The Key Of The Ka'bah

Mufti Menk - The Key Of The Ka'bah __ Emotional

Arabic

ARABIC ALPHABET- NAMES

• In this lesson we will learn the Arabic Alphabet In-Shā’-Allâh (God Willing). The lesson is designed to teach the names of all the alphabets. Click on the letters to hear how the letter names are pronounced.

• Please note that some of these letters are very similar to English letter sounds e.g.: /Bā’/ is very close to the letter 'B' in the English language, this is a useful way to remember the sounds of the letters. However many letters have no equivalent sounds in English e.g.: /ξayn/, and some letters have subtle but important differences in pronunciation, e.g.: /Hā’/ which is pronounced with a lot more emphasis in the throat than the letter 'H' in English.
• In Arabic, it is preferred to use the 'tanween' ('un') to clarify the pronunciation - especially on the final letter of a word.  We have used the tanween in the sounds below.  For example - instead of /Bā’/ we have said 'Bā-un'.  The letter name is still /Bā’/ but we have used the 'un' to clarify the pronunciation.
• Finally, please note that the Arabic script is read from right to left. Please read the letters below starting from the right and reading each letter to the left.

Click on Letters to hear pronunciation

ج	ث	ت	ب	أ	Arabic Character
/Jīm/	/Thā’/	/Tā’/	/Bā’/	/Alif/	Letter Name
j	th	t	b	a	Letter Sound
ر	ذ	د	خ	ح	Arabic Character
/Râ’/	/Dhāl/	/Dāl/	/Khâ’/	/ħā’/	Letter Name
r	dh	d	kh	h	Letter Sound
ض	ص	ش	س	ز	Arabic Character
/đâd/	/ŝâd/	/Shīn/	/Sīn/	/Zāy/	Letter Name
d	s	sh	s	z	Letter Sound
ف	غ	ع	ظ	ط	Arabic Character
/Fā’/	/Ghayn/	/ξayn/	/Zâ’/	/ŧâ’/	Letter Name
f	gh	`	Z	t	Letter Sound
ن	م	ل	ك	ق	Arabic Character
/Nūn/	/Mīm/	/Lām/	/Kāf/	/Qâf/	Letter Name
n	m	l	K	q	Letter Sound
		ي	و	هـ	Arabic Character
		/Yā’/	/Wāw/	/Hā’/	Letter Name
		y	w	h	Letter Sound

Religion of Ibrahim (alaihi salaam)

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 124] 


And when his Lord tried Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.  




[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 125]
 
And when We made the House a pilgrimage for men and a (place of) security, and: Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) . And We enjoined Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) and Ismail (alaihi salaam) saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves. 




[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 126] 


And when Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) said: My Lord, make it a secure town and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the last day. He said: And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a short while, then I will drive him to the chastisement of the fire; and it is an evil destination.  




[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 127]

And when Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) and Ismail (alaihi salaam) raised the foundations of the House: Our Lord! accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing.




[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 128]  


Our Lord! and make us both submissive to Thee and (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. 




[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 129]

Our Lord! and raise up in them an Apostle from among them who shall recite to them Thy communications and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 130] 


And who forsakes the religion of Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) but he who makes himself a fool, and most certainly We chose him in this world, and in the hereafter he is most surely among the righteous.




[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 131]
  
When his Lord said to him, Be a Muslim, he said: I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds.


[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 132 and Ayah 133]


Nay! were you witnesses when death visited Yaqoub (alaihi salaam), when he said to his sons: What will you serve after me? They said: We will serve your God and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) and Ismail (alaihi salaam) and Ishaq (alaihi salaam), one God only, and to Him do we submit.






     

   

 

How to Knot a Tie

Places Outside of Mecca

A. Mina

There is an open ground three miles to the east of Mecca called Mina. There are three stone pillars in this ground that are called Jumrat representing Satan. These stones are called Jumrah-tul-Oola, Jumrah-tul-Wusta, and Jumrah-tul-Aqbah. During the last day of Hajj, the 10th Dul-Hajj and three Tashriq days, pilgrims are required to cast stones at these Jumrah. This act of casting stones at Jumrah is called Ramy al-jimar (throwing small stones). Thousands of animals are sacrificed on this ground to commemorate the great sacrifice of Hadrat Ibrahim and Hadrat Ishmael.

B. Arafat
On the 9th day of Dul Hajj pilgrims gather in a great ground that is located about 9 miles to the southeast Mecca. This ground is called Arafat. Pilgrims stay at this place from the time of Duhr prayer until Maghrib. Jabalu-Rahmat is a small hill that also stands on this ground. A pilgrim is required to stay at this ground for his/her pilgrimage to be acceptable.

