Writing to non-believers and Summoning them to Islam - Section 1

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet (ﷺ) wrote to Qaisar summoning him to Islam. He sent Dihya al-Kalbi with his letter to him and ordered him to hand it to the governor of Busra for him to convey to Qaisar. Its contents were:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Muhammad, God’s servant and Messenger, to Hiraql1 chief of the Byzantines. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. To proceed: I send you the summons to accept Islam (<i>bi da'iyat al-islam</i>). If you accept Islam you will be safe, and if you accept Islam God will bring you your reward twofold; but if you turn away you will be guilty of the sin of your followers (<i>al-arisiyin</i>).2 “0 people of the Book, come to a word which is common between us and you, that we should worship only God, not attribute any partner to Him, or take one another as lords apart from God. But if they turn away say, Testify that we are Muslims."3 1. Heraclius. 2. <i>Arisi</i> means a tiller of the soil, but is here used as a general reference to the common people who will follow his example. 3. Al-Qur’an; 3:64. (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim has “From Muhammad God’s Messenger," “the sin of <i>al-yarisiyin</i>” and <i>bi-di'ayat al-islam</i>.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَتَبَ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَبَعَثَ بِكِتَابِهِ إِلَيْهِ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيَّ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى لِيَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلَامٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أدْعوكَ بداعيَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ وَأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجَرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ فَعَلَيْكَ إِثْمُ الْأَرِيسِيِّينَ وَ (يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَن لَا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا: اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ) مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: مِنْ محمَّدٍ رسولِ اللَّهِ

وَقَالَ: «إِثمُ اليريسيِّينَ» وَقَالَ: «بِدِعَايَةِ الْإِسْلَام»

He told that God’s Messenger sent his letter to Kisra with ‘Abdallah b. Hudhafa as-Sahmi, ordering him to hand it to the governor of al- Bahrain. The governor of al-Bahrain conveyed it to Kisra, and when he read it he tore it up. Ibn al-Musayyib said that God’s Messenger then invoked a curse on them to the effect that they might be torn into little pieces. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعَثَ بِكِتَابِهِ إِلَى كِسْرَى مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ السَّهْمِيِّ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَدَفَعَهُ عَظِيمُ الْبَحْرَيْنِ إِلَى كِسْرَى فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ مَزَّقَهُ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ: فَدَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُمَزَّقُوا كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

Anas told that the Prophet (ﷺ) wrote to Kisra, Qaisar, the Najashi, and every powerful man, summoning them to God, but it was not the Najashi on whom the Prophet (ﷺ) invoked a blessing.* * It says that the Najashi (Negus) of Abyssinia to whom this letter was sent was not the same as the one who ruled at the time when the early emigration from Mecca to Abyssinia took place. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَتَبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَإِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَإِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ وَإِلَى كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَلَيْسَ بِالنَّجَاشِيِّ الَّذِي صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Sulaiman b. Buraida told on his father’s authority that when God’s Messenger appointed a commander over an army or a detachment he instructed him to fear God himself and consider the welfare of the Muslims who were with him. He then said, “Go forth in God’s name in God’s path and fight with those who disbelieve in God. Go forth and do not be unfaithful regarding booty, or treacherous, or mutilate anyone, or kill a child. When you meet the polytheists who are your enemy summon them to three things, and accept whichever of them they are willing to agree to, and refrain from them. Then* summon them to Islam, and if they agree accept it from them and refrain from them. Then summon them to leave their abodes and transfer to the abode of the Emigrants, and tell them that if they do so they will have the same rights and responsibilities as the Emigrants; but if they refuse to transfer from them tell them they will be like the desert Arabs who are Muslims, subject to God’s jurisdiction which applies to the believers, but will have no spoil or booty unless they strive with the Muslims. If they refuse demand the <i>jizya</i> from them, and if they agree accept it from them and refrain from them; but if they refuse seek God’s help and fight with them. When you invest a fortress and its people wish you to grant them the protection of God and His prophet, grant them neither but grant them your protection and that of your companions, for it is less serious to break your guarantee of protection and that of your companions than to break that of God and His Messenger. If you invest a fortress and its people offer to capitulate and have the matter referred to God’s jurisdiction, do not grant this, but let them capitulate and have the matter referred to your jurisdiction, for you do not know whether or not you will hit on God’s jurisdiction regarding them.” * What follows gives in detail the three things mentioned above. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن سليمانَ بنِ بُريدةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أَمَّرَ أَمِيرًا عَلَى جَيْشٍ أَوْ سَرِيَّةٍ أَوْصَاهُ فِي خَاصَّتِهِ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْرًا ثُمَّ قَالَ:

