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The letter of the  Imaam of the Muttaqeen, Ibn Taymiyyah to the King of Cyprus and the religious leaders, princes and priests replying to their enquiries. He explains to them the message of religions that proceeded the final message. He emphasises the difference between the Muslim understanding of it as opposed to the adulterations that took place later.
From Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah to Sarjawaz, the leader of his
nation, and his courtiers, religious leaders, bishops, hermits, princes. Peace
be upon the followers of guidance.
We praise Allah, the only God, the Lord of Ibraaheem, and the household of 'Imraan.
We ask Him to send His blessings upon His chosen worshippers and His guided
prophets. Especially, those prophets who possessed the greatest determination
who are the leaders of all creation and the chiefs of all nations. They were the
ones whom covenants were taken from: Nuh, Ibraaheem, Moosa, 'Eesaa, and Muhammad
(saw) as they were mentioned in Allah's Book:
"In matters of faith, He (Allah) has ordained for you that which He enjoined
upon Nuh , and into which We gave you (O Muhammad SAW) insight through
revelation -- as well as that which we enjoined upon Ibraaheem , Moosa and 'Eesa:
steadfastly uphold the truth and do not break up your unity therein" (42:13)
"And Lo! We did accept a solemn pledge from all the Prophets - from you [O
Muhammad] as well as from Nuh, and Ibraaheem, and 'Eesaa the son of Maryam - for
we accepted a most weight, solemn pledge from [all of] them, so that [at the end
of time] He might ask those men of truth as to [what response] their
truthfulness [had received on earth]. And grievous suffering He has readied for
all who deny the truth." (33:7-8)
We ask Him to direct the peace and blessings towards the Seal of Messengers,
their speaker when they return to their Lord and their Imaam when they meet. He
is the interceder of the creation on the Day of Reckoning, the Prophet of mercy
and courage who embodies all of the splendours of previous prophets. He was the
one that 'Eesaa, the servant of Allah1, His Spirit and Word that He bestowed
upon the truthful, pure and virginal Maryam, daughter of 'Imraan, gave glad
tidings of. This was the Messiah of guidance, 'Eesa ibn Maryam, of great honour
in this life and the next, characterised by grace and mercy due to what he
relieved Banee Israa'eel (those descendents from the household of Prophet
Ya'qoob) of Moosa's message, characterised by the magnificence and firmness.
Allah had then sent the final and concluding Messenger (saw) characterised by
firmness on the disbelievers and mercy of the believers, whose sharee'ah
contained the beauty of all the previous ones. May Allah bless them all, and
bless those that follow them until the Day of
Judgement.
Indeed, Allah created the creations with His Supreme Ability, and shown in them
a sign of His Wisdom and Mercy. All this was done so that His Command is obeyed
through His worship. The origin of such worship is the higher spiritual wisdom
and knowledge of Allah and love for Him. So whom Allah guides to His straight
path is thereby given knowledge of His noble Names and exalted Attributes. The
person is then awarded repentance and fear of him, so that he longs for Allah
like the eagles long for their high nests, and to be immersed in His Love the
same way a baby loves his mother. Thus is worship: love, fear and hope, and thus
is sincerity to Who owns the heavens and earth, the Lord of the firsts and the
lasts. It is Allah, the Creator of the Seen and that which is beyond human
perception, and His servants do not ascribe partners unto Him to be revered in
the same way, nor do they take (instead of Allah) a protector, a king, a prophet
or a priest. Allah's worshippers recognise that everyone in the heavens and
earth, are mere servants. Allah knows them all and they will return to Him one
by one on the Day of Judgement. Such are the people chosen, guided and
strengthened to the truth by Allah the Most Graceful, for He guides whom He
pleases to the Straight Path.
Mankind after the time of Adam and before that of Nuh, 'alayhis Salaam, were on
the Tawheed and sincerity that their father Nuh was upon. At a later date,
humankind invented Shirk and the worship of idols. This innovation was self-made
and had no origin in a book of Allah, or through a prophet of His. Rather, they
were doubts that the Shaytaan had instilled in their imagination, relying on
corrupt analogies, and deviant conceptions. Some of them thought idols as the
talismans of stars and great spirits. Some sculptured them in the likenesses of
their previous prophets and pious people. And some made their idols the lowly
spirits of jinns and devils.
