Britain’s King Charles III recited a hadith of Rasool Allah ﷺ in Arabic on Tuesday evening, 20 October, to honour the people of Oman at a state banquet for Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Windsor Castle. The Sultan is on a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by an Omani ruler in about 44 years, and a clip of the King’s Arabic recitation has since spread widely on social media.
The moment drew attention across the Muslim world because it is rare for a Western head of state to quote the Prophet ﷺ directly, in Arabic, at a formal royal occasion.
Key facts
- Who: King Charles III and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman
- Where/when: State banquet, Windsor Castle, 20 October 2026
- What: The King quoted a hadith in Arabic praising the gentle conduct of the people of Oman
- Visit: Three days; first state visit by an Omani ruler to Britain in about 44 years
- Guests: About 160, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham and heads of major companies
- Next: Talks at Downing Street and a planned agreement to boost two-way investment
The hadith about the people of Oman
The narration the King used is recorded in Sahih Muslim on the authority of the Sahabi Abu Barzah al-Aslami (RA). It describes how the Prophet ﷺ sent a man to an Arab tribe, where he was insulted and beaten. When he returned and reported what happened, the Prophet ﷺ told him that had he gone to the people of Oman, they would neither have abused him nor struck him.
Ulema have long cited this hadith as praise for the good character, forbearance and hospitality of Omanis. Oman’s reputation as a calm, courteous society that avoids confrontation is often traced back to this description, and Omanis take pride in it to this day.
Praise for Oman’s peace-making role
In his speech, the King linked that historic character to Oman’s present-day diplomacy. Since the conflict between the United States and Iran flared earlier this year, Muscat has acted as a mediator between the two sides. The King praised Oman’s “constructive neutrality” and its efforts to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Omani territory and has been disrupted by the fighting. He described Britain and Oman as bonded by diplomacy, defence, trade and trust.
Gulf states have been working together to keep shipping lanes safe during the crisis, as we reported from the GCC ministerial meeting in Manama. Oman’s mediation is part of the same regional push for de-escalation.
What the visit includes
The Sultan was received at Windsor by the King and Queen Camilla along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, inspected a guard of honour and viewed items from the Royal Collection linked to centuries of Omani-British ties. On Wednesday he was scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and sign an agreement to expand investment between the two countries in renewable energy, technology, critical minerals, space, health care and finance, building on their existing sovereign investment partnership.
Why it matters for Muslim readers
At a time when debates about Islam in Europe are often heated, a public, respectful reference to the Sunnah from a European monarch sends a different paigham: that Islamic tradition is a shared source of moral wisdom, not only a subject of controversy. King Charles has a long record of interest in Islamic art, architecture and scholarship, and this gesture fits that pattern. Faith leaders have been calling for this kind of dialogue, as the Muslim World League chief urged at the G20 interfaith forum this month.
For Indian Muslims, many of whom have family working in Oman and the wider Gulf, the visit also signals continued stability in a country that has stayed neutral in a turbulent region.
FAQ
Which hadith did King Charles quote?
A narration in Sahih Muslim, reported by Abu Barzah al-Aslami (RA), in which the Prophet ﷺ said the people of Oman would neither have abused nor beaten his envoy.
Why is Sultan Haitham’s visit significant?
It is the first state visit to Britain by an Omani ruler in about 44 years and comes while Oman mediates between the US and Iran.
Source: Anadolu Agency — https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/britains-king-charles-quotes-prophet-muhammad-in-arabic-to-praise-people-of-oman/4096570; Arab News — https://www.arabnews.com/world/king-charles-lauds-omani-peace-efforts-on-sultans-state-visit-3007433
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