WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:03.419 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.419 --> 00:00:06.900 Treasures of the Prophetic biography (Seerah). 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:17.140 The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) correspondence with kings. 00:00:17.140 --> 00:00:19.140 Following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:23.739 The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent letters to kings and rulers, 00:00:23.739 --> 00:00:26.739 Inviting them to Allah, the Blessed and Exalted. 00:00:26.739 --> 00:00:30.739 He (peace be upon him) dispatched many such letters, 00:00:30.739 --> 00:00:33.140 Of which we shall mention two. 00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:36.340 The first is his letter to Khosrow. 00:00:36.340 --> 00:00:38.380 It stated: 00:00:38.380 --> 00:00:41.380 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:41.380 --> 00:00:43.380 From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:45.380 To Khosrow, the Chosroes of Persia. 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:48.380 “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) 00:00:48.380 --> 00:00:50.380 Believe in Allah and His Messenger, 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:54.380 And bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:57.380 And that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. 00:00:57.380 --> 00:01:00.380 I invite you with the call of Allah, 00:01:00.579 --> 00:01:04.579 For I am the Messenger of Allah to all mankind. 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:06.579 “To warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against the disbelievers.” (36:70) 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:09.579 “To warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against the disbelievers.” (36:70) 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:11.579 Embrace Islam and you will be safe. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:12.579 But if you refuse, 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:15.859 Then the sin of the Magians shall be upon you. 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:19.859 The Prophet (peace be upon him) chose to carry this letter, 00:01:19.859 --> 00:01:23.859 Abdullah Ibn Hudhafah al-Sahmi (may Allah be pleased with him). 00:01:23.859 --> 00:01:27.959 Al-Sahmi delivered it to the governor of Bahrain. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:31.159 When the letter reached Khosrow, 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:33.159 He tore it up and said in his arrogance, 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:36.159 Regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.159 "A lowly slave from among my subjects 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:41.159 Writes his name before mine?" 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:45.290 When this reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:01:45.290 --> 00:01:46.290 He said: 00:01:46.290 --> 00:01:48.290 "May Allah tear his kingdom apart." 00:01:48.290 --> 00:01:51.609 And it happened just as he said. 00:01:51.609 --> 00:01:55.609 Khosrow had written to Badhan, his governor in Yemen, 00:01:55.810 --> 00:01:57.810 "Send to this man 00:01:57.810 --> 00:02:00.810 Who is in the Hijaz two of your strongest men, 00:02:00.810 --> 00:02:02.810 So that they may bring him to me." 00:02:02.810 --> 00:02:05.840 Badhan chose two men from his side, 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:10.840 And sent them with a letter to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:14.840 Ordering him to depart with them to Khosrow. 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:17.840 This was a strange command from this man, 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:18.840 That is, Khosrow. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:21.840 He underestimated the Arabs, 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:23.840 So he did not send an army, 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:30.039 Nor even a small detachment to fetch the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:32.039 But rather sent only two men 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:36.039 To bring the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to him. 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:40.039 Such was the view of Persia and Rome toward the Arabs; 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:44.039 They despised them and considered them of no account. 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.039 But Allah, the Majestic and Exalted, honored them through Islam. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:50.039 It was only a few years, 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:53.039 Before Islam emerged, 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:57.240 And Allah, the Majestic and Exalted, ended the entire Persian empire. 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:01.300 This is the grace of Allah, the Glorified and Exalted. 