Part 59

After listening to this man’s childish boasting, the Prophet 3 smiled and said:

“You are our guest, why don’t you rest tonight? We shall see tomorrow.”

The next morning they got ready and came to see the Prophet 38. They asked him:

“So, what do you say? What are your intentions? Are you ready to come to the Emperor of Iran of your own free will?”

The Prophet 3 answered with majestic wrath:

“Who is Emperor Khosro Parvaiz? Who is the Emperor of Iran? Listen carefully, what I have to say; he has been ruined and destroyed. His son has killed him.”

The two generals were shocked to hear this news. They stared at the Prophet 38 in shocked disbelief. Finally they asked him:

“Is this the truth? Should we give this terrible news to Bathan?”

The Prophet 3 told them:

“Yes; this is the truth, and you can also inform him that the boundaries of the faith of Islam will soon spread to the kingdom of Khosro. If you enter into the fold of Islam, we will let you retain all that you possess. In other words, you will be able to retain control, and your kingdom will continue as it is at present.”

After leaving the presence of the Prophet 3% the two generals went to Bathan and gave him the terrible news of the downfall of Emperor Khosro Parvaiz. When Bathan heard this news he said:

“If this proves to be true, it means that Muhammad 38 is definitely the True Prophet. But if it is proved to be false, you will just have to wait and see what decision will be taken regarding his future.”

Just a few days later Bathan received a letter from Shairoyah, the son of Khosro Parvaiz. He had written:

“TL have killed Khosro Parvaiz in order to avenge my people. During his reign he killed many noblemen. And besides this he raped their women and usurped their and properties and wealth. When this letter reaches you announce that they now owe allegiance to me. Until further instructions do not take any steps against the man about whom my father had written.”

Bathan tossed away the letter from Shairoyah and converted to Islam. And with him all the people of Iranian origin residing in Yemen also entered the fold of Islam.

This is the interesting story of the meeting of ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah & with the Emperor of Iran. Next he met Caesar of Rome. This occurred during the caliphate of ‘Umar bin Khattéb and it also makes strange but interesting reading.

In 19" Hijrah ‘Umar bin Khattab 4% sent an army of Mujahideen to war. ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah was also a soldier in this army. The Roman

emperor was receiving regular news bulletins regarding the advance of this army. He knew that the Muslims were resolute and truthful people who would sacrifice their lives for Allah 3. He had told his armies that if they captured any Muslim alive they should bring the captive to his court. It was the will of Allah 3% that ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah was taken prisoner. They took him to the court of Caesar and told him:

“We have brought a prisoner who is a Companion of the Prophet 3% and who was one of the first to accept Islam.” OOK

When ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah -% was brought before the Emperor of Rome, he gave him a penetrating look and said:

“What is your plan?” He replied:

“1 invite you to convert to Christianity. If you do so, I will free you and treat you with all due respect.”

‘Abdullah bin Hathafah @ answered boldly and resolutely:

“This is absolutely impossible. 1 think it is a thousand times better to die than to accept your invitation.”

“T think you area brave man. If you accept my invitation, {am even ready to share the rule over my kingdom with you.”

The shackled prisoner smiled and answered:

“By Allah! You need have no hopes that 1 will turn against Islam for a moment, even if you give me your kingdom plus the whole of peninsula of Arabia!”

The Emperor was enraged and shouted the he would kill him. ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah - answered calmly:

“You can do whatever you please.”

The Roman emperor ordered that he be put to death. He instructed that his feet should be fettered and he should be chained. Arrows were to be shot at him so as to pierce his palms. After this was done, Caesar again invited him - for a third time - to accept Christianity. Again ‘Abdullah bin Hathaéfah 2 bluntly refused. Next Caesar ordered that the arrows be aimed near his feet. These instructions were also obeyed. Again, he was invited to become a Christian and again - for the fourth time - ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah > refused to accept Christianity. Finally, Caesar ordered that a huge cauldron of oil be placed on a fire and ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah 4 be brought down from the stake. When the oil started to boil, he ordered that two of the Muslim prisoners be brought. When they were presented before him, he ordered that one of them should be thrown into the boiling oil. The moment he was thrown in his flesh began to crackle and separate from his bones.

