Section
Likewise, the ruler of the Christian realm in Egypt realized that he was a truthful Prophet, yet what kept him from following him was his sovereignty and the fact that the worshipers of the cross (they will never abandon the worship of the cross)(1).

We shall now relate his report and his story. Al-Wāqidī said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote to him:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad son of ʿAbd Allah to al-Muqawqis, the chief of the Copts.
Peace be upon whoever follows guidance. To proceed: I summon you with the summons(2) of Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe; accept Islam and Allah will grant you your reward twice over. But if you turn away, then upon you(3) shall be the sin of the Copts:

People of the Book! Come to a common word between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us takes others as lords besides Allah. But if they turn away, say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’ [Āl ʿImrān 3:64]”

He then sealed the letter.

Ḥāṭib departed with it until he reached Alexandria. He approached the king’s chamberlain, and before long(4) the letter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was delivered(5) to al-Muqawqis.

When Ḥāṭib met al-Muqawqis he said to him, “There was a man before you who claimed to be the Most High Lord; Allah seized him with the punishment of the Hereafter and of this first life—He took vengeance by means of him, and then He took vengeance upon him. So take lesson from others, and do not let others take lesson from you.”