As most were ignorant followers of their leaders, turning away from the path of
guidance, Allah sent unto them his Prophet Nuh, 'alayhis salaam. Nuh called them
to the worship of Allah alone, rebuking them for the worship of other beings
even though they claimed that the idols were worshipped for purposes of
intercession only. Nine hundred and fifty years was the length of time that Nuh
proclaimed the call until Allah informed him that none will reach Islaam save
those already Muslim. Then, Nuh 'alayhis salaam, prayed to Almighty Allah to
drown the disbelievers, and he was answered. Then came the prophets after him,
one after the other until the earth was engulfed by the beliefs of the
disbeliever in the Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah, when the tyrants and
pharoahs were the chiefs throughout the world. During these terrible times the
Imaam of all believers, and the originator of the pure creed and everlasting
word Ibraaheem, 'alayhis salaam was sent. Ibraaheem called people to the
declaration of God's perfection and denounced their planet and idol worship,
saying:
"Unto Him who brought into being the heavens and the earth have I turned my
face, having turned away from all that is false; and I am certainly not of those
who associate others with Allah in His divinity". (6:79)
He also said to his people,
"Have you, then, ever considered what is that you have been worshipping, you and
those ancient forefathers of yours? Verily, these [false deities] are my enemies
[and that none is my helper] save the Sustainer of all the worlds who created me
and is the One who guides me, and is the One who gives me to eat and to drink,
and when I fall ill, is the one who restores me to health, and who will cause me
to die and then will bring me back to life, and who, I hope will forgive me my
faults on the Day of Judgement" (26:75-82)
Ibraaheem, 'Alayhis-salaam, with his followers, have also said to their people,
"Verily, we absolve ourselves from you and of all that you worship instead of
Allah: we deny the truth of whatever you believe; and between us and you there
has arisen enmity and hatred, to last until such a time as you come to believe
in Allah alone." (60:4)
And so Allah made the prophets and messengers from amongst Ibraaheem's
descendants and equipped all with signs, and placed some higher than others in
status. Allah granted Moosa the stick that He caused to come to life and devour
what the magicians had made through ropes and sticks. Allah had also split the
sea and caused it to harden whilst the water stood divided into twelve paths for
the number of the tribes. Moosa, 'alayhis salaam, was shaded with his people,
white clouds escorting them, and was provided with manna and quails every
morning; and when they became thirsty, Moosa struck the rod with his stick and
water gushed out into twelve springs. Allah had then sent prophets from among
the Israelites. Some resurrected the dead and others cure the sick. Some
prophets were given command over other creatures, and others were sent with many
kinds of miracles. This is all agreed, even by the Jews and Christians, for
their books contain many narratives of prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Daniel, Habakkuk, David and Soloman, and what the book of Kings, and other
contain in terms of valid stories.
Yet Banee Israa'eel were a coarse and unrepenting nation. Sometimes they
worshipped idols and stones, and other times Allah. Sometimes they would kill
the prophets unjustifiably, and so they were cursed by Daawood, 'alayhis salaam,
and the destruction of Jerusalem is common knowledge to all.
In the midst of this, Allah sent the Messiah, the son of Maryam, together with
his mother, as a messenger and a sign to mankind. This miraculous act was a
testimony to the ability of Allah and comprehensiveness of His Command in
dividing mankind into four unique categories. Aadam, 'alayhis salaam, was
created without a male-female interaction, and his wife created from a part of a
male. Then the Messiah, son of Maryam, was created from a female without male
intervention and all others from males and females. This servant, the Messiah
son of Maryam, was given clear signs whereby he returned the dead back to life,
healed the blind and the leper, and called to the worship of Allah, following
the way of his fellow prophets, confirming what came before him, and giving glad
tidings of what shall come after.
