Hercules questions about Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)

Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, was a country without any central authority. It was a country far from the civilized nations of those days. At the time Prophet Mohammed Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was spreading Islam; asking people to turn away from worshipping idols to worshipping Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knower, and the Master. The Prophet Mohammed Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam sent letters of invitation to Kings and Rulers of various countries in the world, inviting them to embrace Islam. Many of the letters were met with a favorable response whilst others were rejected.

In many cases, the messengers of the Prophet Mohammed Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam were badly treated and abused. But the Prophet Mohammed Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was not worried by these setbacks. He was inviting people to the right path and a few setbacks could not deter him from propagating Islam.

Abu Sufyan a leader of the tribe of Quraish and the arch enemy of the Prophet Mohammed Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was in Constantinople on a business trip, when the Prophet Mohammed's Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam(pbuh) letter of invitation reached Hercules, the Byzantine emperor of Eastern Roman Empire. Hercules, at the time was in his court at Constantinople celebrating his victory over the Persians.

Hercules read the letter through an interpreter and then asked the people in his court, to find out if there was someone in the city, who knew the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). Abu Sufyan with his companions was brought into the court.

The emperor Hercules asked Abu Sufyan Radi Allahu anhu, "What kind of family does Mohammed Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam belong to?"
"Noble", replied Abu Sufyan Radi Allahu anhu.