The Roman Emperor Heraclius (Arabic: هَرَقْل Hiraql) did not directly praise or condemn Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in any surviving writings of his own. However, there is a well-known Islamic narration, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari—that details a conversation between Heraclius and Abu-Sufyan (who was then a leader of the Quraysh and not yet Muslim), which gives insight into Heraclius’ attitude.
Islamic Account: Heraclius and Abu-Sufyan
In Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 1, Hadith 7), during the time when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sending letters to kings and emperors inviting them to Islam, Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, received a letter from the Prophet. He then summoned any Arabs who were in his empire at the time, and Abu-Sufyan was brought to him.
Heraclius asked Abu-Sufyan a series of questions about the Prophet (PBUH), including:
- His lineage
- Whether he ever lied
- If his followers increased or decreased
- If he betrayed others
- If he claimed kingship or prophethood
- After hearing the responses, Heraclius concluded:
“If what you say is true, then he is indeed a prophet. I knew he was going to appear, but I did not know that he would be from among you. If I were with him, I would wash his feet.”
He also said:
“His authority will reach where my feet are now.”
What This Suggests:
- Heraclius recognized signs of prophethood in Muhammad (PBUH).
- He seemingly believed in his truth, at least intellectually.
- But there’s no historical evidence that he openly embraced Islam.
Non-Muslim Historical Sources:
Non-Islamic historical records do not confirm Heraclius accepting Islam. From the Christian Byzantine perspective, Heraclius remained a Christian emperor. Some Muslim scholars suggest that he may have believed but concealed his faith for political reasons, but that remains a matter of Islamic tradition, not established historical consensus.
Summary:
Heraclius reportedly said about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
- “If I were in his presence, I would wash his feet.”
This powerful statement, preserved in Islamic tradition, shows a deep respect and recognition, though it’s not confirmed whether he ever embraced Islam openly.