The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 206
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 206 widely accepted view has been written here, and either way, this difference of opinion does not possess great significance. If God wills, this view may be rectified later on if needed. Letter of the Holy Prophet sa Addressed to Maqauqis of Egypt The third letter of the Holy Prophet sa was addressed to Maqauqis, the Governor of Egypt, who was the ruler of Egypt and Alexandria in subordination to the Caesar. In other words, he was a hereditary ruler, and like the Caesar, was a follower of the Christian religion. His personal name was Juraij bin Mīnā and he, along with his people, belonged to the Coptic nation. The Holy Prophet sa dispatched this letter in the hand of a Companion who took part in Badr named Ḥāṭib bin Abī Balta‘ah. The letter read as follows: بِسْم ِ اللّٰه ِ الرَّحْمٰن ِ الرَّحِیْم. مِن ْ مُحَمَّد ٍ عَبْد ِ اللّٰه ِ وَرَسُوْلِه ٖ اِلَی الْمُقَوْقِس ِ عَظِیْم ِ الْقِبْطِ. َ سَلَام ٌ عَلی ٰ مَن ِ اتَّبَع َ الْھُدٰی. اَمَّا بَعْد ُ فَاِنِّی ْ اَدْعُوْك َ بِدِعَایَة ِ الْاِسْلَام ِ اَسْلِم ْ تَسْلَم ْ یُؤْتِك ٍ اللّٰه ُ اَجْرَك َ مَرَّتَیْنِ. فَاِن ْ تَوَلَّیْت َ فَعَلَیْك َ اِثْم ُ الْقِبْطِ. یَا اَھْل َ الْكِتَاب ِ تَعَالَوْا اِلی ٰ كَلِمَة سَوَاء ٍ بَیْنَنَا وَبَیْنَكُم ْ اَن ْ لَا نَعْبُد َ اِلَّا اللّٰه َ وَلَا نُشْرِك َ بِه ٖ شَیْئًا وَلَا یَتَّخِذ َ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا اَرْبَابًا َ مِن ْ دُوْن ِ اللّٰه ِ فَاِن ْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُوْلُوْا اشْھَدُوْا بِاَنَّا مُسْلِمُوْن “I write this letter in the name of Allāh, Who is the Gracious, and who grants the best reward of one’s deeds. This letter is from Muḥammad, the servant of Allāh and His Messenger, to Maqauqis, Chief of the Copts. Peace be on him who follows the guidance. After this, O Ruler of Egypt! I invite you to the guidance of Islām. Embrace Islām and accept the peace of God, for this is the only way to salvation. Allāh the Exalted shall grant you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation, (in addition to yourself), the sin of the Copts shall be on your shoulders as well. O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you - that we worship none but Allāh; and that we associate no partner with Him in any case, and that some of us take not others as our Master and Lord. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are followers of the One