Section: The Definitive Proofs Recognised by the People of Mecca for the Truthfulness of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.

We have already noted that his own people—who opposed him with the utmost hostility—never ceased to acknowledge his integrity, confessing that they had never known him to lie. They likewise admitted that what he brought was neither poetry nor soothsaying, that he was no sorcerer, and—at the outset of his mission—they even dispatched envoys to lands where scholars of the People of the Scripture resided, seeking their judgement about him, for Mecca itself had no such learned men.

In the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections it is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās that Abu Sufyān ibn Ḥarb told him:

“I set out for al-Shām during the armistice that existed between me and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. While I was there, a letter from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was brought to Heraclius. It was delivered by Dihyah al-Kalbi, who had handed it to the governor of Bosra, and the governor forwarded it to Heraclius.

Heraclius asked, ‘Is there anyone here from the people of this man who claims to be a prophet?’

They replied, ‘Yes.’

So I was summoned together with a company of Quraysh, and we were ushered into Heraclius’ presence. He seated us before him and said, ‘Which of you is most closely related by lineage to this man who claims to be a prophet?’

I replied, ‘I am.’

They seated me before him and placed my companions behind me. He then called for his interpreter and said, ‘Tell them: I am going to question this man about the one who claims to be a prophet; should he lie to me, refute him.’”