WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:03.740 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:13.240 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:17.739 A Summary of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah). 00:00:17.739 --> 00:00:22.929 Authored by Shaykh Musa ibn Rashid Al-Azmi, 00:00:23.089 --> 00:00:25.089 May Allah preserve him. 00:00:25.089 --> 00:00:30.679 The Seventh Year of the Hijrah. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:37.840 The Letters of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Kings and Princes. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.990 In Muharram of the seventh year of the Hijrah, 00:00:42.990 --> 00:00:48.990 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) dispatched his envoys to the kings of the Arabs and non-Arabs, 00:00:48.990 --> 00:00:52.990 Writing letters to them in which he invited them to Islam. 00:00:52.990 --> 00:00:56.090 Indeed, Imam Muslim recorded in his *Sahih* 00:00:56.090 --> 00:01:00.090 On the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:01:00.090 --> 00:01:06.090 "The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wrote to Chosroes, Caesar, 00:01:06.090 --> 00:01:10.090 Negus, and to every tyrant ruler, 00:01:10.090 --> 00:01:13.090 Inviting them to Allah Almighty." 00:01:13.090 --> 00:01:18.090 This was not the same Negus for whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the funeral prayer. 00:01:18.090 --> 00:01:28.480 The Prophet's Adoption of a Ring for His Letters. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:34.480 When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) intended to write to the kings and princes, 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:40.480 It was said to him, "They do not accept any letter unless it bears a seal." 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:45.480 So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) adopted a ring made of silver. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.700 Indeed, the two Shaykhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) recorded in their *Sahihs* 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:52.700 On the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:01:52.700 --> 00:02:00.700 "The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) intended to write to a group or people among the non-Arabs, 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:06.769 And it was said to him, 'They do not accept a letter unless it has a seal upon it.' 00:02:06.769 --> 00:02:11.770 So the Prophet (peace be upon him) adopted a ring made of silver, 00:02:11.770 --> 00:02:15.990 Engraved with: 'Muhammad Messenger of Allah'." 00:02:15.990 --> 00:02:18.990 In another wording in *Sahih al-Bukhari*, 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:22.020 On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:25.020 "The engraving on the ring was in three lines: 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:27.020 'Muhammad' on one line, 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:29.020 'Messenger' on one line, 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:31.020 And 'Allah' on one line." 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:42.810 The Letter of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to the Negus, Ashamah (may Allah be pleased with him). 00:02:42.810 --> 00:02:48.810 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) dispatched Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri (may Allah be pleased with him) 00:02:48.810 --> 00:02:52.810 To the Negus, Ashamah (may Allah be pleased with him). 00:02:52.810 --> 00:02:57.810 It appears from the accounts that he dispatched him more than once 00:02:57.810 --> 00:03:00.810 And at different times. 00:03:00.810 --> 00:03:08.810 The letters of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to the Negus, Ashamah, included several matters, among which were: 00:03:08.810 --> 00:03:11.810 First: Inviting him to Islam. 00:03:11.810 --> 00:03:14.870 Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said: 00:03:14.870 --> 00:03:20.870 "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) dispatched Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri (may Allah be pleased with him) 00:03:20.870 --> 00:03:23.870 To the Negus with his letter, 00:03:23.870 --> 00:03:25.870 And he embraced Islam (may Allah be pleased with him)." 00:03:25.870 --> 00:03:26.939 Second: 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:29.939 Entrusting him with the care of the emigrants in Abyssinia. 00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:31.969 Third: 00:03:31.969 --> 00:03:33.969 Arranging his marriage to Umm Habibah, 00:03:33.969 --> 00:03:37.969 Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with them both). 00:03:37.969 --> 00:03:41.000 Ibn Sa'd stated in his *Tabaqat*: 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:47.000 "The Messenger of Allah dispatched Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri to the Negus, 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.000 Writing two letters to him: 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.000 In one of them, he invited him to Islam 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:55.000 And recited the Qur'an to him; 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.000 And in the other letter, 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:02.000 He requested that he marry him to Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan, 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.000 Who had emigrated to Abyssinia." 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:09.189 Imam Ahmad recorded in his *Musnad* with a good chain of transmission 00:04:09.189 --> 00:04:12.189 On the authority of Habib ibn Abi Aws, who said: 00:04:12.189 --> 00:04:15.189 "Amr ibn al-Aas narrated to me directly from his own mouth, 00:04:16.189 --> 00:04:17.189 Saying: 00:04:17.189 --> 00:04:20.189 'When we returned from the Confederates at the Trench, 00:04:20.189 --> 00:04:23.189 I gathered some men of Quraysh 00:04:23.189 --> 00:04:26.189 Who held my opinion in high regard and listened to me, 00:04:26.189 --> 00:04:28.189 And I said to them, 00:04:28.189 --> 00:04:29.189 "You know, 00:04:29.189 --> 00:04:32.189 By Allah, I see that the affair of Muhammad 00:04:32.189 --> 00:04:35.189 Is rising to great heights. 