اغْزُوَا بسمِ اللَّهِ قَاتَلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ اغْزُوَا فَلَا تَغُلُّوا وَلَا تَغْدِرُوا وَلَا تَمْثُلُوا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا وَإِذَا لَقِيتَ عَدُوَّكَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى ثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ أَوْ خِلَالٍ فَأَيَّتَهُنَّ مَا أَجَابُوكَ فَاقْبَلْ مِنْهُمْ وَكُفَّ عَنْهُمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ فَإِنْ أَجَابُوكَ فَاقْبَلْ مِنْهُمْ وَكُفَّ عَنْهُمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى التَّحَوُّلِ مِنْ دَارِهِمْ إِلَى دَارِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ إِنْ فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَلَهُمْ مَا لِلْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَعَلَيْهِمْ مَا عَلَى الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَإِنْ أَبَوْا أَنْ يَتَحَوَّلُوا مِنْهَا فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ يَكُونُونَ كَأَعْرَابِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يُجْرَى عَلَيْهِمْ حُكْمُ الله الَّذِي يُجْرَى عَلَيْهِمْ حُكْمُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي يُجْرَى عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَكُونُ لَهُمْ فِي الْغَنِيمَةِ وَالْفَيْءِ شَيْءٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُجَاهِدُوا مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَإِنْ هم أَبَوا فعلهم الْجِزْيَةَ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَجَابُوكَ فَاقْبَلْ مِنْهُمْ وَكُفَّ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَبَوْا فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَقَاتِلْهُمْ وَإِذَا حَاصَرْتَ أَهْلَ حِصْنٍ فَأَرَادُوكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ ذِمَّةَ اللَّهِ وَذِمَّةَ نَبِيِّهِ فَلَا تَجْعَلْ لَهُمْ ذِمَّةَ اللَّهِ وَلَا ذِمَّةَ نَبِيِّهِ وَلَكِنِ اجْعَلْ لَهُمْ ذِمَّتَكَ وَذِمَّةَ أَصْحَابِكَ فَإِنَّكُمْ أَنْ تُخْفِرُوا ذِمَمَكُمْ وَذِمَمَ أَصْحَابِكُمْ أَهْوَنُ مِنْ أَنْ تُخْفِرُوا ذِمَّةَ اللَّهِ وَذِمَّةَ رَسُولِهِ وَإِنْ حَاصَرْتَ أَهْلَ حِصْنٍ فَأَرَادُوكَ أَنْ تُنْزِلَهُمْ عَلَى حُكْمِ اللَّهِ فَلَا تُنْزِلْهُمْ عَلَى حُكْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ أَنْزِلْهُمْ عَلَى حُكْمِكَ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي: أَتُصِيبُ حُكْمَ اللَّهِ فِيهِمْ أَمْ لَا؟

. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told that at one of his battles in which God’s Messenger met the enemy he waited till the sun declined, then stood up among the people and said, “You people must not desire to meet the enemy, but must ask God for wellbeing, and when you meet them show endurance and know that paradise is under the shadows of the swords." He then said, “O God, who sendest down the Book, makest the clouds to travel and routest the confederates, rout them and give us victory over them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أوفى: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي بَعْضِ أَيَّامِهِ الَّتِي لَقِيَ فِيهَا الْعَدُوَّ انْتَظَرَ حَتَّى مَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ قَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ: «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لَا تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ الْعَافِيَةَ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلَالِ السُّيُوفِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُجْرِيَ السَّحَابِ وهازم الْأَحْزَاب واهزمهم وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِم»

Anas said:

