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

THE L I ~ OF S THE SAHABAH @,@$%(V01:l) 155
worship any prophet, saint, etc)." If they turn away (refusing to accept
theproposa/) then say, "Be witness that we are certainly Muslims (we
have surrendered oursefves to Affaah 5 commands)." (
Abu Sufyaan narrates furthe$ "After Heraclius had spoken and read the letter,
there was a lot of noise about and people started speaking at the top of their
voices. It was then that they.kent us out. When we were sent out, I said to one of
my companions, 'The affair of Ibn Abi Kabsha (Rasulullaah @%@) has grown so
powerful that even the king of the yellow skins (the Romans) have begun to fear
him.' Thereafter, I remained convinced that Rasulullaah would dominate
until Allaah blessed me with Islaam."
A person by the name of Ibn Naatoor was the governor of Ilyia, a good friend of
Heraclius and the high priest of the Christians in Shaam. He narrates that once
when Heraclius was visiting Ilyia (Baytul Maqdas) when he appeared extremely
unwell and restless one morning. In fact, some of his pastors even told him that
he did not seem himself. Heraclius was an astrologer and could read the stars so
when they asked him (about the reason for his ill disposition) he said to them,
'When I gazed into the stars, I saw that the king of the circumcised people had
made his appearance. Which nation practices circumcision?" They told him, "It
is only the Jews who practise circumcision, but you have nothing to fear from
them. Simply circulate a command throughout your kingdom calling for all Jews
to be killed."
They were still busy discussing this when an envoy arrived from the governor of
Ghassaan, informing them about Rasulullaah @%. When Heraclius had
questioned the envoy, he instructed the pastors to investigate whether the envoy
was circumcised. When they determined that he had been circumcised, he was
asked whether the Arabs practiced circumcision. When he informed them that
circumcision was customary amongst the Arabs, Heraclius said, "It is the king of
this nation who has made his appearance." Heraclius then wrote a letter to a
friend in Rome who was also an expert in astrology as he was. He then left for
Hims. He had not yet reached Hims when a reply came from his friend which
corresponded with the opinion of Heracli-us that Rasulullaah 6% had made his
appearance and that he was a Nabi.
Heraclius then invited the leading people of Rome to his castle in Hims and had
all the doors locked. He then made an appearance and addressed them saying,
"0 leaders of the Roman people! Do you want to achieve success, good fortune
and keep your kingdom? Simply follow this Nabi." When they heaid this,
everyone present started to flee like wild camels and headed for the doors, which
they found locked. When Heraclius noticed their derision and lost hope in their
accepting Imaan, he instructed his men to bring everyone back. He then said to
them, "I told you this only to test your stdadfastness in adhering to your religion.
I have now witnessed it." They all prostrated before him and were satisfied with
(1) Surah Aal Imraan, verse 64.