42- LETTER TO THE RULER OF EGYPT
The letter to Muqauqis was carried by Hatib ibn Abi Balta‘ara. 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 Muhammadsa, 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.'” (Halbiyya, Vol. 3, p. 275).
When Hatibra reached Egypt, he did not find the Muqauqisin the capital. Ilatib followed him to Alexandria, where he was holding court near the sea. Hatibra went by boat. The court was strongly guarded. Therefore Hatibra showed the letter from a distance and began to speak aloud. The Muqauqis ordered Hatibra to be brought to him. The Muqauqis read the letter and said, “If this man be a true Prophetsa, why does he not pray for the destruction of his enemies?” Hatibra replied, “You believe in Jesusas. He was ill-treated by his people, yet he did not pray for their destruction.” The King paid a tribute to Hatibra and said he was a wise envoy of a wise man. He had answered well the questions put to him. Upon this Hatibra spoke again. “Before you,” he said, “there was a king who was proud, arrogant and cruel. He was the Pharaoh who persecuted Mosesas. At last he was overtaken by divine punishment. Show no pride therefore. Believe in this Prophetsa of God. By God Mosesas did not foretell about Jesusas as clearly as did Jesusas foretell about Muhammadsa. We invite you to Muhammad the Prophetsa, just as you Christians invite the Jews to Jesusas. Every Prophet has his followers. The followers must obey their Prophet. Now that a Prophetsa has appeared in your time it is your duty to believe in him and follow him. And remember our religion does not ask you to deny or disobey Jesusas. Our religion requires everyone to believe in Jesusas.”
Hearing this, Muqauqis revealed that he had heard of the teaching of this Prophetsa and he felt that he did not teach anything evil nor forbid anything good. He had also made inquiries and found that he was no sorcerer or soothsayer. He had heard of some of his prophecies which had come true. Then he sent for an ivory box and placed the letter of the Prophetsa in it, sealed it and handed it over to a servant girl for safe deposit. He also wrote a letter in reply to the Prophetsa. The text of this letter is recorded in history. It runs as follows:
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. From Muqauqis, King of the Copts, to Muhammadsa, son of ‘Abdullah. Peace be on you. After this, I say that I have read your letter and pondered over its contents and over the beliefs to which you invite me. I am aware that the Hebrew Prophets have foretold the advent of a Prophetsa in our time. But I thought he was going to appear in Syria. I have received your envoy, and made a present of one thousand dinars and five khil‘ats to him and I send two Egyptian girls as a present to you. My people, the Copts, hold these girls in great esteem. One of them is Maryra and the other Sirinra. I also send you twenty garments made of Egyptian linen of high quality. I also send you a mule for riding. In the end I pray again that you may have peace from God (Zurqani and Tabari).
From this letter it is clear that, though Muqauqis treated the letter with respect he did not accept Islam.
(Source: LIFE OF MUHAMMAD (pbuh))
BY HADRAT MIRZA BASHIRUDDIN MAHMUD AHMAD
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