Aslim Taslam

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Purported letter sent by Muhammad to Heraclius, emperor of Byzantium
Purported letter sent by Muhammad to Heraclius, emperor of Byzantium

Aslim Taslam (Arabic: أسلم تسلم‎) is a phrase meaning "become a Muslim so you be safe".[1] that is taken from the letters sent by the Islamic prophet Muhammad to various kings and rulers in which he urged them to convert to Islam.[2][3]

Contents

[edit] Letters of Muhammad

Muhammad, according to the usually told Islamic historiography, sent ambassadors with such letters to Heraclius the emperor of Byzantium, Chosroes II the emperor of Persia, the Negus of Ethiopia, Muqawqis the ruler of Egypt, Harith Gassani the governor of Syria and Munzir ibn Sawa the ruler of Bahrain. The account as transmitted by Muslim historians reads as follows[4]:

[edit] Western Translation

“ In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful:

(This letter is) from Muhammad the slave of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:)

Say (O Muhammad): 'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah.' Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims' (those who have surrendered to Allah)."

 „

—[4][5][6]

[edit] Arabic Translation

“ من محمد بن عبد الله إلى هرقل عظيم الروم: سلام على من اتبع الهدى، أما بعد فإنى أدعوك بدعوة الإسلام . أسلم تسلم ويؤتك الله أجرك مرتين ، فإن توليت فإن عليك إثم الأريسيِّين. {قل يا أهل الكتاب تعالوا إلى كلمة سواء بيننا وبينكم ألا نعبد إلا الله ،ولا نشرك به شيئا،ولا يتخذ بعضنا بعضا آربابا من دون الله فإن تولوا فقولوا اشهدوا بأنا مسلمون

In the name of God the Beneficent, the Merciful: (This letter is) from Muhammad son of Abdullah to Heraclius the Great (ruler) of the Romans (Byzantines). Peace be upon him, he who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite thee to Islam; become a Muslim and thou shalt be safe (from Hell or God's punishment), and God will double thy reward (as your people will follow along and be saved because of you), and if thou rejectest, thou shalt bear the sins of the Arisiyins (the peasants, your people).

(And I recite to you God's Statement:) Say (O Muhammad): 'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but God and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside God. Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims' (those who have surrendered to God).

 „

—[7]

The letter to Chosroes II is similar except that it refers to Magians instead of the Arisiyin.[6]

[edit] References in Hadith

Sahih Muslim narrates in Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar (The Book of Jihad and Expedition) Book 19, Number 4294, Chapter 2: Appointment of the Leaders of Expeditions by the Imam and His Advice to Them on Etiquettes of War and Related Matters: "Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them."[8]

In Kitab Al-Iman (The Book of Faith), Book 1, Number 29, Chapter 9, the same author narrates: Command for Fighting Against the People So Long as They Do Not Profess That There is No God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger: 'Umar b. Khattab said to Abu Bakr: "...the Messenger of Allah Muhammad declared: I have been directed to fight against people so long as they do not say: There is no god but Allah..."[9]

Sahih Bukhari states in Volume 4, Book 52, Number 187 and 191, that 'Abdullah bin Abbas narrates: "Allah's Apostle (Muhammad) wrote a letter to Caesar saying, 'If you reject Islam, you will be responsible for the sins of the peasants (i.e. your people).'"[10]

Sahih Bukhari also states in Volume 4, Book 52, Number 196, that 'Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)"[2]

Imam Malik narrates in al-Muwatta, Book 21, Number 21.3.11: "Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz wrote to one of his governors, It has been passed down to us that when the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad), may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent out a raiding party, he would say to them, 'Make your raids in the name of Allah in the way of Allah. Fight whoever denies Allah'".[11] (See also Itmam al-hujjah.)

[edit] Dawa/Dawah

The word "Da'wah" in Arabic simply means to invite (call) to something. When it is used in conjunction with Islam it is understood to mean "Inviting to the Way of submission and surrender to Allah." Dawah is an obligation for all Muslims. [12][13][14][15]

“ Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance. „

—[Qur'an 16:125]
“ You are the best of people raised up, for you call to all that is right and righteous and you forbid the evil, and you believe in Allah. „

—[Qur'an 3:110]

[edit] Critical responses

In response to the aslim taslam invitation to submit to Islam, the Italian author and journalist Oriana Fallaci asserted the rejoinder "lan astaslem" (Arabic: لن استسلم ) meaning "I will not surrender". [16] [17] Michelle Malkin has taken up this slogan as a response to the WTC terrorist attacks[18]

On September 17, 2006, in response to the Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy, Imad Hamto, a Palestinian religious leader, said: "We want to use the words of the Prophet Muhammad and tell the pope: Aslim Taslam." This was interpreted as a warning.[3][19][vague]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Abidullah Ghazi & Tasneema K Ghazi, Teachings of Our Prophet: A selection of Hadith for Children, IQRA International Education, p. 3.
  2. ^ a b Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 196
  3. ^ a b "Gazans warn pope to accept Islam". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on October 14, 2006.by Khaled Abu Toameh September 18, 2006
  4. ^ a b Nadia Maria El-Cheikh, "Muhammad and Heraclius: A Study in Legitimacy", Studia Islamica, No. 89. (1999), p. 5-21.
  5. ^ Sahih Bukhari 1.1.6
  6. ^ a b Gerrit Jan Reinink, Rijksuniversiteit Te Groningen, "The Reign of Heraclius (610-641): crisis and confrontation", Peeters Publishers (2002), ISBN 9042912286, p. 125-128.
  7. ^ At-Tabari, Tarikh al-umam wal-muluk
  8. ^ Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 19, Number 4294, The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar)
  9. ^ Sahih Muslim Book 1, Number 29, Chapter 9
  10. ^ Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 187 and 191
  11. ^ Malik Muwatta Jihad Book 21 Number 21.3.11
  12. ^ Abu 'Abdil Kareem
  13. ^ Lectures : Dawah (The Call to Allah)
  14. ^ Lectures : Dawah, Dialogue and Debates with Non-Muslims
  15. ^ Dawah - Sharing Islam
  16. ^ Oriana Fallaci, The Rage and The Pride (La Rabbia e l'Orgoglio), 2001.
  17. ^ "Oriana Fallaci, R.I.P., and the Religion of Perpetual Outrage". Townhall.com. Retrieved on October 14, 2006. by Michelle Malkin September 15, 2006
  18. ^ "9/11 pledge: "I will not submit". Townhall.com. Retrieved on October 14, 2006. by Michelle Malkin September 11, 2006
  19. ^ "Submit or Die: Protesters are laying down the law". National Review. Retrieved on October 14, 2006. by Clifford D. May September 25, 2006
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