin ?Amr was sent to Hautha bin ?Ali, king of Yamama, and to the Hanifis? leader Thamama bin Athal.
6-Al-?Ala? bin al-Hadhrami was sent to al-Munthir bin Sawa al-?Abdi, the king of Bahrain.
7-Shuja? bin Wahab al-Asadi was sent to Harith Al Ghassani, Governer of Syria.
8-Al-Muhajir bin abi Umayya al-Makhzumi was sent to al-Harith bin ?Abd-Kulal al-Himyari, one of Yemen?s leaders who replied that he shall look into the matter.
9-Mu?ath bin Jabal was sent to Yemen to preach for Islam. All the kings of Yemen embraced Islam, such as Thi al-Kala?, Thi Dhalim, Thi Zaroud, Thi Miran, and others.
10-Jarir bin ?Abdullah al-Bajli was sent to Thi al-Kala? al-Himiari and Thi ?Amr to preach for Islam which they accepted and embraced. The Prophet (PBUH) died while Jarir was preaching for them.
11-?Ayyash bin abi Rabi?a al-Makhzumi was sent to al-Harith, Masruh and Na?im bani ?Abd-Kulal, the leaders of Himiar.
12-The Prophet (PBUH) also sent a messenger to Farwa bin ?Amr al-Juthami to invite him to embrace Islam. Al-Juthami was working for Caesar; he embraced Islam and sent a messenger to the Prophet to tell him the news and with him he sent a gift consisting of a mule, a donkey, some clothes, and silk dresses embroidered with gold. The Prophet accepted the gift and rewarded Mas?ud bin Sa?d, the messenger he sent to al-Juthami, with 12 okas (1 oka = around 1.25 kgs) of grains.
All kings and leaders mentioned above have accepted Islam along with their people, except Caesar, al-Muqawqes, Chosroes II, and al-Harith bin abi Shamr. While Thumama bin Uthal accepted Islam willingly a long time later.
This was the way Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) started his constructive dialogue between the Muslim community and other nations, kings, and leaders around the world. Some of the responded replied kindly to the dialogue, while others were very violent and cruel such as Chosroes II.
This is another unique image of the Prophet?s mercy. He preferred dialogue on violence especially with nations against Islam. The Prophet used polite manners and eloquent speech when he contacted the leaders in the world to introduce Islam. Hence, he spared bloodshed and heightened the importance of dialogue and intercultural exchange. This, in some ways, contributed to the great influence of the Islamic civilization on Europe?s scientific growth
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May 25, 2010 @ 02:58:16
