He once said  to  Chosroes’  envoy: “Chosroes  has now been killed  by his son Shirviya  Parviz.”[73]   Upon  investigating  and  finding  out  that  he  had  indeed  been murdered at that very time, the envoy accepted Islam. The name of the envoy occurs in some narrations as Firuz.

According   to  an  authentic   narration,   the  Noble  Messenger   (UWBP)   once mentioned a secret letter that Khatib b. Balta‘a had sent to the Quraysh. He sent ‘Ali and Miqdad to fetch it, saying, “There is a person at such-and-such a location bearing such-and-such a letter. Take it and bring it here.” They went and brought exactly the letter  he  had  described  from  exactly  the  place.  The  Prophet  (UWBP)  summoned Khatib  and  asked  him  why  he  had  done  it.  Khatib  apologized,  and  the  Prophet (UWBP) pardoned him.[74]

Again, according to an authentic narration concerning ‘Utba b. Abi Lahab, God’s Messenger  (UWBP)  prayed:  “May  he  be  eaten  by one  of  the  dogs  of  God!”,[75] predicting the terrible fate of ‘Utba. For while on his way to the Yemen, ‘Utba was devoured by a lion. Both the malediction and the prediction of the Prophet were thus confirmed.

At the conquest of Mecca, as is also related in an authentic narration, Bilal al- Habashi went up onto the roof of the Ka‘ba and made the call to prayer, while Abu Sufyan, ‘Attab b. Asid, and Harith b. Hisham, from among the leaders of the Quraysh, were sitting together  nearby.  ‘Attab said: “My father was fortunate enough  not to witness this moment.” Harith said contemptuously  about Bilal: “Could Muhammad have  not found  someone other  than this black crow to make the mu’ezzin?”  Abu Sufyan said: “I am afraid to say anything, for he will come to know of whatever I say. Even if nothing else informs him, the rocks of this Batha [Mecca] will do so.” Indeed, a little later the Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) encountered them  and  repeated  to  them  their  conversation  word  for  word.  That  very moment ‘Attab and Harith became Muslims.[76]

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[73] Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa’, i, 343; al-Khafaji, Sharh al-Shifa’, iii, 211; ‘Ali al-Qari, Sharh al-Shifa’, i, 700; al-Albani, Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahiha, 1427.

[74] Bukhari, Jihad, 141; Tafsir, 60:1; Maghazi 46; Muslim, Fada’il al-Sahaba, 161; Abu Da’ud, Jihad, 98; Tirmidhi, 60:1; Musnad, i, 79; al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, iii, 301; Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa’, i, 342.

[75] al-Khafaji, Sharh al-Shifa’, iii, 139; ‘Ali al-Qari, Sharh al-Shifa’, i, 664.