But Banee Israa'eel disobeyed and became arrogant. This was a direct contrast to
'Eesa's message. This message was noted for its humility, mercy and forgiveness,
seen in the characters of early priests and hermits. Later on, 'Eesa and his
followers became an issue that divided people into three camps: The first
disbelieved and claimed that he was an illegitimate child whose father was
Joseph the Carpenter, accusing his mother of fornication. That first group had
also claimed that none of the Old Testament was abrogated. At the same time a
second group were very excessive in elevating his status until they called him
God and the son of God. They claimed that the Lord of the Worlds had descended
and sent His son to be crucified for the sin of Aadam, 'alayhis salaam. But how
could they allege that Allah, the One, the Eternal, who begets not, and neither
is He begotten, and there is nothing that could be compared to Him, had in fact
begotten and taken a son? Without justifying proof by intellect or through their
own Biblical evidences, a difference has continued into the areas of trinity and
unity. Though there were some perplexing verses in some scriptures, there were
many clear-cut ones to sort out any confusion professing the servanthood of 'Eesaa
and his supplication to, and the worship of Allah, alone.
(1) Servitude in Islaam refers to the total submission to Allah AND absolute
love for Him.
The cornerstone of religion is the belief in Allah and His Messenger, as the
final Prophet has said:
"I was ordered to fight the people until they bear witness that there is none
worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger".
He also said:
"Do not over-glorify me as the Christians did to 'Eesaa bin Maryam, for I am but
a servant and so therefore describe me as (1) the servant of Allah and (2) His
Messenger."
And as a result of this pillar, the Sabians and Brahmins and those of the same
ilk who rejected the prophets are Kuffaar in their affirmations and beliefs,
corrupt in their view of prophets. And those instigators of trinity into the
heart of monotheism had corrupted their religion in a plain way, known through
the Fitrah that Allah had created humans upon and through the books that He had
sent.
A general trend is observed among the priests, cardinals and Archbishops whereby
their rise to genuine distinction and prominence is accompanied with their
gradual disbelief in their own creed. Yet they insist on retaining their
privileged positions and continuing their hypocrisy to the rulers and people.
This observation is evident in the behaviour of Ibn al-Bouri of Jerusalem and
Ibn al-Quf of Damascus. Similarly, many of the distinguished members of the
clergy have been approached and advised by some (Muslim) noble people, who made
it clear that their beliefs were not firmly held, if present at all, and that
their retention of position is due to custom and privilege and not by right. A
similar tradition is applicable to the kings and the wealthy. It is also
observed that the efforts of theologian scholars are not directly concerned with
the religion of the Messiah. Instead, logic, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy
and medicine are commonly found. And if a religious discipline is studied, then
the theological rhetoric of the Sabians is used. This last feature is the exact
disbelief that Allah had sent Ibraaheem to counter through conveying the
authentic message. And this message is the one ignored by current clergy who
substitute it with the rites approved by whims of the public and the desires of
the rulers.
This aforementioned clergy had ever contradicted the Jews in their adherence to
the Scriptures, although they claimed to follow its entirety save what 'Eesaa
had abrogated. The Jews belittled the prophets until they killed them, whereas
the Christians were so excessive in their admiration as to worship them. The
Jews claimed that it does not befit the Almighty to change or abrogate His Word
from time to time even if a messenger claims it. Yet the Christians
counter-claimed that their religious leaders had the power to change what they
see as appropriate, and in doing so prohibit or sanction what they wish.
Furthermore, those religious leaders can order the sinner to participate in
extra worship and thereby forgive him. The Jews claim that many things have been
prohibited upon them, yet the Christians say that everything between the
mosquito and elephant is allowed: one eats what he wishes and leaves what he
despises. The Jews claim that physical impurities are grave, that it is
disallowed to sit or eat with the menstruating women. The Christians say the
opposite, and do not enjoin either circumcision or washing (Ghusl) and the
removal of impurities, even though the disciples were on the sharee'ah of the
Torah.
Moreover, the prayer to the east, and the hanging of the cross were not acts
enjoined by the Messiah or called for by his disciples. Rather, they were
innovated by Emperor Constantine and others. Any true religion whose followers
aim is the pleasure of Allah, has to be commanded by Allah Himself and delivered
by His prophets and messengers. On the other hand, innovations in religious
matters all amount to misguidance and idols were only worshipped first through
innovation.
In generally the majority of current Christian rites of worship and celebration
were never commanded by Allah nor sent through His Messenger. Yet Christians
possess mercy and kindness, which are from Allah's Deen. This characteristic was
not found amongst the Jews who are coarse and aloof. The Jews, nevertheless are
intelligent, yet stubborn and arrogant, and the Christians are ignorant of the
truth and oblivious to the path of Allah.
This is not to say that those people of the book never accepted true guidance.
