Letter to the Vicegerent of Egypt, called Muqawqas

The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) wrote to Juraij bin Matta, called Muqawqas, vicegerent of Egypt and Alexandria saying:
“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad servant of Allâh and His Messenger to Muqawqas, vicegerent of Egypt.
Peace
be upon him who follows true guidance. Thereafter, I invite you to
accept Islam. Therefore, if you want security, accept Islam. If you
accept Islam, Allâh, the Sublime, shall reward you doubly. But if you
refuse to do so, you will bear the burden of the transgression of all
the Copts.

“Say
[O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)]: ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians), come to a word that is just between us and you, that we
worship none but Allâh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and
that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allâh.’ Then, if they
turn away, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’ ” [3:64]
Hatib
bin Abi Balta‘a, who was chosen to communicate the message, requested
an audience with Muqawqas before imparting the contents of the letter.
He addressed Egypt’s vicegerent saying:
“There used to be someone
before you who had arrogated the status of the Supreme Lord, so Allâh
punished him and made an example of him in the Hereafter, and in this
life; therefore, take warning and never set a bad example to others.”
Muqawqas answered: “We are in no position to relinquish our religion
except for a better one.”

Hatib
resumed: “We invite you to embrace Islam, which will suffice you all
what you may lose. Our Prophet has called people to profess this Faith,
Quraish and the Jews stood against him as bitter enemies, whereas
Christians stood closest to his Call. Upon my life, Moses’s news about
Christ is identical to the latter’s good tidings about the advent of
Muhammad; likewise, this invitation of ours to you to embrace Islam is
similar to your invitation to the people of Torah to accept the New
Testament. Once a Prophet rises in a nation, he is eligible for positive
response, hence you are subject to the same Divine Law. Bear in mind
that we have not come to dissuade you from religion of Christ but rather
bidding you to adhere to its tenets.”

Muqawqas
meditated over the contents of the letter deeply and said: “I have come
to the conviction that this Prophet bids nothing abominable; he is
neither a straying magician nor a lying soothsayer. He bears the true
manifest seeds of Prophethood, and so I will consider the affair
deeply.” He took the parchment and ordered that it be kept in an ivory
casket. He called a scribe to write the following reply in Arabic:
“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
From Muqawqas to Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah:
Peace
be upon you. I have read your letter and understood its contents, and
what you are calling for. I already know that the coming of a Prophet is
still due, but I used to believe he would be born in Syria. I am
sending you as presents two maids, who come from noble Coptic families;
clothing and a steed for riding on. Peace be upon you.”
It is
noteworthy that Muqawqas did not avail himself of this priceless
opportunity and he did not embrace Islam. (Reference: Ar-Raheeq
Al-Makhtum).

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