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:03.300 It has been mentioned in the hadith 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:08.300 That these two men came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:12.340 Having shaved their beards and let their mustaches grow long. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:16.340 When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw them, 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:20.340 He turned away from them and disliked looking at them. 00:03:20.539 --> 00:03:24.539 Then he said, "Who commanded you to do this?" 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:27.539 Referring to letting the mustache grow and shaving the beard. 00:03:27.539 --> 00:03:29.539 They said, "Our lord." 00:03:29.539 --> 00:03:32.539 The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:38.629 "As for my Lord, He has commanded me to let my beard grow and to trim my mustache." 00:03:38.629 --> 00:03:42.629 This is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), 00:03:42.629 --> 00:03:44.729 And this is his guidance. 00:03:44.729 --> 00:03:48.729 The second is his letter to Heraclius. 00:03:48.930 --> 00:03:51.930 Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) recorded 00:03:51.930 --> 00:03:53.930 On the authority of Abdullah Ibn Abbas, 00:03:53.930 --> 00:03:56.930 That Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb informed him, 00:03:56.930 --> 00:03:58.930 Abu Sufyan said: 00:03:58.930 --> 00:04:00.930 "We were merchants in the Levant, 00:04:00.930 --> 00:04:04.930 And Heraclius sent for me and those who were with me, 00:04:04.930 --> 00:04:09.930 During the period when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:04:09.930 --> 00:04:12.930 Had a truce with Abu Sufyan and the disbelievers of Quraysh. 00:04:12.930 --> 00:04:15.930 We came to him while he was in Iliya (Jerusalem). 00:04:16.129 --> 00:04:20.129 He summoned us to his court, with the Roman dignitaries around him, 00:04:20.129 --> 00:04:23.129 And he called for his translator and said, 00:04:23.129 --> 00:04:28.129 'Which of you is closest in lineage to this man who claims to be a prophet?'" 00:04:28.129 --> 00:04:30.129 Abu Sufyan said, 00:04:30.129 --> 00:04:33.129 "I am the closest of them in lineage." 00:04:33.129 --> 00:04:35.189 For Abu Sufyan 00:04:35.189 --> 00:04:37.189 Is Sakhr Ibn Harb Ibn Umayyah, 00:04:37.189 --> 00:04:40.189 Ibn Abd Shams Ibn Abd Manaf. 00:04:40.189 --> 00:04:43.189 And the Prophet (peace be upon him) 00:04:43.389 --> 00:04:46.389 Is Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abd al-Muttalib, 00:04:46.389 --> 00:04:48.389 Ibn Hashim Ibn Abd Manaf. 00:04:48.389 --> 00:04:52.389 So the fourth ancestor of Abu Sufyan is Abd Shams, 00:04:52.389 --> 00:04:57.389 And the fourth ancestor of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is Hashim. 00:04:57.389 --> 00:04:59.389 Hashim and Abd Shams 00:04:59.389 --> 00:05:01.389 Were twin brothers, 00:05:01.389 --> 00:05:03.389 Their father being Abd Manaf. 00:05:03.389 --> 00:05:06.389 He said, "Bring him close to me." 00:05:06.389 --> 00:05:11.389 He said, "And place his companions behind his back." 00:05:11.589 --> 00:05:13.589 Then he said to his translator, 00:05:13.589 --> 00:05:14.589 "Tell them: 00:05:14.589 --> 00:05:17.589 I am going to ask him about this man, 00:05:17.589 --> 00:05:19.589 So if he lies to me, you must call him a liar." 00:05:19.589 --> 00:05:21.620 Abu Sufyan said, 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:26.620 "By Allah, were it not for the shame of them reporting a lie against me, I would have lied." 00:05:26.620 --> 00:05:30.620 Then the first thing he asked me about was: 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:32.620 "How is his lineage among you?" 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:33.620 I said, 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:35.620 "He is of noble lineage among us." 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:38.620 In one narration, he said, 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:40.620 "He is of the most middle (best) of us in lineage." 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:43.819 Meaning, of the best of us in lineage. 00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:45.819 The middle of a thing is its best part, 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.819 Like the jewel in a necklace, 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:49.819 The centerpiece of the necklace. 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:52.819 Likewise, it is said regarding the afternoon prayer, 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.819 The 'middle prayer' (al-salat al-wusta), 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:57.819 As Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: 00:05:57.819 --> 00:06:00.819 “Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah.” (2:238) 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:02.819 Meaning, the most excellent. 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:04.920 Heraclius said, 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:08.920 "Has anyone among you ever said this before him?" 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:10.980 I said, "No." 