A Message from the Stars to the Thrones of Empires
In this powerful sermon Dr Khaled Al Houli explores the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ letter to Heraclius the Roman emperor and how divine signs historical timing and moral clarity all converged in a moment that shook an empire This subject is not just historical It is a testimony to the truth of Prophethood the precision of divine planning and the ethical foundation of Islam
A Reminder of the Day to Come
Dr Al Houli began by calling the believers to be mindful of the Day of Judgment That day when all of us will return to Allah and nothing will be hidden He quoted the verse
And fear a Day when you will return to Allah Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned and they will not be wronged
He reminded the congregation of the weight of that moment when the Throne of Allah will be carried by eight mighty angels and all people will be presented before their Lord Prepare for that day he said even if all you can give is half a date in charity Protect yourselves from Hell with whatever you can
Signs in the Sky and in the Soul
Before discussing the actual letter to Heraclius Dr Al Houli focused on a surprising prelude found in Sahih al Bukhari Heraclius the emperor of Rome had a disturbing dream and consulted his astrologers They told him a new king had appeared among those who practice circumcision He suspected it might be the Jews His advisors casually suggested If you wish we can order the killing of all the Jews in your territories
This shocking recommendation exposes the hypocrisy of those who claim to be protectors of liberty and human dignity In the name of political fear human lives were disposable
Soon after Heraclius received a letter from the Prophet ﷺ delivered by Dihyah al Kalbi and separately heard news from a Ghassanid leader confirming that someone in Arabia was claiming Prophethood He ordered them to check if the man was circumcised When it was confirmed that he was Heraclius said This is the king of the Arabs
The Role of Ibn al Natur and Historical Integrity
Ibn al Natur a Christian bishop close to Heraclius is the one who narrated these events Interestingly while astrology is condemned in Islam early scholars included this incident to show that even non believers through their own flawed systems recognized the emergence of the final Prophet His truth was so apparent it could be seen in the stars in scriptures and in the political ripple effects of the time
No Peace for the Jews Except Under the Prophet ﷺ
Dr Al Houli reflected on the irony that Jews persecuted under Roman rulers only ever lived in security when under the rule of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Medina He offered them protection made treaties with them and only expelled or punished them when they broke those agreements Some Jewish individuals remained in Medina safely untouched showing the true justice of the Islamic system
The Call to Witness Heraclius and Abu Sufyan
At the same time that Heraclius was receiving the letter from the Prophet ﷺ Abu Sufyan then still a disbeliever was in Jerusalem Heraclius summoned him and his companions and held a public audience
Who is the closest in lineage to this man among you he asked Abu Sufyan answered I am Heraclius said Bring him forward and place his companions behind him If he lies signal me
Abu Sufyan later admitted If it weren’t for the shame of being caught lying I would have lied He was not Muslim yet but he could not bear to be labeled a liar in public Dr Al Houli emphasized how even the pagans of Quraysh hated lying and how tragic it is when Muslims today lie freely for money ego or envy
Eleven Questions That Exposed the Truth
Heraclius questioned Abu Sufyan with remarkable precision His questions fell into four categories
The Prophet’s character
Was he noble Yes
Did his ancestors rule No
Did anyone make similar claims before him No
Did he ever lie No
Did he ever betray No
His followers
Are they the weak or the elite The weak
Are they increasing or decreasing Increasing
Does anyone leave the religion out of resentment No
Heraclius concluded That is how faith is when it settles in the heart
His military record
Have you fought him Yes
How has the battle gone The tide goes back and forth
Heraclius responded That is how prophets are Eventually they are victorious
His teachings
What does he command you to do Abu Sufyan said He tells us to worship Allah alone to abandon the ways of our ancestors to pray to speak the truth to maintain family ties and to practice chastity
Heraclius said That is exactly what prophets command
The Precision of Divine Timing
Dr Al Houli paused here to reflect on Allah’s perfect plan The Prophet’s letter arrived Abu Sufyan was present to testify And Heraclius had already seen signs These were not coincidences Allah had orchestrated this moment so that a pagan enemy would bear witness to the Prophet’s character So that even the Roman emperor would have no excuse to deny the truth
From Heraclius to History
In the end Heraclius said If what you are saying is true he will soon own the land beneath my feet He told Abu Sufyan that he would have traveled to meet the Prophet ﷺ if he could He even said he would have washed his feet
Abu Sufyan walked away shaken He told his companions The matter of Ibn Abi Kabshah has become serious Even the Roman emperor fears him He admitted From that moment on I knew Islam would prevail
A Final Reflection
Dr Al Houli closed this part of the sermon by urging the listeners to recognize the overwhelming evidence for the truth of Islam Enemies saw it Kings feared it Prophets confirmed it Allah supported it And history recorded it
Whoever turns away from this message turns away not because they doubt it but because they cannot submit to it
May Allah make us of those who follow the truth with sincerity and strength