Life of Muhammad — Page 137
sa 137 LETTER TO THE RULER OF EGYPT The letter to Muqauqis was carried by Hat ib ibn Ab i Balta ‘ a ra. The text of this letter was exactly the same as that to the Roman Emperor. The letter to the Roman Emperor said that the sin of the denial of the Roman subjects would be on his head. The letter to the Muqauqis said that the sin of the denial of the Copts would be on the head of the ruler. It ran as follows: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. This letter is from Muhammad sa , the Messenger of Allah, to Muqauqis, the Chief of the Copts. Peace be upon him who follows the path of rectitude. I invite you to accept the Message of Islam. Believe and you will be saved and your reward will be twofold. If you disbelieved, the sin of the denial of the Copts will also be on your head. Say, "O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for lords beside Allah. But if they turn away, then say, ‘ Bear witness that we have submitted to God. '" ( H albiyya, Vol. 3, p. 275). When Hat ib ra reached Egypt, he did not find the Muqauqisin the capital. Ilatib followed him to Alexandria, where he was holding court near the sea. Hat ib ra went by boat. The court was strongly guarded. Therefore Hat ib ra showed the letter from a distance and began to speak aloud. The Muqauqis ordered Hat ib ra to be brought to him. The Muqauqis read the letter and said, "If this man be a true Prophet sa , why does he not pray for the destruction of his enemies?" Hat ib ra replied, "You believe in Jesus as. He was ill-treated by his people, yet he did not pray for their destruction. " The King paid a tribute to Hat ib ra and said he was a wise envoy of a wise man. He had answered well the questions put to him. Upon this Ha tib ra spoke again. "Before you," he said, "there was a king who was proud, arrogant and cruel. He was the Pharaoh who persecuted Moses as. At last he was overtaken by divine punishment. Show no