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:14.980 He said, "Was there any king among his forefathers?" 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:17.019 I said, "No." 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:21.019 He said, "Do the noble people follow him, or the weak ones?" 00:06:21.019 --> 00:06:24.019 I said, "Rather, the weak ones." 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:28.019 He said, "Are they increasing or decreasing?" 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:30.019 I said, "Rather, they are increasing." 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:36.019 He said, "Does anyone among them apostatize out of dissatisfaction with his religion after entering it?" 00:06:36.019 --> 00:06:38.139 I said, "No." 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:44.139 He said, "Did you accuse him of lying before he said what he said?" 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:46.209 I said, "No." 00:06:46.209 --> 00:06:48.209 He said, "Does he betray?" 00:06:48.209 --> 00:06:50.209 I said, "No, 00:06:50.209 --> 00:06:54.209 And we are in a truce with him, not knowing what he will do during it." 00:06:54.209 --> 00:06:56.209 Abu Sufyan said, 00:06:56.209 --> 00:07:02.209 "I could not insert any disparaging word other than this." 00:07:02.209 --> 00:07:05.209 He said, "Have you fought him?" 00:07:05.209 --> 00:07:07.209 I said, "Yes." 00:07:07.209 --> 00:07:10.209 "And how was your fighting against him?" 00:07:10.209 --> 00:07:17.209 I said, "The war between us and him is alternating; he gains against us, and we gain against him." 00:07:17.209 --> 00:07:20.209 He said, "What does he command you?" 00:07:20.209 --> 00:07:26.209 I said, "He says: Worship Allah alone and do not associate anything with Him, 00:07:26.209 --> 00:07:29.209 And abandon what your forefathers say." 00:07:29.209 --> 00:07:34.209 "He also commands us to pray, to be truthful, to be chaste, and to maintain kinship ties." 00:07:34.209 --> 00:07:36.370 Heraclius said to the translator, 00:07:36.370 --> 00:07:39.370 "Tell him: I asked you about his lineage, 00:07:39.370 --> 00:07:42.370 And you mentioned that he is of noble lineage among you; 00:07:42.370 --> 00:07:46.370 Thus are messengers sent within the lineage of their people. 00:07:46.370 --> 00:07:52.370 I asked you if anyone among you had said this before him, 00:07:52.370 --> 00:07:54.370 And you said no; 00:07:54.370 --> 00:07:58.370 I said if someone had said this before him, 00:07:58.370 --> 00:08:03.370 I would have said he is a man imitating a statement said before him. 00:08:03.370 --> 00:08:07.370 I asked you if there was any king among his forefathers, 00:08:07.370 --> 00:08:09.370 And you said no; 00:08:09.370 --> 00:08:12.370 I said if there had been a king among his forefathers, 00:08:12.370 --> 00:08:16.560 I would have said he is a man seeking the kingdom of his forefathers. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:22.560 I asked you if you accused him of lying before he said what he said, 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.589 And you said no; 00:08:24.589 --> 00:08:29.589 I know that he would not refrain from lying to people only to lie about Allah. 00:08:29.589 --> 00:08:31.589 I asked you: 00:08:31.589 --> 00:08:35.590 Do the noble people follow him or the weak ones? 00:08:35.590 --> 00:08:40.590 You said the weak ones follow him, and they are the followers of the messengers. 00:08:40.590 --> 00:08:44.620 I asked you if they are increasing or decreasing, 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:46.620 And you said they are increasing; 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:49.620 Such is the affair of faith until it is perfected. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:51.620 In another narration: 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:56.620 'Such is faith when its sweetness permeates the hearts.' 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:58.620 I asked you: 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:03.620 Does anyone apostatize out of dissatisfaction with his religion after entering it? 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.620 You said no; 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:09.620 Such is faith when its sweetness permeates the hearts. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:12.620 I asked you if he betrays, 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:14.620 And you mentioned that he does not; 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:16.620 Likewise, messengers do not betray. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:19.620 I asked you what he commands you, 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:25.620 And you mentioned that he commands you to worship Allah alone and not associate anything with Him, 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:28.620 And forbids you from worshipping idols, 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:32.620 And commands you to pray, to be truthful, to be chaste, and to maintain kinship ties." 