Letters to Kings & Rulers

Letters to Kings and Rulers

After the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Madinah, he sent letters (Dawah Invitations) to various rulers and leaders around 6–7 AH (627–628 CE). These are often referred to as the letters to kings and rulers.

  1. Heraclius (هرقل) – Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire).
  2. Khosrow II (Khusraw Parviz كسرى الثاني) – Emperor of Persia (Sassanid Empire).
  3. Muqawqis (المقوقس) – Ruler of Egypt (Patriarch of Alexandria under Byzantine governance).
  4. Negus (Najashi النجاشي) – King of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia).
  5. Mundhir bin Sawa Al-Tamimi (المنذر بن ساوى) – Ruler of Bahrain (Eastern Arabia).
  6. Al-Harith bin Abi Shamir Al-Ghassani – Governor of Greater Syria (Ghassanid Arab vassal of Byzantium).
  7. Haudha ibn ‘Ali (هوذة بن علي) – Chief of Yamama (central Arabia).

Summary

  • These letters invited them to Islam and were delivered by different companions acting as emissaries.
  • These seven letters represent outreach beyond Medinah to neighboring powers.
  • They were part of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) broader dawah strategy after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
  • Some rulers respected the letters, some converted, others rejected them.