The Foundations And Concepts of Islam

I asked you of his lineage and you said that he has a noble lineage among you. That is the case with the Messengers. They were sent from the noble lineage among their people.

I asked you: Had anybody among you claimed what he claims and you said, No. And I say: If anyone had said before him what he says now, I would have said that, he was repeating what others have said before him.

I asked you: Had any of his ancestors been a king? And you said, No. If any of his forefathers had been a king, I would have said that he is asking for the Kingdom of his father.

I asked you: Have you ever suspected him of telling lies before he said what he said and you answered, No. I then know that h could not have shunned lying to people and tell lie against God.

I asked you whether those who follow him are noble men or weak people, and you answered that his followers are weak people. Yes, those are the followers of the Messengers.

I asked you if they increase or decrease in number and you said that they increase. That is how faith does until it becomes completed.

I asked you, if any of his followers apostate in annoyance after having embraced his religion and you said, No. Yes, that is how faith does after having penetrated the hearts.

I asked you if he betray and you said, No. That is how Messengers do. They do not betray.

And I asked you about what he commanded you to do and you said that, he enjoined that you worship Allaah alone and associate nothing with Him in worship, that he enjoined on you prayers, truthfulness, chastity; that he forbids you from worshipping idols. If all that you told me is true, he shall control where I am standing now. I know that such a Prophet will emerge but I did not think that he would be from amongst you. Had I known that I would meet him, I would have suffered hardship to meet him. And had I been with him, I would have washed his feet.”

He then called for the letter of the Messenger of Allaah which he sent with Dihya to the ruler of Busra. He presented the letter to Heraclius and he read it. There was in the letter;