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:34.690 Then he said, 00:09:34.690 --> 00:09:37.690 "If what you say is true, 00:09:37.690 --> 00:09:40.690 He will surely possess the ground beneath these two feet of mine. 00:09:40.690 --> 00:09:43.690 I already knew that he was to emerge, 00:09:43.690 --> 00:09:46.690 But I did not think he would be from among you." 00:09:46.690 --> 00:09:48.690 Heraclius said, 00:09:48.690 --> 00:09:51.690 "If I knew that I could reach him, 00:09:51.690 --> 00:09:53.690 I would have endured the hardship to meet him, 00:09:53.690 --> 00:09:55.690 And if I were with him, 00:09:55.690 --> 00:09:57.690 I would have washed his feet." 00:09:57.690 --> 00:10:02.940 Then he called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:06.940 Which he had sent with Dihyah to the governor of Busra, 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.940 Who then delivered it to Heraclius. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:10.940 He read it, and it stated: 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:13.940 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:16.940 From Muhammad, the servant of Allah and His Messenger, 00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:19.940 To Heraclius, the Chosroes of Rome. 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:22.940 “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) 00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:24.940 To proceed: 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:27.940 I invite you with the call of Islam. 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:29.940 Embrace Islam and you will be safe; 00:10:29.940 --> 00:10:32.940 Allah will give you your reward twice over. 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:33.940 But if you turn away, 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:36.940 Then the sin of the peasants shall be upon you. 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:38.940 Then he said: 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:44.940 “Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).” (3:64) 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:46.940 between us and you. 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:52.940 “Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).” (3:64) 00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:55.940 “Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).” (3:64) 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:58.940 “Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).” (3:64) 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:01.980 or a gate other than Allah. 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.980 If they turn away, then say: 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:08.980 "Bear witness that we are Muslims." 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:11.200 Abu Sufyan said: 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.200 Once he had said what he said, 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:16.200 and finished reading the letter, 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:19.200 the clamor grew loud around him and voices were raised. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.200 And we were turned out. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:24.200 I said to my companions when we were turned out, 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:27.200 "The affair of Ibn Abi Kabshah has become a serious matter; 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:30.200 even the King of the Byzantines fears him." 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:32.200 He says, 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:35.200 "I remained certain that he would prevail, 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:38.200 until Allah brought Islam into my heart." 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:40.360 Ibn al-Natur was 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:42.360 the governor of Iliya (Jerusalem), 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.360 and a leader over the Christians of the Levant, 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:46.360 and a friend of Heraclius. 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:49.360 They both used to study the stars. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.360 He narrates that Heraclius, when he came to Iliya, 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:55.360 woke up one day in a foul mood. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:58.360 Some of his patriarchs asked him, 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.360 "We find your demeanor troubling." 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:02.360 Ibn al-Natur said, 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:04.360 "Heraclius was a soothsayer 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:06.360 who looked to the stars." 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:08.360 He said to them when they asked him, 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:10.360 "I saw tonight, 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:12.360 when I looked at the stars, 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.360 that the king of those who are circumcised has appeared. 