Letters to Various Rulers

The Prophet ﷺ sent letters to various rulers after Khaybar, though not all at once. Scholars have documented over 25 letters but usually discuss them collectively in one chapter, focusing on the lessons they offer. The letters were sent around the time of Hudaybiyyah, possibly even before Khaybar.

Najashi of Abyssinia

One of the most significant letters was sent to the Najashi (Emperor) of Abyssinia. In it, the Prophet ﷺ affirmed the Islamic belief about Jesus عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ and invited the Najashi to Islam, concluding with a verse from Surah Ali-Imran. This letter was highly successful as Najashi embraced Islam. While some assume he converted earlier when Ja'far gave him dawah, the letter suggests he formally accepted Islam later.

According to al-Tabari, the Najashi sent his son, Arha ibn As’hama, with 60 delegates to Madinah to announce his conversion and offer gifts, but their boats drowned, and they never arrived. Despite this, the Prophet ﷺ was aware of Najashi’s Islam. When Najashi passed away in 9 AH, the Prophet ﷺ announced his death and led a janazah prayer in his absence—the only such prayer he ﷺ ever performed.

Heraclius of Rome

The Prophet ﷺ sent a letter to Heraclius, the Emperor of Rome, through Dihyah al-Kalbi رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, who delivered it to the governor of Bosra, and from there it reached Heraclius in Jerusalem. This event is authentically recorded in Bukhari and Muslim.

While trading in Syria, Abu Sufyan (then a non-Muslim) was summoned to Heraclius' court. Heraclius, demonstrating wisdom, separated Abu Sufyan from his companions and instructed them to signal if he lied. This forced Abu Sufyan to speak truthfully about the Prophet ﷺ.

Heraclius questioned Abu Sufyan about the Prophet’s ﷺ lineage, past claims of prophethood, ancestors, followers, honesty, promises, and teachings. Abu Sufyan confirmed the Prophet ﷺ came from a noble family, had never been accused of lying, was gaining followers among the poor, and taught worship of God alone, truthfulness, and chastity.

Heraclius analyzed the responses, concluding that the Prophet ﷺ fit the characteristics of a true prophet. He stated that if the reports were true, the Prophet ﷺ would soon rule over the lands beneath his feet. He expressed a desire to meet him and even declared that if he were with him, he would wash his feet. When the letter was read, it caused a great commotion in the royal court, and Abu Sufyan and his group were dismissed.

Khosrow of Persia

The Prophet ﷺ sent a letter to Khosrow, the Emperor of Persia, through Abdullah ibn Hudhafah al-Sahmi رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. The letter was passed via the ruler of Bahrain, but Khosrow, displaying arrogance, mocked and tore it up. When the Prophet ﷺ heard this, he declared that Allah would tear Khosrow’s kingdom apart, as recorded in Bukhari.

Khosrow then instructed his governor Badhan in Yemen to send spies to gather information about the Prophet ﷺ and, if possible, bring him to Persia. Badhan sent two emissaries, Babawayh and Khur Khasra, to Madinah. When they arrived, the Prophet ﷺ told them to return the next day. Upon their return, he ﷺ informed them that Khosrow had been killed by his own son, Kavad II.

The emissaries, shocked, returned to Badhan, who later confirmed that Kavad II had indeed executed a coup, imprisoned, and killed Khosrow around February 28, 628 CE (Jumada al-Awwal 7 AH).

Letters to Other Rulers

The Prophet ﷺ sent a letter to Jurayj ibn Mina, the Muqawqis of Egypt. While the exact text is not preserved, the Muqawqis responded politely, sending gifts, fine cloth, a mule (Duldul), and Maria and Sirin. The Prophet ﷺ remarked that his politeness protected his rule temporarily, but his kingdom would not last. 

The Prophet ﷺ sent letters to various rulers, including one with Amr ibn al-As رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to Oman after the Conquest of Makkah, where the people accepted Islam. Another letter was sent to Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab, who sought shared power in exchange for embracing Islam. The Prophet ﷺ rejected this, declaring that the earth belongs to Allah, who grants it to whomever He wills.

Benefits of the Letters

• Spreading the Message of Islam – They invited rulers to accept Islam and conveyed its core beliefs.

• Political and Diplomatic Engagement – They established diplomatic relations with neighboring states, influencing their perception of Islam and Muslims.

• Strategic Alliances – Positive responses, like that of the Najashi of Abyssinia, helped Muslims gain support and safe havens.

• Demonstrating the Universality of Islam – The letters emphasized that Islam was not limited to the Arabs but was a message for all of humanity.

• Testing Leaders’ Responses – The reactions of rulers (e.g., Heraclius' curiosity, Khosrow’s arrogance) provided insights into potential allies and threats.

• Prophetic Prophecies Fulfilled – The Prophet ﷺ predicted the downfall of Khosrow, which came true, reinforcing the truth of his message.

• Long-term Influence – Some regions eventually embraced Islam, showing the lasting impact of these invitations.