Prophet Muhammad's truth in the eyes of Heraclius

The historical narrative surrounding Emperor Heraclius of the Byzantine Empire's examination of Prophet Muhammad's prophethood is presented as a significant testament to the truth of Islam, extending beyond the belief of Muhammad's companions. This account is notably preserved in the 7th hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari, a revered collection of Islamic traditions, marking the conclusion of the chapter on the 'Beginning of Revelation' before transitioning to 'The Book of Faith'.

The hadith details a meticulous and impartial question-and-answer session conducted by the Christian emperor, who possessed knowledge of previous scriptures. This event is situated historically between the 6th and 8th Hijri years (approximately 627-629 CE), taking place in Iliya', an ancient name for Jerusalem. The timing is significant, occurring shortly after the 10-year truce established by the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah between the Islamic state in Medina and the Quraysh of Mecca, which brought stability to the Arabian Peninsula.

This geopolitical stability enabled Prophet Muhammad to expand his diplomatic efforts internationally. He dispatched official letters to the major world powers of the era, including Emperor Heraclius of Rome, Emperor Khosrau of Persia, and the ruler of Egypt, Muqawqis. Coincidentally, Emperor Heraclius had recently achieved a major victory over the Persian Empire and was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to fulfill a vow of gratitude.

When the letter from Prophet Muhammad, carried by his companion Saidina Dihyah al-Kalbi, reached the Governor of Busra and subsequently Heraclius in Jerusalem, the emperor did not react impulsively. He neither outright rejected the letter nor accepted it without scrutiny. Instead, he ordered his troops to locate any Arab nationals from Mecca residing in the Levant region for a direct interrogation.

As it happened, Saidina Abu Sufyan bin Harb, who was then a prominent political and military leader of the Quraysh and a staunch opponent of Islam, was leading a trade delegation in Gaza, Palestine. Imperial guards brought Abu Sufyan and about thirty other Quraysh merchants to Heraclius's palace in Jerusalem. In the presence of his court and a translator, Heraclius employed sharp psychological observation tactics to question them about the claimant from Mecca.