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:17.360 Who is it that gets circumcised among this Ummah?" 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:21.360 They said, "No one gets circumcised except the Jews, 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.360 so do not let their affair concern you. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.360 Write to the cities of your kingdom 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:29.360 to have the Jews within them killed." 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:33.360 He says: While they were occupied with this, 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:37.360 a man was brought to Heraclius whom the King of Ghassan had sent 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:41.360 to report news of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.360 When Heraclius questioned him, he said, 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:46.360 "Go and see 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:48.360 whether he is circumcised or not." 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.360 They reported to him that he was indeed circumcised. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.360 "And ask him about the Arabs." 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.360 He said, "They practice circumcision." 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.360 Heraclius then said, 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:01.360 "This is the king of this Ummah who has appeared." 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:05.490 Then Heraclius wrote to a friend of his in Rome, 00:13:05.490 --> 00:13:07.490 who was his peer in knowledge. 00:13:07.490 --> 00:13:10.490 Heraclius then traveled to Homs, 00:13:10.490 --> 00:13:16.490 and he had not yet left Homs before a letter arrived from his friend that agreed with his own view. 00:13:16.490 --> 00:13:22.519 He says: Heraclius then summoned the notables of Rome to a palace of his in Homs. 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:25.519 A palace is a structure like a castle, 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:29.519 containing many rooms for servants and attendants. 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:33.519 He then ordered the doors of the palace to be locked. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.519 Then he appeared and said, 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.519 "O assembly of the Romans, 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:39.519 do you desire success and guidance, 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.519 and for your kingdom to remain firm? 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.519 Then pledge allegiance to this Prophet." 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:47.519 They rushed toward the doors like wild donkeys, 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:49.519 but found them locked. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:53.519 When Heraclius saw their aversion and despaired of their faith, 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.519 he said, "Bring them back to me." 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:58.519 Then he said, 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:04.519 "I only said what I said earlier to test the strength of your commitment to your religion. 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.519 Now I have seen it." 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.519 So they prostrated to him. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:11.519 That was the end of the affair of Heraclius. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:14.779 This man valued the world too highly; 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:17.779 he was stingy regarding his kingdom and feared for it, 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.779 and he forgot the Hereafter. 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:21.870 And such is man: 00:14:21.870 --> 00:14:23.870 he may lose the greatest good, 00:14:23.870 --> 00:14:26.870 and lose the Hereafter, which is the eternal abode, 00:14:26.870 --> 00:14:31.870 for a trivial worldly life in which one may or may not find comfort. 00:14:31.870 --> 00:14:33.870 And whoever finds comfort in it, 00:14:34.870 --> 00:14:37.870 will be dipped once into the Fire of Hell, 00:14:37.870 --> 00:14:39.870 then it will be said to him: 00:14:39.870 --> 00:14:41.870 "Has any good ever passed you by? 00:14:41.870 --> 00:14:44.899 Has any comfort ever passed you by? 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:46.899 Have you ever seen any bliss?" 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:48.970 And he will say, "No, 00:14:48.970 --> 00:14:50.970 I have never seen any bliss." 00:14:50.970 --> 00:14:54.289 Here, a questioner might ask: 00:14:54.289 --> 00:14:56.289 Did Heraclius accept Islam? 00:14:56.289 --> 00:14:59.289 The outward appearance here is that he wanted to accept Islam, 00:14:59.289 --> 00:15:03.289 and that he believed in the Prophet, peace be upon him. 00:15:03.289 --> 00:15:06.289 But mere belief is not enough; 00:15:06.289 --> 00:15:08.289 one must also make the declaration. 