Hz. Abdullah b. Erkam (r)

Abdullah b. Erkam b. Ebi'l-Erkam el-Kureşî ez-Zührî is a relative of the Prophet on his mother's side. He converted to Islam during the conquest of Mecca (A.H. 8/A.D. 630) and quickly became one of the most trusted scribes of the Prophet. Abdullah b. Erkam was responsible for writing the external correspondence of the Prophet, namely the letters sent to Emperor Heraclius of Rome, King Khosrow II of Persia, the Negus of Abyssinia, the Mukawqis of Egypt, and various tribal leaders of the Arabs. These letters were diplomatic documents marking the emergence of Islam on the world stage; indeed, the Prophet's effort to convey Islam to various rulers through sealed letters represents an unprecedented international invitation in history. The success of Abdullah b. Erkam in this role is related not only to his writing ability but also to his deep loyalty and reliability towards the Prophet. Being counted among the scribes of revelation indicates that he was among those who formed the closest circle around the Prophet during the revelation process and diplomatic activities. [Source: TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, "Abdullah b. Erkam" article, islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/abdullah-b-erkam; Ibn Sa'd, et-Tabakāt, IV, 175; Bukhari, Jihad 102]