PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S LETTERS TO KINGS (628 CE)

The Prophet (pbuh) and his followers were busy digging the trench in preparation for the defense of their city, Medina, from the attack of more than ten thousand strong Meccan army that was only a few days away. The event that was to follow is known as the ‘Battle of Trench’ (627 CE). It was during this digging that Umar (ra) needed help to dislodge a rock. The Prophet gave the rock a blow with a pickaxe at which a flare as of lightning flashed back over the city and toward the south. In an attempt to loosen it, he gave it another blow and again there was a flash but in the direction of Uhud mountain and beyond it toward the north. A third blow split the rock into fragments, and this time the light flashed eastwards. Salman Farsi, the Persian, (ra) saw the three flashes, and convinced that they must have some significance asked the Prophet for an interpretation. The Prophet answered:

By the light of the first I saw the castles of Yemen; by the light of the second I saw the castles of Syria; by the light of the third I saw the white palace of Kisra (Chosroes, King of Persia) at Mada'in. Through the first Allah (The One True God) has opened to me Yemen; through the second He has opened to me Syria and the West; and through the third the East.

The following year after the treaty of Hudaibiya, the Prophet decided to write to neighboring kings, including those of the two superpowers, summoning them to Islam. In order to make the selection of ambassadors to the rulers, he asked his Companions to assemble in the Mosque. After performing the obligatory prayer, he addressed them:

“O people! Allah has sent me as the one who is compassionate to the mankind and the prophet to the world. Therefore preach (the message of Islam) on my behalf, Allah will have Mercy upon you...”

The Prophet then selected some of his very competent companions as ambassadors to kings and heads of states. Some of them are listed below: