THE CONDUCT OF
THE PROPHET OF ISLAM

During the time of the Prophet of Islam, there was a man named Musaylimah ibn Habib from Yamamah who falsely claimed to be a prophet. In the 10th year of Hijrah, he sent a letter to the Prophet of Islam through two of his men. The contents of the letter were as follows:

“From Musaylimah, the Messenger of God, to Muhammad, the Messenger of God. Peace be upon you. After this: I have been made a partner with you in prophethood. Half of the land (i.e., Arabia) is ours, and half belongs to Quraysh. But the Quraysh are a people who transgress. (Seerah Ibn Hisham, Vol. 2, p. 600)

When Musaylimah’s envoys arrived and his letter was read aloud before the Prophet of Islam, he asked them, “What do you yourselves say?” They replied, “We say what he says.” The Prophet of Islam responded:

“By God, were it not that messengers are not killed, I would have had both your necks struck.” Following this, the Prophet of Islam dictated a letter to be written to Musaylimah:

“In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. From the Messenger of God to Musaylimah the Liar. Peace be upon those who follow guidance. After this: The earth belongs to God. He grants inheritance of it to whomever He wills among His servants. And the final outcome is for the God-conscious.” (Seerah Ibn Hisham, Vol. 2, pp. 600–601)

In this incident, we find a clear contrast between a true prophet and a false claimant to prophethood. Musaylimah’s letter reflects the tone and claims of a false prophet, while the Prophet of Islam’s reply reflects the clarity, truth, and character of a genuine messenger.

Another important lesson from this example is that the envoy of another nation—even if he is a serious wrongdoer—is not to be killed. Rather, he must be allowed to return safely to his homeland. In such matters, Islam is firmly rooted in international norms.