In a few years the whole of Iran lay at the feet of the Muslims. The bulk of the population
adopted Islam and there were born in Iran men with such lambent flame of intellect that
proved true, word by word, what the Prophet (r) had once remarked: "If knowledge were
to be found in pleiads, some of the sons of Persia would attain it."
MUQAUQIS, RULER OF EGYPT
Al-Muqauqis did not accept Islam but treated the envoy with respect and honour and sent
some gifts to the Prophet (r), these included two slave-girls, one of whom was Maria who
gave birth to the Prophet's (r) son Ibrahim, and a white mule which came to be known as
Daldal. Al-Muqauqis kept the letter in an ivory box, which is still preserved and can be seen
in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
NEGUS AL-ASHAM, KING OF ABYSSINIA
The Negus received the envoy of the Prophet (r) with great respect and showed him all
the honour he deserved, and accepted Islam. He wrote a letter to the Prophet (r):
I begin with the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Gracious.
To Muhammed, the Messenger of Allah (r), from Negus Al-Asham ibn Abjar. Peace upon
you, O Prophet (r) of Allah, and Mercy and Blessing from Allah, beside Whom there is no
God, Who has guided me to Islam. I received your letter, O Messenger of Allah (r), in which
you mention the matter of Jesus and, by the Lord of Heaven and Earth, he is not one scrap
more than you say. We know that with which you were sent to us and we have entertained
your nephew and his companions. I testify that you are Allah's Messenger, true and confirm-
ing those before you. I have given my allegiance to you and to your nephew and I have
surrendered myself through him to the Lord of the Worlds. I have sent to you my son, Arha.
I have control only over myself and if you wish me to come to you, O Messenger of Allah
(r), I will do so. I bear witness that what you say is true. Peace upon you, O Messenger of
Allah.
The King seemed to have accepted Islam in his individual capacity but he could not convert
other people of his country this is confirmed by a hadeeth of Al-Bukhaari which says that the
Prophet said his funeral prayer in absentia in Madinah when he died. The second letter of
the Prophet (r) was sent to his successor, who probably did not respond favorably.