On his return from al-Hudaibiyah the Prophet ﷺ has a silver seal made reading “Muhammad the Messenger of Allah”, and in Muharram 7 A.H. envoys carry letters inviting rulers to Islam: al-Muqawqis of Egypt, Chosroes of Persia (who tears the letter up), Heraclius of Byzantium, and the rulers of Bahrain, al-Yamamah and Damascus. A letter to the Negus is also recorded, though the book doubts it dates from this time, and the letter to Oman was most likely sent after the conquest of Makkah.
As the book dates it: late 6 A.H. – Muharram 7 A.H.
Who was there
- NThe Negus (an-Najashi)The just Christian king of Abyssinia who sheltered the Muslim emigrants.
- MAl-MuqawqisRuler of Egypt, who answered the Prophet’s letter politely and sent gifts.
- CChosroes (Kisra)The emperor of Persia, who tore up the Prophet’s letter.
- HHeracliusThe Byzantine (Roman) emperor, who questioned Abu Sufyan about the Prophet ﷺ after receiving his letter.
- DDihyah al-KalbiTook the Prophet’s letter for Heraclius, handing it to the ruler of Busra to pass on to the emperor.
- AH‘Abdullah bin HudhafahChosen to carry the Prophet’s letter to Chosroes, emperor of Persia; it went by way of the king of Bahrain.
- AU‘Amr bin Umayyah ad-DamriSurvivor of Bi’r Ma’unah, later the Prophet’s envoy to the Negus.