00:15:08.289 --> 00:15:12.289 For faith is not merely belief. 00:15:12.289 --> 00:15:15.289 Iblis believes that Allah is his Creator, 00:15:15.289 --> 00:15:17.289 and that Allah is his Originator, 00:15:17.289 --> 00:15:19.289 and that Allah is his Fashioner, 00:15:19.289 --> 00:15:20.289 and that to Allah belongs the command, 00:15:20.289 --> 00:15:23.289 and to Him belongs the prohibition, glory be to Him and Exalted is He. 00:15:23.289 --> 00:15:25.289 Yet, despite this, he did not respond. 00:15:25.289 --> 00:15:28.289 And it has come down that he wrote from Tabuk, 00:15:28.289 --> 00:15:30.289 Heraclius, 00:15:30.289 --> 00:15:33.289 to the Prophet, peace be upon him, saying: 00:15:33.289 --> 00:15:35.289 "I am a Muslim." 00:15:35.289 --> 00:15:38.289 But the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 00:15:38.289 --> 00:15:39.289 "He lies; 00:15:39.289 --> 00:15:42.289 he remains upon his Christianity." 00:15:42.289 --> 00:15:44.350 Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said, 00:15:44.350 --> 00:15:48.350 in the book *Al-Amwal* by Abu 'Ubayd with a sound chain of narration, 00:15:48.350 --> 00:15:51.350 from the *mursal* report of Bakr Ibn 'Abdullah al-Muzani, 00:15:51.350 --> 00:15:53.350 that he said: 00:15:53.350 --> 00:15:57.350 When the Prophet, peace be upon him, was told about Heraclius, 00:15:57.350 --> 00:15:59.350 he said, "The enemy of Allah lies; 00:15:59.350 --> 00:16:01.350 he is not a Muslim." 00:16:01.350 --> 00:16:04.450 Treasures of the Seerah. 00:16:04.450 --> 00:16:11.740 The Justice of Islam. 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:14.740 Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:18.740 from Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:21.740 A group of eight men from 'Ukl 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:25.740 came to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.740 and pledged allegiance to him upon Islam. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:31.740 But the climate of the land did not suit them, and their bodies became ill. 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:35.740 They mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:39.740 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:43.740 "Why don't you go out with our shepherd to his camels, 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:46.740 and drink from their milk and urine?" 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.740 They said, "Yes." 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:52.740 So they drank from their milk and urine and recovered. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:56.740 But what was the reward for this kindness? 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:59.769 They killed the shepherd and drove off the camels. 00:16:59.769 --> 00:17:03.769 This reached the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:17:03.769 --> 00:17:05.769 so he sent men in their pursuit. 00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:08.769 They were caught and brought back. 00:17:08.769 --> 00:17:11.769 He, peace be upon him, ordered that 00:17:11.769 --> 00:17:14.769 their hands and feet be cut off, 00:17:14.769 --> 00:17:16.769 and their eyes be branded with hot irons, 00:17:16.769 --> 00:17:19.769 and they were left in the sun until they died. 00:17:19.769 --> 00:17:22.829 This is the punishment for those who spread corruption in the land. 00:17:22.829 --> 00:17:25.900 And Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: 00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:28.900 "And We ordained for them therein: 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:31.900 A life for a life, an eye for an eye..." 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:35.900 “And We prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it (in the way of charity) it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are wrong-doers.” (5:45) 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:38.900 “And We prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it (in the way of charity) it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are wrong-doers.” (5:45) 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.900 "...and wounds are subject to legal retribution." 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:44.089 Anas said: 00:17:44.089 --> 00:17:46.089 He only branded their eyes 00:17:46.089 --> 00:17:49.089 because they had branded the eyes of the shepherd. 00:17:49.089 --> 00:17:51.089 They were the ones who started it. 00:17:51.089 --> 00:17:54.089 So the Prophet, peace be upon him, treated them 00:17:54.089 --> 00:17:56.089 with the same action they had committed. 00:17:56.089 --> 00:17:58.089 This is because they committed aggression, 00:17:58.089 --> 00:18:01.089 so he committed aggression against them in the same manner they had committed it. 00:18:01.089 --> 00:18:03.089 Even if the second act of aggression 00:18:03.089 --> 00:18:06.089 is not aggression in its true sense, 00:18:06.089 --> 00:18:08.089 rather, it is legal retribution.