Friction Between the Caesar and Chosroes and a Magnificent Prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa) — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Friction Between the Caesar and Chosroes and a Magnificent Prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa).
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: VI – All Races Invited to Islam
Pages: Book pp. 184–187 (PDF pp. 202–205)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Preaching Expeditions in the Four Corners of Arabia] | Next: [Letter of the Holy Prophet (sa) Inviting the Caesar to Islam] »
Historical Account
Empire of Persia were fire-worshippers and polytheists. As mentioned in volume 1 and volume 2 of this book, in this era, these two sovereignties were at war. Moreover, defeating the Caesar again and again, the Chosroes of Persia had snatched much of his land. Since the people of Makkah were also polytheists and idol-worshippers for this reason they were naturally more sympathetic towards the Iranians. It was at this time when the Holy Prophetsa received revelation from Allāh the Almighty and made that prophecy which has been mentioned in Sūrah Rūm of the Holy Qur’ān. The words are as follows:
[The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter VI, Mahomet Watches Struggle Between Persia and Roman Empire…, pp. 122-123, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923) * The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XX, Embassies to Various Sovereigns and Princes, pp. 368-369, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923)]
ُغُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ ف ِي اَدْن َى الْاَرْ ضِ وَ هُم مِّن بَعْ دِ غَ لَبِهِمْ سَ يَغْ لِبُونَ ف ِي بِضْ عِ سِنِينَ لهلِ لْاَمْر
ُمِن قَبْلُ وَ مِن بَعْ دُ وَ يَوْ مَ ئِذٍ يَفْرَ حُ الْمُؤْ مِنُونَ بِنَصْ رِ اهللِ يَنصُ رُ مَ ن يَشَ اءُ وَ هُوَ الْعَ زِيز
َالرَّحِيمُ وَ عْ دَ اهللِ لَا يُخْلِفُ اهللُ وَ عْ دَ هُ وَ لَٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْ لَمُون
The Romans have been defeated in the nearby land. After their defeat, they shall soon be victorious. This revolution would come about in nine years. Before and after that, true sovereignty belongs to God. (In other words, prior to it, the spiritual Kingdom belongs to God and afterwards, the worldly government shall also be for Allāh, through the dominance of Islām.) And on that day the believers will rejoice because of the help of Allāh. He helps whom He pleases; for He is the Mighty and Merciful. This is the definite promise of God. God breaks not His promise, but most men know not.”
[In Arabic the word بضع is used to refer to a period between three to nine years. * Aqrabul-Mawāridi Fī Fuṣaḥil-‘Arabiyyati Wash-Shawāridi, By Sa‘īd Al-Khūrī Ash-Shartūnī, Under the root Ba-ḍa-‘a, Dārul-Uswati, Tehran (First Edition)]
[Ar-Rūm (30:3-7)]
This Qur’ānic verse was revealed to the Holy Prophetsa when he was still in Makkah and the flood of the Chosroes’ victories were at full force. This was to such an extent that seizing a large region of Caesar and plundering Syria, Egypt and Asia Minor, he was knocking on the gates of Constantinople, the capital of the Caesar. However, according to this Qur’ānic prophecy, the war suddenly took a turn and after the effort and striving of a few years not only
did the legions of Caesar regain all their lost land, but they also penetrated the territory of the Chosroes by invasion. This was that magnificent prophecy the truth of which even non-Muslim historians have been compelled to admit. Therefore, with regards to these accounts, Sir William Muir writes:
“From a period as far back as the assumption by Mohammad of the prophetic office, the Roman and Persian kingdoms had been waging with each other a ceaseless deadly warfare. Until the year A.D. 621 unvarying success attended the Persian arms. Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor were overrun. Constantinpole itself was threatened. At last, Heraclius awoke from his inglorious lethargy; and, about the time of Mohammad’s flight from Makkah, was driving his invaders from fastness in Asia Minor. In the second campaign he carried the war into the heart of Persia.”
