Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): Allah’s True Prophet
By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi



We have not sent you but as a Messenger to all people, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most people understand not. (Saba’34:28)


Muslim scholars have discussed different ways to consider the Prophetic claim of Sayyidna Muhammad (peace be upon him). This subject is known as Dala’il al-Nubuwwah. There are hundreds of scholars who wrote in the past and continue writing on this subject. Entire books and volumes have been devoted to this subject.

Imam Bukhari and many other scholars of Hadith have mentioned a very interesting historical report. From this report we learn how a reasonable leader approached this subject. It is mentioned that after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Prophet - peace be upon him - sent many letters to the neighboring chiefs and rulers inviting them to Islam. He sent Dehya al-Kalbi - may Allah be pleased with him - with a letter addressed to the Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius (610-641). He ruled a vast territory of the Middle East at that time. This letter was probably sent to him in the year 628 CE. Heraclius was in Jerusalem at that time celebrating his victory over the Persians. The letter was given to the governor of Busra who delivered it to the Emperor. The Emperor was intrigued by this Noble Letter. He wanted to know more about the one who sent him this letter and whether he was truly Allah’s Messenger.


There was a caravan of Arab traders in the city. Heraclius ordered the caravan people to be brought to his court. Abu Sufian b. Harb was the chief of this caravan. He was not a Muslim at that time. Actually he was then one of the enemies of Islam. Later when he became Muslim he reported this whole incident to Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas - may Allah be pleased with both of them.


Ibn ‘Abbas - may Allah be pleased with him - said, “Abu Sufian bin Harb informed me that Heraclius sent a messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish. They were merchants doing business in Sham (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan), at the time when Allah’s Messenger had truce with Abu Sufian and the unbelievers of Quraish. So Abu Sufian and his companions went to Heraclius at Ilya’ (Jerusalem). Heraclius called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator who, translating Heraclius’ question, said to them, “Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?” Abu Sufian replied, “I am the nearest relative to him (among the group).”


Heraclius said, “Bring him close to me and make his companions stand behind him.” Abu Sufian added, “Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to put some questions to me regarding that man (the Prophet) and that if I told a lie they (my companions) should contradict me.” Abu Sufian added, “By Allah, had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would have lied against him (the Prophet).


· H. “What is his family status among you?”


A.S. “He belongs to a noble family among us.”


· H. “Has anyone else amongst you before him ever claimed the same (i.e. to be a Prophet)?


A.S. “No.”


· H. “Was anyone among his ancestors a king?”


A.S. “No.”


· H. “Are the strong and powerful following him or the weak and poor?”


A.S. “It is the weak and poor that are following him.”


· H. “Are his followers increasing or decreasing (day by day)?”


A.S. “They are increasing.”


· H. “Does anyone among those who embrace his religion become displeased and leave the religion afterwards?”


A.S. “No.”


· H. “Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?”


A.S. “No.”


· H. “Does he ever betray or is treacherous in his agreements?”


A.S. “No, we are at truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it.” Abu Sufian said, “I could not find an opportunity to say anything against him except that word.”


· H. “Have you ever had a fight with him?”


A.S. “Yes.”


· H. “What was the outcome of your battles with him?”


A.S. “The fighting between us and him was undecided and victory was shared between us and him by turns.”


· H. “What does he order you to do?”


A.S. “He tells us to worship Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste and to keep good relations with our kith and kin.”


Heraclius said to his translator to convey to me:


1. I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belongs to a noble family amongst you. In fact all the Messengers come from noble families among their respective peoples.


2. I questioned you whether anyone else among you claimed such a thing, and your reply was no. If you had said yes, I would have thought that this person is copying the previous person’s saying.


3. I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was no. If you would have said yes, I would have thought that the man wants to take back his ancestral kingdom.


4. I further asked you whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said, and your reply was no. So I wonder how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah.


5. I then asked you whether the rich people follow him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. In fact, the poor are always the followers of the Messengers.


6. I asked you whether his followers are increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing. In fact, this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects.


7. I asked you whether there was anyone who after accepting his religion, became displeased with and abandoned his religion. Your reply was no. In fact, this is the sign of true faith, when its delight penetrates the depths of the hearts.


8. I asked you whether he had ever betrayed and your reply was no. Likewise the Messengers never betray.


9. I asked you what he ordered you to do, and your reply was he ordered you to worship Allah, and not to worship anything along with Him and forbade you to worship idols and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth and to be chaste. If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet now. I knew from the scriptures that he was going to come but I did not know that he would be from you. If I could reach him I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.


Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by Allah’s Messenger to him. The letter was delivered by Dihya to the governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius. The letter said:


In the name of Allah the Most Gracious Most Merciful


This letter is from Muhammad, the Servant of Allah and His Messenger to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantines. Peace be upon him who follows the right path. Then after, I invite you with the call of Islam. Accept Islam and you will find peace. Allah will double your reward. But if you turn away then you will have upon you the sin of Arisiyyin (his subjects). “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is common between us and you, that we worship none but Allah and that we associate no partner with Him and none of us shall take others as lords beside Allah. Then if they turn away, say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims. (Al ‘Imran 3:64)’


Abu Sufian said, “When Heraclius finished his speech and read the letter, there arose commotion and many voices in the court, so we were asked to leave.” (Al-Bukhari 6)


It is possible that Heraclius accepted Islam secretly, but he was unable to declare it because he feared rebellion of his people. However, it is interesting that he tried to consider the Prophetic claim through considering:


1. The background of the Prophet


2. His motivations


3. His affects on his people


4. His character


5. His accomplishments


6. His message


Considering all these aspects of his life, he became convinced that Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - was indeed the Messenger of Allah.