Darood e Pak ki kuch barkaat

"Darood e Pak ki kuch barkaat"

(1)    Is se Dua qobool hoti hai

(2)    Maal o asbab men barkat hoti he

(3)     Hajten pori hoti hen

(4)    Aafaat o bala se nijaat melti ha

(5)   Bhooli hoie cheezen yaad aa jati hain,

(6)    Drood parhne wale k sath farishto ki mohabbat ka ho jana,

(7)    Ada'ey qarz

(8)   Shifa'ey marz

(9)   darood phrne wale ki Qaber men roshni hoti ha,

(10)  Pul siraat se sabit qadm guzrny main asani.

Dil chahy to Darood e Pak prh kr ye
tohfa apni wall par share karen.

Ablution Water

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When a bondsman-a Muslim or a believer-washes his face (in course of ablution), every sin he contemplated with his eyes, will be washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet have walked will be washed away with the water or with the last drop of water with the result that he comes out pure from all sins.

Qur'an Sayings: To Whom Allah Loves

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 195]

"Surely Allah loves the doers of good."


[2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 222]
"Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves."



[3. Surah Aal-e-Imran : Ayah 76]
"Yea, whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against evil)-- then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil)."




[3. Surah Aal-e-Imran : Ayah 133-136]
"And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is (as) the heavens and the earth, it is prepared for those who guard (against evil). Those who spend (benevolently) in ease as well as in straitness, and those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good (to others). And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice to their souls remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their faults-- and who forgives the faults but Allah, and (who) do not knowingly persist in what they have done. (As for) these-- their reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them, and excellent is the reward of the laborers."




[3. Surah Aal-e-Imran : Ayah 146]
"And Allah loves the patient."


[3. Surah Aal-e-Imran : Ayah 148]
"And Allah loves those who do good (to others)."


[5. Surah Al-Maidah : Ayah 42]
"And if you judge, judge between them with equity; surely Allah loves those who judge equitably."




[5. Surah Al-Maidah : Ayah 54] "O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall strive hard in Allah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer; this is Allah's Face, He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing."




[5. Surah Al-Maidah : Ayah 93]
"On those who believe and do good there is no blame for what they eat, when they are careful (of their duty) and believe and do good deeds, then they are careful (of their duty) and believe, then they are careful (of their duty) and do good (to others), and Allah loves those who do good (to others)."




[9. Surah At-Tawba : Ayah 7]
"Surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty)."




[9. Surah At-Tawba : Ayah 108]"And Allah loves those who purify themselves."



[49. Surah Al-Hujurat : Ayah 9]
"And act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably."




[60. Surah Al-Mumtahana: Ayah 8]
"Surely Allah loves the doers of justice."



[61. Surah As-Saff: Ayah 4]
"Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall."

Significance of Morning Prayer

[Sahih Bukhari : Volume 2, Book 21 Prayer at Night (Tahajjud), Number 243]
Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, 'The night is long, so stay asleep.' When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart." 





[Sahih Bukhari : Volume 2, Book 21 Prayer at Night (Tahajjud), Number 245]

Narrated 'Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) : A person was mentioned before the Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) and he was told that he had kept on sleeping till morning and had not got up for the prayer. The Prophet said, "Satan urinated in his ears."  



[Sahih Bukhari : Volume 2, Book 21 Prayer at Night (Tahajjud), Number 246]
Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: "Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?"

Our Lord! accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing.  

Taharat & Cleanliness

To be clean means to be free from dirt. To be Tahir (Pak) means to be pure according to Islam. There is a big difference between these two words.


If you dress in new clothes, take a shower and put on some perfume or cologne, you will be clean. Then imagine that you go to the toilet and do not wash yourself properly.
You might still be clean, but now you are NAJIS.

When we go to the toilet, we should wash away the Najasat first, then wash ourselves twice better 3 times to make sure that we are TAHIR. It is no good using tissue paper by itself, because this may make us clean, but it will not keep us TAHIR.