Again he turned his attention towards ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah - and asked him:

“Even now you have a chance to accept Christianity.”

But he refused him more forcefully than before. Caesar had no other choice now but to order that he too be thrown into the boiling cauldron. When he was brought near the oil, his eyes filled with tears and brimmed over, When Caesar’s men saw this, they told him that the prisoner was crying. Caesar thought it must be due to sheer panic. Caesar said:

“Bring him to me.”

When he was brought to Caesar, he again invited him to accept Christianity. But ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah 4 refused again!

Surprised, Caesar asked, “Then why did you cry?” ‘Abdullah replied:

“When I saw the scene I felt sorry that I had only one life. I wished that I had a thousand lives to sacrifice in your boiling cauldron for Allah 38.”

Caesar was stunned momentarily into silence when he heard this. Finally he said:

“All right I will release you if you kiss my forehead.” ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah @ asked him: “Will you release the other Muslim prisoners as well?”

He says in his report of the incident that he was thinking to himself, it would not be too big a price to pay for the release of so many captured Muslims. Then approaching Caesar he kissed him on his forehead. Keeping to his promise, Caesar ordered that the prisoners be given into the custody of ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah 4. As soon as he got his freedom, ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah - went to’Umar Khattab < and narrated to him all that had happened. ‘Umar Khattab @ was very happy and said:

“Every Muslim owes a duty to ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah - and it is compulsory that each of us should kiss his forehead. | will kiss him first.” Then he took the lead and kissed ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah 4s on his forehead.

“Come back to your Lord, well-pleased (yourself) and wellpleasing (unto Him)!” (89:28)

‘Abdullah bin Rawahah =

Prophet # supplication for his Companion ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah ee:

‘May Allah 3% make the desire of obedience

and submission to His commands and those of His Prophet % thrive in your heart.”

‘Abdullah bin Rawahah 2

“When he met any Companion he would tell him that they should make use of the opportunity to revive and renew their True Faith.”

On one such occasion, a companion got annoyed and complained about him to the Prophet 3%, saying:

“O Prophet 3 may my parents be sacrificed for you! But this ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah -#, is a very strange character! He asks us to have faith in you fora little while. But we have accepted you for all time. How is it possible to that we have belief in you for just a short time?”

He smiled and answered:

“Don’t be so sensitive. The intentions of ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah

.% are pure. May Allah 3% Bless him with prosperity. It is just that he wants to gather people in a group in an environment and a milieu which even the angels may envy and take pride in.”

The heart of ‘Abdullah bin Raw&ahah - was filled to the brim with love, faith, and trustful obedience to the commands of the Prophet 38. ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Laila % narrates what took place on one occasion when ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah -&& was going to the Prophet's Mosque at Al-Madinah. The Prophet 3% was delivering a sermon and ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah <% had just reached the door of the mosque, when the Prophet 38 said:

“Sit down.” The moment the Prophet 3 said this, ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah - stopped and immediately sat down among the shoes left at the door of the mosque. The Prophet 8 was delighted at the way his Companion at once obeyed his command. He was so happy that he offered a supplication to Allah 38:

This perfect degree of love and trustful obedience, is capable of rousing the envy of even the angels.

Once the Prophet 38 was riding on his camel to nurse and tend to Sa‘d bin ‘Ibadah 4 who was ill. On the way ‘Abdullah bin Ubbi, an arch enemy of Islam and a traitor was sitting with a group of his companions who were hypocrites and chatting with them. As the Prophet 3% was riding by he passed a rude comment just to hurt the feelings of the Prophet 38. He said: