LETTER TO 'AMR BIN HAZM ANSARI
GOVERNOR OF YEMEN
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
This writing from the side of Allah the Great and His Prophet, is given
to 'Amr bin Hazm Ansari and has been written at the time of his deputation to
Yemen.
"Allah, the Sublime has said,
'O faithful ones! Fulfil your promise'
I impress on him that in every matter, he should fear Allah, for
"Allah is with those, who fear Him, and take to virtue". I
haveadmonished 'Amr bin Hazm (Raziallah AnhoA.) to receive the due to Allah,
according to His order. Treat the people with kindness and order them to do
good deeds. Teach them the Holy Quran and make them understand the fundamentals
of Islam. Only he who is clean, should touch the Quran. The people should be
prohibited from evils. They should be made aware of their rights and duties. In
ordering them to do good deeds, the people should be treated politely. But
there should be no hesitation in taking to task the one who is guilty of
oppression and outrage, as Allah, the Sublime does not like cruelty. He has
strictly prohibited tyranny. Allah sends curses on tyrants.
People should be informed of the actions and ways which lead to
Paradise and warned of the actions which take a person to Hell.
All the people should be treated nicely, in order that they get to
understand the elements of the faith adequately.
The tenets of Hajj should also be told in detail in Farz.
(essentially and obligatory) and Sunnat (what is lesser essential, but was done
by the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaho Alehe Wasallam) should be clearly described.
All the commands of-Allah in respect of Hajj and Umra should be made known to
the people.
People should be prohibited from saying prayers in such clothes,
as do not cover the body and during the prayer there is a risk of the private
parts being exposed. The instructions in respect of Wudu (ablution) should be
fully explained. It is ordered that the prayers should be offered at the fixed
times and it is directed that the Ruku (bowing before Allah during the prayer)
should be completely performed. And during the prayers, there should be
Riqqat (tendency to repent and weep). The Fajr (morning) prayers should be said
early in the morning (much before sunrise). The Zuh'r (early afternoon) prayer
should be offered after the sun pasts its zenith and begins to decline. The
'Asr (late afternoon) prayer offered after the shadow gets oblique. Maghrib
(evening) prayer should be offered immediately after the sunset, and should not
be delayed till the stars appear in the sky. Isha (night) prayer should be said in the first part of night.
Regarding Friday prayers, it is ordered that when there is Azaan
(call for prayers), one should immediately leave to say the prayers and before
leaving for the Friday prayers, bath taken.
From the goods gained in religious wars, Khums (fifth party) be
paid, in the way of Allah. From the produce of land of every Muslim, a quantity
equal to Ush'r (one tenth) should be charged by half of Ush'r
(one twentieth).
As for cattle, two goats be taken per 10 camels and four goats per
20 camels. One cow per 40 cows and one calf per 30 cows and one goat per 40
goats.
This rate has been made obligatory on the Muslims, as Zakat, by
Allah. Whoever pays more, shall deserve greater recompense.
People should not call one another for help in war, in the name of
their tribe and family. A person should be helped only for the sake of Allah
the One. And whoever invites people to war in the name of tribe or family only
instead of Allah, such a rioter should be put to an end.
Invitation to war is only for Allah who is One. If any Jew or
Christian embraces Islam of his own free will and with a sincere heart and
accepts the way of Allah, he is a Muslim. His rights and duties shall be the
same as those of other Muslims.
And whoever continues to adhere to his Jewish or Christian
religion, should never be compelled to change his religion. But for each adult
of them, a dinar should be levied, which shall be received; annually in cash or
kind. Cloth of this value can also be accepted.
Whoever refuses to pay this amount, should be regarded as an enemy
of Allah, His Prophet and all the Muslims.
Seal: Allah's Prophet Muhammad
Note: 'Amr (Raziallah AnhoA.) not only preserved this document, but
also collected the other letters of the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaho Alehe
Wasallam) sent to the different clans, particularly of Jews, Christians and had
them bound into a volume. This subsequently served as an authentic source of
information, particularly reg. Zakat, Charities, rights of the Muslims and
non-Muslims, their duties, etc.
