LETTER TO THE CHIEFS OF AQABA
In the name of ALLAH the compassionate, the Merciful
From Muhammad, Prophet of Allah
To the People of Aqaba
May peace be on you. I praise Allah who is one and except whom
there is nobody else to be worshipped.
I do not intend to wage war against you till you receive my
written reason for it. It is better for you, either to accept Islam or agree to
pay Jiziya and consent to remain obedient to Allah, His prophet and his
messengers. My messengers deserve honour. Treat them with respect. Whatever
pleases my messengers, will also please me.
These people have been informed of the orders about Jiziya. If you
desire that there should be peace and security in the world, obey Allah and His
Prophet. Thereafter none in Arabia and Ajam (Iran) shall dare cast an evil eye
on you. But the rights of Allah and His Prophet can at no time be waived.
If you do not accept these terms and set them aside, I do not need
your presents and gifts. In that case, I shall have to wage war (to establish
peace and security). Its result would be that the big ones shall be killed in
war and the commoners shall be taken prisoners.
I assure you that I am a true Prophet of Allah. I believe in
Allah, and His Books, and His Prophets and am of the faith that Maseeh (Messiah)
son of Mariam (Mary), is a Prophet of Allah and His word.
Hurmala (Raziallah AnhoA.) who brought to me 3 wasaq (about 6
quintals) of barley, recommended your case. Had it not been in compliance of
the command of Allah and the good opinion of Hurmala for you, it would not have
been necessary for me to correspond with you and instead of it, there would
have been a war. If you will obey my messengers, you shall immediately have my
support and the help and support of everyone who is attached to me.
My messengers are Shuraih-beel, Obaiy, Hurmala and Hurais
(Raziallah AnhoA.) and whatever decision they take in respect of you, shall be
acceptable to me.
Your people are under the protection and responsibility of Allah
and His Prophet.
Supply provisions to the Jews of Maqna, for their journey to their
country.
If you accept obedience, may peace be on you.'
Seal: Allah's Prophet Muhammad .
Note: As in the present day, Aqaba was an important port of the
Red Sea. In ancient times also, due to its being an international trade centre,
trade caravans to Palestine and African went through Aqaba and trade goods to
the Coastal towns of the Red Sea also came from it. under the influence of the
Romans, the local Arab tribes who ruled here, got converted to Christianity,
but due to the oppressive behaviour of the Romans, the Arab tribes, living by
the side of the Roman frontiers, got hostile to the Romans and wanted to be
free.
During the time of the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaho Alehe Wasallam),
Yuhanna, a bishop, was the ruler of Aqaba. In the beginning he was not prepared
to befriend the Muslims. But seeing that Caesar avoided facing the Muslims he
came to the side of Islam. Subsequently in the 9th Hijri 630 A.D. the Caesar
wanted to invade Medinah with a large army. The Holy Prophet (Sal Allaho Alehe Wasallam)
however, made up his mind to stem the tide of invasion in the country of the
enemies. He, therefore, moved his valiant companions to Tabuk, where he waited
for the Roman army for about 12 days. The Roman army was highly frustrated by
the courage of Muslims and quietly dispersed without fighting. Yuhanna and
other heads of the different tribal states sent delegations and assurances of
their obedience to the Holy Prophet, who addressed the letter, given above.
Yuhanna himself went to the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaho Alehe Wasallam) and
entered the sanctuary of Islam.
