Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 137LETTER TO THE RULER OF EGYPTThe letter to Muqauqis was carried by Hatib ibn AbiBalta‘a ra . The text of this letter was exactly the same asthat to the Roman Emperor. The letter to the RomanEmperor said that the sin of the denial of the Romansubjects would be on his head. The letter to theMuqauqis said that the sin of the denial of the Coptswould be on the head of the ruler. It ran as follows:In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Thisletter is from Muhammad sa , the Messenger of Allah, toMuqauqis, the Chief of the Copts. Peace be upon him whofollows the path of rectitude. I invite you to accept theMessage of Islam. Believe and you will be saved and yourreward will be twofold. If you disbelieved, the sin of thedenial of the Copts will also be on your head. Say, "OPeople of the Book! come to a word equal between us andyou that we worship none but Allah, and that we associateno partner with Him, and that some of us take not othersfor lords beside Allah. But if they turn away, then say,‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God.'" (Halbiyya,Vol. 3, p. 275).When Hatib ra reached Egypt, he did not find theMuqauqisin the capital. Ilatib followed him toAlexandria, where he was holding court near the sea.Hatib ra went by boat. The court was strongly guarded.Therefore Hatib ra showed the letter from a distance andbegan to speak aloud. The Muqauqis ordered Hatib ra tobe brought to him. The Muqauqis read the letter andsaid, "If this man be a true Prophet sa , why does he notpray for the destruction of his enemies?" Hatib ra replied,"You believe in Jesus as . He was ill-treated by his people,yet he did not pray for their destruction." The King paida tribute to Hatib ra and said he was a wise envoy of awise man. He had answered well the questions put tohim. Upon this Hatib ra spoke again. "Before you," hesaid, "there was a king who was proud, arrogant andcruel. He was the Pharaoh who persecuted Moses as . Atlast he was overtaken by divine punishment. Show no