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

156 THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @G@= (VLJZ-I)
him. This was the final stand of Heraclius (he never accepted Imaan)
The Letter Rasulullaah @@ sent to Kisra the
Emperor of Persia
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Ahbaas %XXW narrates that Rasulullaah sent a
messenger with a letter addressed to Kisra, instructing the messenger to hand
the letter over to the governor of Bahrain. The govkrnor in turn had it sent to
Kisra. However, Kisra tore the letter up and it was probably Ibn Musayyib who
narrates that Rasulullaah @ cursed Kisra by saying that Allaah should also tear
him apart completely. (2)
Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Abd Qaari B,I2iw narrates that Rasulullaah @%%
stood on the pulpit one-day to deliver a sermon. After praising Allaah, and
reciting the Shahaadah, he said, "I intend sending some of you to the non-Arab
kings so do not dispute before me as the Bani Israa'eel did in front of Isa the son
of Maryam @&." To this, the Muhaajireen said, "0 Rasulullaah w! We shall
never ever dispute with you concerning anything. Issue the command and send
us (wherever you wish)."
Rasulullaah @%@ then sent Hadhrat Shujaa bin Wahab to Kisra. (When he
arrived) Kisra had his palace decorated and gathered the leading personalities of
his kingdom there before admitting Hadhrat .Shujaa WBW. When Hadhrat
Shujaa 3i&Gw entered, Kisra ordered that the letter of Rasulullaah should
be taken from Hadhrat Shujaa %Wm and handed over to him. However,
Hadhrat Shujaa SGM refused to surrender the letter and insisted that he
wanted to personally hand the letter to Kisra as Rasulullaah @@ had
commanded him. Kisra permitted him to draw close and when he did, he handed
the letter over. Kisra then summoned one of his scribes from Heera who read the
letter out. The letter read: "From Muhammad bin Abdillaah the Rasool of Allaah
to Kisra the Emperor of,Persia."
The fact that Rasulullaah @?@ begun the letter with his name infuriated Kisra so
much that he tore the letter to bits before being informed of what it contained.
He then ordered Hadhrat Shujaa %Sw out of his court. Mounting his
conveyance, Hadhrat Shujaa 315Wh.j said, "By Allaah! Now that I have delivered
the letter of Rasulullaah @@, I have no concern about which of the two paths I
am on (whether Kisra is pleased or not)."
When Kisra's anger had abated, he sent someone to call Hadhrat Shujaa %W&j
back, but Hadhrat Shujaa @Gw had already left by then. The person searched
for him uhtil he reached Heera but Hadhrat Shujaa 3sw was already far ahead.
When Hadhrat Shujaa 3GWj reported back Rasulullaah and informed him
(I) Bukhari, lmaam Bukhari WSirlW has narrates this incident in several places in his Saheeh in
different words. The other authors of the six most authentic Hadith compilations with the
exception of Ibn Majah have also reported this narration from Zuhri 'ZiW&lW who in turn narrates
from Abaydullaah bin Abdullaah bin Utba bin Mas'ood from Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas !&W&%
- A/ Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.4 Pg.266). Ibn Is'haaq has also narrated from Zuhri W&W as
mentioned in Al Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.4 Pg.262). Also narrating from Zuhri WSirlW are Abu
Nu"aym in Dalaa# (Pg. 119) and Bayhaqi (Vo1.9 Pg.178).
(2) Bukhari.