Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

150 THE LIVES OF THE SAHAB& (Vol-I)
sign of prophethood. How is his honesty?" Abu Sufyaan replied, "He has never
spoken a lie." The Emperor observed, "This is a sure sign of prophethood." He
then asked, "Tell me about those of your people who have joined with him. Have
any of them returned to you?" o one," came the reply. The Emperor again
remarked, "This is a sure sign of prophethood. Is heever defeated when he leads
his companions to battle?" Abu Sufyaan replied, "His people have done battle
with him. Sometimes they have defeated him and at other times he had defeated
them." The Emperor said, "This is a sure sign of prophethood." He then sent for
Hadhrat Dihya B,= and said to him, "Tell your leader that although
-
I know
well that he is a prophet, I cannot forsake my kingship."
Hadhrat Dihya $i%4&!+3 narrates further that the people used to gather before the
high priest every Sunday when he would deliver lectures to them and advise
them. However, when Sunday came, he did not go out to meet the people and
remained in his home until the following Sunday. Hadhrat Dihya says
that he used to meet with the high priest who would speak to him and ask him
many questions. When the next Sunday came, the people again awaited his
arrival. However, he did not meet them with the pretext of being ill. This he did
for several Sundays until the people eventually delivered the ultimatum and sent
a message to him stating, ''You will come to us otherwise we shall come to you
andkil1you.Wehavenoted the change in your attitude since the Arab has arrived."
The high priest then said to H.adhrat Dihya WW%, "Take this letter to your
leader. Greet him on my behalf and inform him that I testify that there is none
worthy of worship but Allaah and that Muhammad @$% is Allaah's Rasul. I
believe in ~asuhllaah w, accept what he says and follow him but my people
dislike this. Also inform him about what you have seen." He then went to meet
the people and they killed him. (')
Some scholars of Hadith have narrated that Heraclius sdd to Hadhrat Dihya
-, "0 dear! I swear by Allaah that
-
I know that your leader is the sent
prophet and that he is the one we have been waiting for and who is described in
our scriptures. However, I fear that the Romans will take my life. Were it not for
this fear, I would have certainly followed him. Go to the high priest Daghaatir
and tell him about your leader for he is higher than me in status and more
influential in Rome. When Hadhrat Dihya approached the high priest and
informed him of matters, he said, "I swear by Allaah that your leader is a sent
prophet. We recognise him by his description and his name."
The high priest then entered (his rooms), removed his clothing and wore white
clothing. He then went out to meet the Roman people and testified to the true
Shahaadah. They immediately attacked him and killed him. (2)
(1) Bazzaar, Haythami (Vol.8 Pgs.236,237) has commented on the Hadith. Tabraani has also narrates a
similar report from Hadhrat Dihya $&%%. Haythami (Vo1.5 ~g.306) has commented on this
narration. Abu Nu'aym has also narrated a similar Hadith in Dalaa'il (Pg.l21), which is more brief.
A more detailed narration like this has been reported by Abdaan bin Muhammad Marwazi from
Abdullaah bin Shaddaad.
(2) Abdaan from Ibn Is'haaq. Yahya bin Sa'eed Umawi has narrated a similar report in his Maghaazi as
did Tabari who narrates from Ibn Is'haaq as mentioned in lsaaba (Vol.2 Pg.216).