Mohammed to Muqavqas, leader of
the Copts
When recently with my family I paid a visit to the Sultans'
Palace, Topkapi in Istanbul, in the room of religious objects -
together with the mantle of Mohammed, a tooth and a footprint and
sandals and swords of the religious and military leader we came
upon the following letter in a place difficult to detect.We had
to kneel down and then even to bend low in order to scrutinize a
piece of cloth or parchment nearly totally black now. An english
translation, also bearing signs of time had been placed next to
it.
We quote:
From Mohammed the servant
and Prophet of Allah to Muqavqas, leader of the Copts
There is safety and security for those believers who follow
the correct path. Therefore I invite you to accept Islam.
If you refuse this invitation, let the sin be upon you for the
calamity which awaits your followers.
Your too are people of the Book.
Therefore let us join hands in a common word what we worship
Allah and shall not hold anything equal to Him.
If you do not consent to this invitation, bear witness that we
are Muslims
============================================
I was thinking of making a translation in french and in other
languages. But on further thought that did look superfluous to
me. The threatening tone of the letter nearly made smoke coming
out from my computer.
My children are very irenical on questions of civilization and
indentity and for some time were charmed with what they thought
was the "Andalusian" example.
Reading, hunked down, on the floor in one of the rooms in
Topkapi palace this letter from Mohammed himself was quite an
education for them.
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