[The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XX, Embassies to Various Sovereigns and Princes, p. 368, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923)]“In this struggle, the sympathies and hopes of Mohammad were on the Kaiser’s side. Christianity was a divine faith which might coalesce with Islām; but the fire-worship and superstitions of Persia were repugnant to his views. It was while the career of Persian conquest was yet unchecked, that Mohammad, in the 30th Sura, uttered this sagacious augury:-
THE GREEKS have been smitten In the neighbouring coasts; But, after their defeat, they shall again be victorious; In a few years. TO GOD belongeth the matter from before, and after; and, in that day, the Believers shall rejoice In the aid of GOD. He aideth whom he chooseth; the GLORIOUS, the MERCIFUL It is the promise of GOD, who changeth not His promise; but the greater part of mankind know it not. And the prophecy, as we have seen, was justified by the event.”
[The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter VI, Mahomet Watches Struggle Between Persia and Roman Empire…, pp. 122-123, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923)]
The era of these extraordinary victories of Caesar began with the incident of the migration of the Holy Prophetsa. The Muslims were informed of the first victory of Caesar, when they returned to Madīnah after securing a
clear triumph over the Quraish of Makkah in the field of Badr. Caesar secured its final and decisive victory against the Chosroes close to the era of the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah.
[Sunan At-Tirmidhī, Kitābut-Tafsīr, Bābu Wa Min Sūratir-Rūm, Ḥadīth No. 3193]
[The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XX, Embassies to Various Sovereigns and Princes, pp. 368-369, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923)]
In his joy and gratitude of this remarkable triumph, Caesar travelled from Ḥimṣ3 to Īlyā (i.e., Jerusalem) by foot. In actuality, this journey of Caesar was in fulfillment of a vow, which he had taken in the case of his victory. Therefore, he travelled from Edessa to Jerusalem by foot, where the ‘True Cross’ of the Messiah of Nazereth was recovered from the Persians and restored to its place once again. This journey was undertaken with such pomp that a carpet, and on top of the carpet, a bedding of flowers was laid down wherever the Caesar would proceed.
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Jihādi Was-Siyar, Bābu Du‘ā’in-Nabiyyisa Ilal-Islāmi Wan-Nubuwwati…, Ḥadīth No. 2940]
[Perhaps what is meant is Emesa, i.e., Ḥimṣ, but Edessa has been written by mistake.]
[The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XX, Embassies to Various Sovereigns and Princes/Despatch of Mahomet to Heraclius, p. 369, Published in Edinburgh: John Grant (1923)]
Letter of the Holy Prophetsa Inviting the Caesar to Islām After the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah, the first letter to be sent out was perhaps to Heraclius, Caesar of Rome, inviting him to accept Islām. This letter was sent by the Holy Prophetsa immediately after the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah in the month of Dhul-Ḥijjah 6 A.H. The Holy Prophetsa appointed an intelligent and sincere companion to this service, named Diḥyah bin Khalīfatul-Kalbī, who had travelled to Syria before and was familiar with the territory. Diḥyah was a handsome young man, in whose personage, the Holy Prophetsa once saw Ḥaḍrat Gabrielas in a vision. Moreover, while sending this letter, the Holy Prophetsa expressed his wish that Diḥyah or whoever else performs this service, whether he apparently succeeds in this expedition or not, God-willing, would indeed
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 5, p. 5, Wa Ammā Mukātabatuhū ‘Alaihiṣ-Ṣalātu Was-Salāmu Ilal-Mulūki Wa Ghairihim, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
[Shamā’ilun-Nabīsa, By Muḥammad bin ‘Īsā bin Saurah, p. 8, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fī Khalqi Rasūlillāhisa, Ḥadīth No. 12, Nur Foundation, Third Edition (2010) * Musnad, By Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal, Volume 2, p. 473, Musnadu ‘Abdillāh-ibnil-Khaṭṭāb, Ḥadīth No. 5857, ‘Ālamul-Kutub, Beirut (1998)]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Section: VI – All Races Invited to Islam | Navigation: « Previous: [Preaching Expeditions in the Four Corners of Arabia] | Next: [Letter of the Holy Prophet (sa) Inviting the Caesar to Islam] »