CITY OF CAESAR-FIRST INTERPRETATION OF THIS HADITH

In regard to this Hadith, the Hadith-Masters have given a opinion that the "city of Caesar" mentioned in the Hadith is not Constantinople, but Hims, which was the capital of Roman Empire in the days of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

It is given in Fath ul Bari in the interpretation of this Hadith.

Translation: "Some interpreters have said that the city of Caesar means the city which was the capital of the Roman Empire in the blessed era of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). That city is Hims. At that time, it was the capital of the Roman Empire."

This interpretation is all the more significant, because in Sahih Bukhari and in all other books, the word "Constantinople" is not used. Only "the city of Caesar" is mentioned. Caesar was the Emperor of the Roman Empire. The city in which he lived or was his capital will only be termed as "city of Caesar." According to the wording of the Hadith, that city is Hims. In the caliphate of Hadhrat Umar Al Faruq (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him), in A.H. 15, an army under the command of Hadhrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) attacked Hims.

Muslims laid siege to Hims in harsh winter and the end of winter, they conquered it. In this battle, Hadhrat Khalid bin Walid (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him), Hadhrat Bilal (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him), Hadhrat Miqdaad (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) and many other Sahabah participated.

Imam Ibn Atheer (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) has mentioned among the incidents of A.H 15, in

(Tarikh Kamil, Vol 2, Pg No. 339)

Translation: When Hadhrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) finished the campaign of Damascus, he took the route of Ba'albak to Hims."

At that time Yazid was not even born let alone participating in the battle. Yazid was born in A.H. 26 as Imam Ibn Atheer (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) wrote in

(Bidayah wan Nihayah, Vol 9, Pg No. 76)

Translation: "Yazid bin Mu'awiyah was born in 26 A.H."

A possible objection against this Hadith might be that in the Hadith mentioned, first the Jihad by sea is mentioned, in which Hadhrat Umme Haraam (May Allah SWT be well pleased with her) is a participant, then the siege of the city of Caesar is mentioned. If the city of Caesar is Hims, then it should have been mentioned first but it is not so.

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) first mentioned the Jihad by sea and then the siege of the city of Caesar.It should be remembered that the order of incidents might be according to what is being said or might be according to the order of occurrence. In this Hadith, it is according to what is said, not in the order of occurrence.