00:04:35.189 --> 00:04:37.189 Indeed, I have formed an opinion, 00:04:37.189 --> 00:04:39.189 So what do you think of it?" 00:04:39.189 --> 00:04:40.189 They asked, 00:04:40.189 --> 00:04:41.189 "And what is your opinion?" 00:04:41.189 --> 00:04:43.189 He said, 00:04:43.189 --> 00:04:47.220 "I think we should join the Negus and stay with him. 00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:50.220 If Muhammad prevails over our people, 00:04:50.220 --> 00:04:52.220 We will be with the Negus, 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:55.220 For being under his authority 00:04:55.220 --> 00:04:59.220 Is preferable to us than being under the authority of Muhammad. 00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:01.220 And if our people prevail, 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:03.220 We are people whom they know well, 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:06.220 So nothing but good will come to us from them." 00:05:06.220 --> 00:05:07.220 They said, 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:09.220 "Indeed, this is a sound opinion." 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:10.220 He said: 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:12.220 "So I said to them, 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:14.220 'Let us gather gifts that we may present to him.' 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:18.220 And the most beloved gift to him from our land was leather, 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:21.220 So we collected much leather for him, 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:24.220 Then we set out until we came to him. 00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:26.220 By Allah, while we were with him, 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:29.220 Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri arrived, 00:05:29.220 --> 00:05:33.220 Whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:37.319 Had sent regarding Ja'far and his companions." 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:40.319 Al-Bayhaqi recorded in *Dala'il al-Nubuwwah* 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.319 On the authority of Muhammad ibn Ishaq, 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:43.319 Who said: 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:46.319 "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:48.319 Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:51.319 (May Allah be pleased with him) to the Negus 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:54.319 Concerning Ja'far ibn Abi Talib and his companions, 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:57.319 And he sent a letter with him: 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:59.319 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.319 From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:04.319 To the Negus al-Asham, 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:06.319 King of Abyssinia. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.449 Peace be upon you. 00:06:08.449 --> 00:06:13.449 I praise Allah to you, the King, the Holy, the Source of Peace, the Guardian. 00:06:13.449 --> 00:06:16.449 And I bear witness that Jesus, son of Mary, is the Spirit of Allah 00:06:16.449 --> 00:06:21.449 And His Word which He bestowed upon Mary, the chaste, pure, and immaculate virgin. 00:06:21.449 --> 00:06:23.449 Thus she conceived Jesus, 00:06:23.449 --> 00:06:26.449 Whom He created from His Spirit and breathed into him, 00:06:26.449 --> 00:06:29.449 Just as He created Adam with His hand and breathed into him. 00:06:29.449 --> 00:06:33.480 Indeed, I invite you to Allah, Alone without partner, 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:36.480 And to allegiance in His obedience, 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:40.480 And that you follow me and believe in me and in that which has come to me, 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:42.480 For I am the Messenger of Allah. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.639 I have sent to you my cousin Ja'far 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:48.639 Along with a group of Muslims; 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.639 When they come to you, 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:52.639 Receive them hospitality and abandon arrogance. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:55.639 I call you and your hosts to Allah, 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:58.639 And I have conveyed the message and offered sincere advice, 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.639 So accept my advice.'" 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.639 “So go ye unto him and say: Lo! we are two messengers of thy Lord. So let the children of Israel go with us, and torment them not. We bring thee a token from thy Lord. And peace will be for him who followeth right guidance.” (20:47) 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:05.899 I say: 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:10.899 It appears from the phrasing of this letter of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:13.899 That the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:07:13.899 --> 00:07:16.899 Sent it after the arrival of the Abyssinian emigrants 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:19.899 During the second emigration to Abyssinia, 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:23.899 And that was prior to the emigration to Medina. 