bilal

Written by Hadhrat Moulana Idrees Kaandhlawi (RA)

Bismihi Ta’ala

When Tubb‘a, the emperor of Yemen, happened to pass by the land of Madinah, four hundred ‘Ulama of the Tauraat were also with him. They requested the king to allow them to settle down in this area. When he enquired the reason, they replied: “We find in the manuscripts of the Prophets that towards the end of time, a Prophet by the name of Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam will appear. This region is reported to be his Daarul-Hijrah (place of migration).” The emperor thus allowed them to settle down there. He constructed a separate house for each one of them. He got them all married and liberally provided them with ample wealth. He then built a home especially for Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam with the belief that when the final Messenger migrates to this area, he may reside therein. He even composed a letter to Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in which he expressed his Imaan in him and his ardent desire to meet him.

The focus of the letter is summed up in the following poetic words:

شَهِدْتُ عَلٰى اَحْمَدَ اَنَّهُ رَسُوْلٌ مِنَ اللّٰهِ بَارِي النَسَمِ

“I bear testimony upon Ahmad that he is the messenger of Allah, the Creator of life.

فَلَوْ مُدَّ عُمُرِيْ اِلٰى عُمُرِهِ لَكُنْتُ وَزِيْرًا لَهُ وَابْنَ عَمٍّ

If my era has to connect with his era I would certainly become his supporter and devotee.

وَجَاهَدْتُ بِالسَّيْفِ اَعْدَآءَهُ وَفَرَّجْتُ عَنْ صَدْرِهِ كُلَّ غَمٍّ

I would challenge his enemies with the sword and I would eliminate all woe from his heart.”

Tubb‘a, the emperor then sealed the letter with a royal seal. Entrusting the letter to one of the ‘Ulama, he said: “If you happen to come across the era of this final messenger, hand this letter over to him otherwise hand it over to your children and instruct them with the same advice I am imparting to you.” Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansaari radiyallahu anhu is a descendant of this very Aalim and his house was the very same house which Emperor Tubb‘a constructed for the final messenger Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to reside in when he happened to migrate this way. The Ansaar were descendants of these four hundred ‘Ulama.

The camel of Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam halted at the door of the house, which Tubb‘a had constructed with Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in mind. It is said that on the arrival of Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in Madinah Munawwarah, Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansaari radiyallahu anhu presented the royal poetic letter of the emperor Tubb‘a to Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

[Seerat-e-Mustafa (abridged version) Page 181] Download Poster Here