Excerpts from "The Sealed Nectar"
The prophet wrote to Junraij bin Matta, called Muqawqis, the king of Egypt and Alexandria stating:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad, servant of Allah and His Messenger, to Muqawqis, the leader of the copts.
Peace be upon him who follows true guidance. I invite you to accept Islam. If you want security, accept Islam. If you accept Islam, Allah, 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."
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ
"Say (O Muhammad): 'O people of Scripture (Jews and Christians), come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.' Then, if they turned away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims'." [3:64]
Hatib bin Abi Balta'ah, who was chosen to communicate the message, requested a meeting with Muqawqis before conveying the contents of the letter. He addressed Egyptian ruler saying:
" There used to be someone before you who had acquired the status of the supreme lord, so Allah punished him and made an example of him in the Hereafter and in this life; so, take warning and never set a bad example to others."
Muqawqis answered:
"We are in no position to give up our religion except for a better one."
Hatib resumed:
"We invite you to embrace Islam, which will suffice you for all that you may lose. Our Prophet has called people to profess this faith, the Quraish and the Jews stood against him as bitter enemies, where as Christians stood closest to his call. Upon my life, Moses' news about Jesus 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 turn you away from the religion of Jesus, but rather request you to adhere to its true principles."
Muqawqis pondered deeply what the contents of the letter and said:
"I have come to the conviction that this Prophet proposes nothing repulsive; he is neither a straying magician nor a lying soothsayer. He bears true manifest seeds of Prophethood, and so I will consider the affair deeply."
He called a scribe to write the following reply in Arabic:
" In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Muqawqis 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 as presents to you two maids, who come from Noble Coptic families, along with closing and a steed of riding. Peace be upon you."
It is noteworthy that Muqawqis did not avail himself to this priceless opportunity and he did not embrace Islam. The presents were accepted. Mariyah, the first maid, stayed with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and gave birth to his son Ibrahim. The other, Sirin, was given to Hassan bin Thabit Al-Ansari. The steeds name was Duldul and it lived until the time of Mu`awiyah.