The letter to Muqauqis was carried by Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a(ra). 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 Muhammad(sa), 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 Hatib(ra) reached Egypt, he did not find the Muqauqis in the capital. Hatib followed him to Alexandria, where he was holding court near the sea. Hatib(ra) went by boat. The court was strongly guarded. Therefore Hatib(ra) showed the letter from a distance and began to speak aloud. The Muqauqis ordered Hatib(ra) to be brought to him. The Muqauqis read the letter and said, "If this man be a true Prophet(sa), why does he not pray for the destruction of his enemies?" Hatib(ra) replied, "You believe in Jesus(as). He was ill-treated by his people, yet he did not pray for their destruction." The King paid a tribute to Hatib(ra) and said he was a wise envoy of a wise man. He had answered well the questions put to him. Upon this Hatib(ra) spoke again. "Before you," he said, "there was a king who was proud, arrogant and cruel. He was the Pharaoh who persecuted Moses(as). At last he was overtaken by divine punishment. Show no pride therefore. Believe in this Prophet(sa) of God. By God Moses(as) did not foretell about Jesus(as) as clearly as did Jesus(as) foretell about Muhammad(sa). We invite you to Muhammad the Prophet(sa), just as you Christians invite the Jews to Jesus(as). Every Prophet has his followers. The followers must obey their Prophet. Now that a Prophet(sa) 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 Jesus(as). Our religion requires everyone to believe in Jesus(as)."
Hearing this, Muqauqis revealed that he had heard of the teaching of this Prophet(sa) 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 Prophet(sa) in it, sealed it and handed it over to a servant girl for safe deposit. He also wrote a letter in reply to the Prophet(sa). 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 Muhammad(sa), 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 Prophet(sa) 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 Mary(ra) and the other Sirin(ra). 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.