Life-of-Muhammad

136Life of Muhammad sayou the meaning of this Message. I have done so in allsincerity and I trust you will value the sincerity which hasprompted this message. He who obeys the guidance of Godbecomes heir to the blessings of God (Zurqani).When this letter reached the Negus, he showed verygreat regard and respect for it. He held it up to his eyes,descended from the throne and ordered an ivory box forit. Then he deposited it in the box and said, "While thisletter is safe, my kingdom is safe." What he said provedtrue. For one thousand years Muslim armies were outon their career of conquest. They went in all directions,and passed by Abyssinia on all sides, but they did nottouch this small kingdom of the Negus—; and this, outof regard for two memorable acts of the Negus theprotection he afforded the refugees of early Islam andthe reverence he showed to the Prophet's sa letter. TheEmpire of Rome became dismembered. The Chosroeslost his dominions. The kingdoms of China and Indiadisappeared but this small kingdom of the Negusremained inviolate, because its ruler received andprotected the first Muslim refugees and showed respectand reverence for the Prophet's sa letter.Muslims returned the magnanimity of the Negus inthis way. Compare with this the treatment which aChristian people, in this age of civilization meted out tothis Christian kingdom of the Negus. They bombardedfrom the air the open cities of Abyssinia and destroyedthem. The royal family had to take refuge elsewhere andto stay away from their country for several years. Thesame people have been treated in two different ways bytwo different peoples. Muslims held Abyssinia sacredand inviolate because of the magnanimity of one of itsrulers. A Christian nation attacked and plundered it inthe name of civilization. It shows how wholesome andlasting in their effects are the Prophet's sa teaching andexample. Muslim gratitude to a Christian kingdom madethe kingdom sacred to Muslims. Christian greedattacked the same kingdom, not caring it was Christian.