It is always a good habit to try and be Tahir (or pure). Our 8th Imam (A) said:
"To be pure and clean is amongst the habits of the Prophets."
Also, Prophet Muhammad (S) has said
"Cleanliness and purity are part of faith."
The opposite of being Tahir is being Najis, and the opposite of Cleanliness in Uncleanliness. One should always try to avoid being both Najis and unclean. There are certain ways Islam explains us to be both Tahir and clean at the same time. These are shown below.
Wudhu:

Islam tells us to wash ourselves before praying. This washing is known as Wudhu. Some of the reasons why we do Wudhu are:

• it  keeps us clean
• it refreshes us and we can concentrate and think clearly

Ghusl:
Means to clean the body, with the Niyyat of cleaning it spiritually.
There are times when Ghusl becomes Wajib, i.e. when you touch a dead body. This means that you have to do Ghusl before you can pray Salaat.
Daily Bath:


 Islam is a religion, which not only tells you to keep your soul clean, but is also tells you to keep your body clean. You should take a regular bath or shower to keep your body clean

Washing of Face and Brushing Teeth:


In the morning when you wake up, you should wash your face and brush your teeth, This makes you feel fresh as well as cleaning the dirt that forms overnight.


Prophet Muhammad (S) has said, "Upon you is the brushing of the teeth, for surely it purifies the mouth and pleases Allah and brightens the eyesight. Indeed the Angels hate the odour from the mouth not cleaned after eating food"
Clean Clothing:


A Muslim should never dress with dirty clothes. This does not mean that you wear your best and most expensive clothes. It means that even if you have one piece of cloth to wear, you should keep      it clean.
When you wear clothes, you should wear it for yourself and not for others to look at.


Cutting Nails:

You should always cut your nails because they grow very long and can get very dirty
If you have long nails, dirt can get trapped underneath. When you eat, you will be putting that dirt in your food and swallowing it. This is very bad for your health and can lead to many illnesses.

Looking After Hair:
One should always comb his hair with a proper parting. You should never leave your hair messy and unkempt.
Prophet Muhammad (S) has said that if you can not look after your hair properly, you should shave it off!
This shows the importance of caring for your hair. This does not mean that you spend all your time making sure that each hair is in place. You should make sure that your hair is clean and tidy.
One important point about the above is that Islam has told us to keep our bodies clean because a clean body leads to a healthy body. If we do not look after our bodies we will get all sorts of illnesses. If you keep your body clean you will feel good, and fresh.

list of the prohibited acts (Gunah e Kabira) in Islam

Below is a list of the prohibited acts (Gunah e Kabira) in Islam:

1. Polytheistic belief
2. To lose hope of receiving any mercy from Allah
3. To completely disregard God's punishment
4. To disrespect one's parents
5. To commit murder, adultery and fornication
6. To accuse a chaste woman of unchastity (fornication or adultery)
7. To take the property of orphans by force
8. To run away from the armed forces
9. To take illegal interest in trade
10. To have sexual relations beyond the limit of marriage, sexual enjoyment through homo sexuality, masturbation or lesbianism
11. To use magic
12. To swear falsely by the names of Allah (God) or to use his names in vain
13. To ignore the payment of religious dues (Zakat, Khums)
14. To testify falsely against others
15. To drink intoxicating liquors
16. To give up daily prayers or any other religious obligations
17. To break one's promise
18. To disregard one's family (rejecting them , avoiding them, not showing enough love and affection towards them or not doing them the favours that one is supposed to do)
19. To become a resident of a place where one may lose his religion
20. To Steal
21. To ascribe false statement to Allah or to any of his apostles
22. To Lie
23. To deny or hide Allah's revelations or miracles
24. To eat the flesh of dead animals, blood, pork or an animal that is slaughtered without being consecrated with the name of Allah, or is not slaughtered according to the prescribed rules.
25. To Gamble
26. To make ones living from filthy and un-Islamic ways such as money obtained from the selling of wines or any other intoxicating liquors, the money from illegal interest in trade, accepting or giving money in bribery, receiving salary for witchcraft or magic, receiving money from an unjust government, the wages for singing, the sale of prohibited things as a means to earn one's living such as the instruments of games as chess, backgammon or other instruments used for gambling, making statues of animals or human beings.
27. To give less than due measure in business transactions
28. Not to pay one's debts when one has the means and the payment is due
29. To display haughtiness and pride.
30. To be a spend thrift (Extravagant, spend lavishly)
31. To act proudly and boastfully.
32. To ignore a pilgrimage or abandoning it when it is due.
33. To fight a divine leader
34. To get involved in an un-Islamic business such as singing for fun, playing guitar, dancing just for enjoyment and other useless acts.
35. To persist in minor sins
36. To back bite ( to talk bad behind other's back about things which they dislike)
37. To accuse someone of fault or a defect
38. To abuse or hurt a believer
39. To be a slanderer, causing discord, schism among people
40. To become a pimp
41. To defraud the believers
42. To belittle one's sins
43. To be a hypocrite
44. To use picture, statues to represent Allah

1. Revelation

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 1:

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

---

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 2:

Narrated 'Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ' off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

---

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3:

Narrated 'Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to read.

