The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 207
VI - All Races Invited to Islām 207 God and obedient to Him. ” 1 When Ḥāṭib bin Abī Balta‘ah ra reached Alexandria, he met with an attendant in the royal court, and after gaining access to Maqauqis, presented the letter of the Holy Prophet sa to him. Maqauqis read the letter and in somewhat of a teasing tone, said, “If your master is actually a Prophet of God (instead of sending me this letter), why did he not supplicate to God that He should make me subservient to him?” Ḥāṭib responded, “If this objection is valid, then it falls upon Jesus as as well, because he did not supplicate against his opponents in this manner. ” Then, by way of advice he said, “You should contemplate in a serious manner, because prior to this, in this very country of yours, there has been a person (i. e. the Pharaoh) who claimed that he was the Lord and Ruler of the entire world, but God seized him in such a manner that he became a lesson for all subsequent generations. I sincerely submit to you, therefore, that you should take a lesson from others, and not become one from whom others take a lesson. ” Maqauqis said, “The fact is that we already have a religion, therefore, until we find a more superior one, we cannot leave our faith. ” Ḥāṭib responded, “Islām is a religion which relieves a person from the need of all other faiths; however, it surely does not require you to relinquish your belief in the Messiah of Nazareth. As a matter of fact, it teaches belief in all the truthful Prophets of God. Just as Moses as gave glad tidings of the advent of Jesus, so too, Jesus as gave glad tidings of the advent of our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him. ” At this, Maqauqis began to contemplate and took to silence. However, sometime thereafter, in another sitting when several high dignitaries of the church were present as well, Maqauqis inquired of Ḥāṭib, “I have heard that your Prophet was exiled from his homeland. Why did he not pray against those who drove him out, so that they would be destroyed?” Ḥāṭib responded, “Our Prophet was only forced into exile from his homeland, but your Messiah was actually apprehended by the Jews, who attempted to bring his life to an end on the cross; yet, he was unable to pray against his enemies and destroy them. ” Maqauqis was very impressed and said, “You are undoubtedly a wise man, and have been sent as an emissary by a 1 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 5, pp. 27-28, Wa Ammā Mukātabatuhū ‘Alaihiṣ-Ṣalātu Was-Salāmu Ilal-Mulūki Wa Ghairihim, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Al-Muwāhibul-Laduniyyatu Bil-Minaḥil-Muḥammadiyyah, By Aḥmad bin Muḥammad Al- Qusṭalānī , Volume 1, p 445, Al-Faṣlus-Sādisu Fī Umarā’ihi Wa Rusulihī Wa Kuttābihī Wa Kutubihī Ilā Ahlil-Islām. . . , Ḥadīth No. 4553