32/27. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1774a — Letters to Rulers
The Prophet (saws) wrote to the Kings of the Kuffar, inviting them to Islam
Hadith About the Prophet’s Letters to Rulers Inviting Them to Allah
Sahih Muslim : 1774a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1774a
حَدَّثَنِي يُوسُفُ بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْمَعْنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَتَبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَإِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَإِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ وَإِلَى كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَلَيْسَ بِالنَّجَاشِيِّ الَّذِي صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) wrote to Chosroes (King of Persia), Caesar (Emperor of Rome), Negus (King of Abyssinia) and every (other) despot inviting them to Allah, the Exalted. And this Negus was not the one for whom the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said the funeral prayers.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1774aIn-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 91USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 19, Hadith 4382
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1774a
This hadith about the Prophet’s letters to rulers is short and direct. Anas reports that the Prophet of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wrote to Chosroes, Caesar, Negus, and every other despot, inviting them to Allah, the Exalted. The report also states that this Negus was not the same Negus for whom the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had offered the funeral prayer. The core topic is da'wah through written invitation. The text does not give the contents of each letter here, but it clearly shows that the call was directed even to powerful rulers. For searches like hadith about letters to kings and Prophet invited rulers to Islam, this narration is a key reference.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) invited rulers to Allah through written messages.
- The call to Allah was not limited to one nation or one leader.
- The narration carefully distinguishes between two people called Negus.
- A short report can still show the wide reach of the Islamic message.
