“People of the Scripture, come to a word that is fair between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, associate nothing with Him, and that none of us take one another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’” (Āl ‘Imrān 3:64) (1)

Abū Sufyān said: “When he had finished saying what he said and had completed the reading of the letter, an uproar broke out around him, the voices rose, and we were ushered out. Once outside I said to my companions, ‘The affair of Ibn Abī Kabsha has certainly grown; even the king of the Byzantines is afraid of him! I remained convinced that he would prevail until Allah brought Islam into my heart.’

He continued: Ibn an-Nāṭūr—the governor of Aelia under Heraclius and the patriarch over the Christians of Syria—used to relate that when Heraclius arrived in Aelia he awoke one morning in a foul mood. Some of his courtiers said, ‘We do not like the look of you today.’ Ibn an-Nāṭūr added: Heraclius was an astrologer who observed the stars, and when they questioned him he replied, ‘Last night, while studying the heavens, I saw that the kingdom of the circumcised has come to power. Who among this nation practises circumcision?’ They answered, ‘Only the Jews do. Do not worry about them; instead, write to the cities of your realm and have all the Jews there killed.’

While they were busy with that, a man sent by the king of Ghassān was brought to Heraclius with news about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. After questioning him, Heraclius said, ‘Go and see whether he is circumcised or not.’ They examined him and reported that he was indeed circumcised. He then asked about the Arabs, and they replied, ‘They practise circumcision.’ Heraclius said, ‘Then the sovereignty of this nation has emerged.’

He wrote at once to a colleague of his in Rome, a man equal to him in learning, and set out for Ḥimṣ. He had not yet left Ḥimṣ when a letter from his friend arrived, agreeing with Heraclius about the appearance of the Prophet ﷺ and affirming that he is truly a prophet. Heraclius then granted audience to the leading men of Byzantium in a palace of his at Ḥimṣ and ordered the doors shut. Looking out at them he said, ‘People of Byzantium, will you not seek success and right guidance, and for your dominion to endure? Then pledge your allegiance to this Prophet.’

They bolted like wild asses toward the doors, only to find them locked. When Heraclius saw their aversion and despaired of their believing, he ordered, ‘Bring them back to me.’ Then he said, ‘What I said just now was only a test to see how firmly you hold to your religion, and I have seen it.’ They prostrated before him and were pleased with him, and that was the end of Heraclius’s story.

Al-Bukhārī said: It was also narrated by Ṣāliḥ ibn Kaysān, Yūnus, and Maʿmar from az-Zuhrī.

Al-Bukhārī included it in many places of his Ṣaḥīḥ with wordings too numerous to recount here (2). The remaining compilers of the Six Books—apart from Ibn Mājah—also transmitted it through various chains from az-Zuhrī (3).

We have discussed this ḥadīth at length at the beginning of our commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, setting out therein ample benefits and subtle points, both conceptual and linguistic. All praise and bounty belong to Allah.