When the Prophet (ﷺ) took us out on an expedition against a people he did not set out with us till the morning. He would look at them, and if he heard a call to prayer he refrained from them, but if he did not hear any he attacked them. We went out to Khaibar and reached them by night, but when the morning came and he heard no call to prayer he mounted. I mounted behind Abu Talha and my foot was touching God’s Prophet’s They came out to us with their large baskets and their spades, and when they saw the Prophet (ﷺ) they said, “Muhammad, by God, Muhammad and the army," and went for refuge to the fortress. When God's Messenger saw them he said, “God is most great, God is most great. Khaibar has fallen.[1] When we alight in the courtyard of a people it is an evil morning for those who have been warned."[2] 1. Or, 'May Khaibar fall. 2. Cf. Al-Qur'an; 37:177. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا غَزَا بِنَا قَوْمًا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَغْزُو بِنَا حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ وَيَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَإِنْ سَمِعَ أَذَانًا كَفَّ عَنْهُمْ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ أَذَانًا أَغَارَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ: فَخَرَجْنَا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ لَيْلًا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ وَلَمْ يسمَعْ أذاناً رِكبَ ورَكِبْتُ خلفَ أبي طلحةَ وَإِنَّ قَدَمِي لَتَمَسُّ قَدِمَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: فَخَرَجُوا إِلَيْنَا بَمَكَاتِلِهِمْ ومساحيهم فَلَمَّا رأى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالُوا: مُحَمَّدٌ واللَّهِ محمّدٌ والخميسُ فلَجؤوا إِلَى الْحِصْنِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ خَرِبَتْ خَيْبَرُ إِنَّا إِذَا نَزَلْنَا بِسَاحَةِ قومٍ فساءَ صباحُ المُنْذَرينَ»

An-Nu‘man b. Muqarrin said he was present at fighting along with God’s Messenger, and when he did not fight at the beginning of the day he waited till the winds blew and the time of prayer came. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ مُقَرِّنٍ قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ الْقِتَالَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ إِذَا لَمْ يُقَاتِلْ أَوَّلَ النَّهَارِ انْتَظَرَ حَتَّى تهب الْأَرْوَاح وتحضر الصَّلَاة. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

An-Nu‘man b. Muqarrin said he was present at fighting along with God’s Messenger, and when he did not fight at the beginning of the day he waited till the sun had passed the meridian, the winds blew and help came down. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَن النُّعْمَان بن مقرن قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ إِذَا لَمْ يُقَاتِلْ أَوَّلَ النَّهَارِ انْتَظَرَ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ وَتَهُبَّ الرِّيَاحُ وينزِلَ النَّصرُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Qatada quoted an-Nu‘man b. Muqarrin as saying:

I went on an expedition with God's Messenger, and when dawn came he waited till the sun rose and when it rose he fought. Then when midday came he stopped till the sun passed the meridian and when it had done so he fought till the afternoon, when he stopped till he prayed the afternoon prayer, and then fought. Qatada told that it used to be said that the winds of victory blew at that time and the believers made supplication for their armies during their prayer. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَن قتادةَ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ مُقَرِّنٍ قَالَ: غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ أَمْسَكَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا طَلَعَتْ قَاتَلَ فَإِذَا انْتَصَفَ النَّهَارُ أَمْسَكَ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى الْعَصْرُ ثُمَّ يُقَاتِلُ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: كَانَ يُقَالُ: عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ تُهِيجُ رِيَاحُ النَّصْرِ وَيَدْعُو الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِجُيُوشِهِمْ فِي صلَاتهم. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Islam al-Muzani said:

God’s Messenger sent us in a detachment and said, “When you see a mosque or hear a <i>mu’adhdhin</i> (The one who makes the call to prayer) do not kill anyone.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن عصامٍ المزنيِّ قَالَ بَعَثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَقَالَ: «إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مَسْجِدًا أَوْ سَمِعْتُمْ مُؤَذِّنًا فَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَحَدًا» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Wa’il told that Khalid b. al-Walid wrote to the people of Persia:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Khalid b. al-Walid to Rustum and Mih'an among the nobles of Persia. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. To proceed: We summon you to Islam, but if you refuse then pay the <i>jizya</i> in subjection feeling humbled (Cf. Al-Qur'an, 9:29). If you refuse to do that, I have with me people who love being killed in God’s path as the Persians love wine. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. It is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

عَن أبي وائلٍ قَالَ: كَتَبَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ إِلَى أَهْلِ فَارِسَ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ إِلَى رُسْتَمَ وَمِهْرَانَ فِي مَلَأِ فَارِسَ. سَلَامٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى. أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّا نَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ فَإِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ فَأَعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَأَنْتُمْ صَاغِرُونَ فَإِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ فَإِنَّ مَعِيَ قَوْمًا يُحِبُّونَ الْقَتْلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَا يُحِبُّ فَارِسُ الْخَمْرَ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى. رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السّنة 0