The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran):

'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!' Arise and warn (the people against Allah's Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols.' (74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly."

---

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 4:

Narrated Said bin Jubair:

Ibn 'Abbas in the explanation of the Statement of Allah. 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (75.16) Said "Allah's Apostle used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration." Ibn 'Abbas moved his lips saying, "I am moving my lips in front of you as Allah's Apostle used to move his." Said moved his lips saying: "I am moving my lips, as I saw Ibn 'Abbas moving his." Ibn 'Abbas added, "So Allah revealed 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Qur'an) (75.16-17) which means that Allah will make him (the Prophet ) remember the portion of the Qur'an which was revealed at that time by heart and recite it. The Statement of Allah: And 'When we have recited it to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then you follow its (Qur'an) recital' (75.18) means 'listen to it and be silent.' Then it is for Us (Allah) to make It clear to you' (75.19) means 'Then it is (for Allah) to make you recite it (and its meaning will be clear by itself through your tongue). Afterwards, Allah's Apostle used to listen to Gabriel whenever he came and after his departure he used to recite it as Gabriel had recited it."

---

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 5:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

Allah's Apostle was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Apostle was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).

---

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 6:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas:

Abu Sufyan bin Harb informed me that Heraclius had 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 Apostle had truce with Abu Sufyan and Quraish infidels. So Abu Sufyan 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's question said to them, "Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abu Sufyan replied, "I am the nearest relative to him (amongst the group)."

Heraclius said, "Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stand behind him." Abu Sufyan 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 Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about the Prophet. The first question he asked me about him was:

'What is his family status amongst you?'

I replied, 'He belongs to a good (noble) family amongst us.'

Heraclius further asked, 'Has anybody amongst you ever claimed the same (i.e. to be a Prophet) before him?'

I replied, 'No.'

He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?'

I replied, 'No.'

Heraclius asked, 'Do the nobles or the poor follow him?'

I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.'

He said, 'Are his followers increasing decreasing (day by day)?'

I replied, 'They are increasing.'

He then asked, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and renounce the religion afterwards?'

I replied, 'No.'

Heraclius said, 'Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?'

I replied, 'No. '

Heraclius said, 'Does he break his promises?'

I replied, 'No. We are at truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it.' I could not find opportunity to say anything against him except that.

Heraclius asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?'

I replied, 'Yes.'

Then he said, 'What was the outcome of the battles?'

I replied, 'Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.'

Heraclius said, 'What does he order you to do?'

I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah and 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 asked the translator to convey to me the following, I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact all the Apostles come from noble families amongst their respective peoples. I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man's statement. Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom.

I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said, and your reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah. I, then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact all the Apostle have been followed by this very class of people. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects. I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. Your reply was in the negative, and in fact this is (the sign of) true faith, when its delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely. I asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative and likewise the Apostles never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship any thing 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 and I knew it (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach him definitely, 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 Apostle

which was delivered by Dihya to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter were as follows: "In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad the slave of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:)

'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).' (3:64).

Abu Sufyan then added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was a great hue and cry in the Royal Court. So we were turned out of the court. I told my companions that the question of Ibn-Abi-Kabsha) (the Prophet Muhammad) has become so prominent that even the King of Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) is afraid of him. Then I started to become sure that he (the Prophet) would be the conqueror in the near future till I embraced Islam (i.e. Allah guided me to it)."

The sub narrator adds, "Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of llya' (Jerusalem) and Heraclius was the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn An-Natur narrates that once while Heraclius was visiting ilya' (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning with a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him why he was in that mood? Heraclius was a foreteller and an astrologer. He replied, 'At night when I looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared (become the conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?' The people replied, 'Except the Jews nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews).

'Just Issue orders to kill every Jew present in the country.'

While they were discussing it, a messenger sent by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of Allah's Apostle to Heraclius was brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The people, after seeing him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the Arabs. The messenger replied, 'Arabs also practice circumcision.'

(After hearing that) Heraclius remarked that sovereignty of the 'Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left for Homs. (a town in Syrian and stayed there till he received the reply of his letter from his friend who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that Heraclius invited all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his palace at Homs. When they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he came out and said, 'O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek right guidance and want your empire to remain then give a pledge of allegiance to this Prophet (i.e. embrace Islam).'

(On hearing the views of Heraclius) the people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost the hope of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in audience.

(When they returned) he said, 'What already said was just to test the strength of your conviction and I have seen it.' The people prostrated before him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of Heraclius's story (in connection with his faith).