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:27.899 This is the view held by Al-Bayhaqi in *Dala'il al-Nubuwwah*, 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:32.899 Where he placed it after the events of the second emigration to Abyssinia, 00:07:32.899 --> 00:07:36.899 And Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir deemed it most probable in *Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah*. 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:43.220 Abu Dawud recorded in his *Sunan* and Al-Hakim in his *Mustadrak* with an authentic chain of transmission 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:46.220 On the authority of Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her), 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:50.220 That she was married to Ubayd Allah ibn Jahsh, 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:52.220 Who died in the land of Abyssinia. 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:57.220 Thereupon, the Negus married her to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:07:57.220 --> 00:08:00.220 And gave her a dower on his behalf of four thousand [dirhams], 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:04.220 And he sent her to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:06.220 In the company of Shurahbil ibn Hasanah. 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:09.410 Al-Hafiz said in *Al-Talkhis al-Habir*: 00:08:09.410 --> 00:08:11.410 "It is well known in the biographies 00:08:11.410 --> 00:08:14.410 That he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:08:14.410 --> 00:08:17.410 Sent Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri (may Allah be pleased with him) 00:08:17.410 --> 00:08:20.410 To the Negus (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:08:20.410 --> 00:08:23.410 Who then married Umm Habibah to him. 00:08:23.410 --> 00:08:28.410 It is possible that he [Amr] was the agent authorized to accept the marriage proposal, or that it was the Negus. 00:08:28.410 --> 00:08:31.410 However, the apparent meaning in the collections of Abu Dawud and Al-Nasa'i 00:08:31.410 --> 00:08:36.409 Is that the Negus conducted the marriage contract on behalf of the Prophet (peace be upon him), 00:08:36.409 --> 00:08:40.409 While the guardian who officiated the marriage was Khalid ibn Sa'id ibn al-Aas, 00:08:40.409 --> 00:08:42.409 As stated in *Al-Maghazi*. 00:08:42.409 --> 00:08:44.409 It was also said to be Uthman ibn Affan, 00:08:44.409 --> 00:08:46.409 But that is an error." 00:08:46.409 --> 00:08:48.600 Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said: 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:50.600 "And his marriage to Umm Habibah— 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:53.600 Her name being Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.600 Sakhr ibn Harb, 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:57.600 The Qurashite, Umayyad woman; 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:59.600 And it was also said her name was Hind— 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:03.600 He married her while she was an emigrant in the land of Abyssinia. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:07.600 The Negus paid her a dower on his behalf of four hundred dinars, 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:10.600 And she was escorted to him from there. 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:13.600 She passed away during the reign of her brother Mu'awiyah. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:18.600 This is the well-known and widely attested account among scholars of biography and history, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.600 Held by them in the same certainty as his marriage to Khadijah in Mecca, 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:24.600 To Hafsah in Medina, 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:27.600 And to Safiyyah after Khaybar." 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:30.860 He also stated in *Tahdhib Sunan Abi Dawud*: 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:34.860 "The Negus officiating her marriage was in fact genuine, 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.860 For he was a Muslim 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:39.860 And the ruler and sovereign of that land. 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:42.860 Some commentators have interpreted it 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:45.860 As meaning he merely provided the dower from himself, 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.860 And thus the marriage was attributed to him figuratively. 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:49.860 Others interpreted it 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:52.860 As meaning he was the suitor on the Prophet's behalf, 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:56.860 While the guardian who executed the contract was Uthman ibn Affan, 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:59.860 Or, as some said, Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:02.860 The correct view is that Amr ibn Umayyah 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:07.860 Was the representative of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in that matter, 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:12.889 Dispatched by him to the Negus to marry her to him. 00:10:12.889 --> 00:10:15.889 And it was said that the guardian who executed her marriage contract 00:10:15.889 --> 00:10:18.889 Was Khalid ibn Sa'id ibn al-Aas, 00:10:18.889 --> 00:10:20.889 Her father's cousin." 00:10:20.889 --> 00:10:25.460 A Summary of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah). 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:32.529 Though the longings of all creation for one another grow intense, 00:10:32.529 --> 00:10:38.529 The longing felt for you knows no bound. 00:10:38.529 --> 00:10:46.360 May Allah send blessings upon you as long as the call to prayer is raised, 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:51.360 And as long as lips move 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.059 With the enduring words of remembrance.