42/24. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2717 — Letter to Hiraql of Rome
What Has Been Related About How One Is To Write To The People Of Shirk
Hadith About the Prophet’s Letter to Hiraql
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2717
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2717
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، أَنْبَأَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ بْنَ حَرْبٍ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ هِرَقْلَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَكَانُوا تُجَّارًا بِالشَّامِ فَأَتَوْهُ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُرِئَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَأَبُو سُفْيَانَ اسْمُهُ صَخْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Abu Sufyan Bin Harb Informed Him That Hiraql Had Sent For Him While He Was With A Party Of The Quraish, And They Were Trading In Ash-Sham, So They Went To Him." And He Mentioned The Hadith And Said: "Then He Called For The Letter Of The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) To Be Read, And It Said In It: 'In The Name Of Allah, The Merciful, The Beneficent. From Muhammad, Allah'S Slave And His Messenger, To Hiraql The Leader Of Rome. Peace Be Upon Whoever Follows The Guidance. To Proceed:"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2717In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 30English translation : Vol. 5, Book 40, Hadith 2717
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2717
This hadith about the Prophet’s letter to Hiraql describes part of a written message from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Abu Sufyan was with a group of Quraysh traders in Ash-Sham when Hiraql sent for him. The narration then says the letter of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was called for and read. It began: “In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent. From Muhammad, Allah’s slave and His Messenger, to Hiraql, the leader of Rome. Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance. To proceed.” The hadith about letters in Islam shows respectful wording, clear identity, and a message framed around guidance. The explanation should stay with the text and avoid adding parts not included here.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s letter began with the Name of Allah.
- The sender was clearly identified as Muhammad, Allah’s slave and Messenger.
- The recipient was addressed by his position as leader of Rome.
- The letter included peace for whoever follows guidance.
