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:
Dihyah ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi (ra) Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantines (Eastern Roman Empire)
'Abdullah bin Hudhafah (ra) Chosroes II (Emperor of Persian Empire)
'Amr bin Umayyah (ra) Negus, King of Abyssinia
Hatib' bin Abi Baitah (ra) Muqawqis, Ruler of Egypt
Shuja bin Wahab al-Asadi (ra) Harith Gassani, Governor of Syria
'Ala bin Hadrami (ra) al-Mundhir bin Sawa, Ruler of Bahrain
The wording of the Prophet�s letters was similar. The text of the letter sent to Heraclius was 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 the Byzantines. 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 subjects. And I recite to you Allah's statement:
�O People of the Scriptures! 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). (Qur�an: Surah 3, Ayah 64).�
All the Prophet's letters were stamped with the words: �Muhammad Rasul-ullah" (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah). Three of the Prophet�s letters have been preserved.
Allah: Allah is the proper name in Arabic for The One and Only God, The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for the God (Eloh-im in Hebrew; 'Allaha' in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus). The word Allah does not have a plural or gender. Allah does not have any associate or partner, and He does not beget nor was He begotten. SWT is an abbreviation of Arabic words that mean 'Glory Be To Him.'
s or pbuh: Peace Be Upon Him. This expression is used for all Prophets of Allah.
ra: Radiallahu Anhu (May Allah be pleased with him).
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