Many current and previous groups of scholars embrace Islaam and migrated to the
way of Allah and His Prophet. They had also written about the proofs of
Muhammad's (saw) prophethood in other books of Allah, highlighting thereby areas
hitherto ignored. And when the parties differed over the revealed guidance,
Allah sent the Prophet that the Messiah and previous prophets had mentioned.
This last prophet was calling to the creed of Ibraaheem and the creed of the
Messengers before and those after Ibraaheem. This message was the sole worship
of Allah without partners, the sincere submission to Allah in all areas of the
Deen, purifying the earth from the worship of idols and the religion of minor
and major shirk. This occurred as idols were being worshipped in the lands of
Sham, the lands of the sons of Israa'eel and of those who proclaim their
Christianity. The last Messenger (saw) called all to believe in all of the
revealed books of Allah, i.e. the Torah, the Bible, the Psalms, and the Qur'aan
and in His Prophets from Aadam to Muhammad (saw). Allah says:
"And they say, "Be Jews", or "Christians", and "you shall be guided". Say [to
them, O Muhammad]: "Nay, but [ours is] the creed of Ibraaheem, who turned away
from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribe divinity to any beside
Allah". Say: "We believe in Allah and in that which has been bestowed from on
high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Ibraaheem and Isma'eel and
Ishaq and Ya'qoob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed to
Moosa and 'Eesaa and that which has been vouchsafed to all the [other] prophets
by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto
Him that we surrender ourselves [in Islaam]". And if [others] come to believe in
the way you
believe, they will indeed find themselves on the right path; and if they turn
away, it is but they who will be deeply in the wrong, and Allah will suffice you
against them, for He alone is All-Hearer the All-Knower". (2:135-7)
Allah has also commanded this prophet to call the creation to singling Him out
with oneness and uniqueness through the establishment of justice. He says:
"Say [O Muhammad], "O People of the Book, come unto that tenet which we and you
hold in common: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall not
associate partners with Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our
lords beside Allah". And if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are
Muslims". (3:64)
Almighty Allah also said, "And it is not given to mortal man that Allah should
speak unto him unless [it is] by revelation or from behind a veil". (42:51)
"It is not conceivable that a human being unto whom Allah had granted
revelation, and sound judgement, and prophethood should thereafter have said
unto people, "Worship none beside Allah", but rather [did he exhort them],
"Become men of Allah by spreading knowledge of the divine writ, and by your own
deep study [thereof]." And neither did he bid you to take the angels and the
prophets for your lords: [for] would he bid you to deny the truth after you have
surrendered yourselves unto Allah" (3:79-80)
Allah has ordered His last Messenger (saw) to direct his prayer and pilgrimage
towards His sacred house built by the father of the prophets and the imaam of
the true monotheist believers, Ibraaheem. Allah had also ordered that the nation
of the last messenger be a just one, nor exaggerating the status of the prophets
so as to make them equal to their Creator or bestowing on them features solely
possessed by Him. Equally this person did not disregard them in a similar way to
those who belittled, disobeyed and then harmed them. Instead, the members of
this nation respected, aided and believed in the prophets' message. Moreover
this nation had obeyed, followed, trusted, loved and extolled the prophets
themselves. They had only worshipped Allah, placing trust and taking refuge in
Him alone as sincere and true monotheists.
Muhammad's (saw) nation was also just in their sharee'ah. They proclaim their
adherence to Allah's commandments and prohibitions. They say that Allah had
prohibited the sons of Israa'eel from what He allowed earlier for Israa'eel
himself, and He made lawful through the Messiah what was previously prohibited
to the sons of Israa'eel. In both analogies Allah orders and his servants hear
and obey. Anyone else, apart from Allah's prophets and messengers, possess no
mandate to change the religion of Allah, nor power to innovate in the religion
what He did not allow. The prophets' mandate is to deliver the message of Allah.
To Him alone belongs the creations and authority. If none is able to create then
none should rule but Him.
"Judgement rests with Allah alone - He has ordained that you should worship none
but Him: this is the [one] ever-true faith; but most people know it not".
(12:40)
This nation is one the middle way in matters of purity and impurity, in matters
of lawful and prohibited, and also in matters of morals. They have neither
relied solely on harshness or on tenderness. Instead, they treated the enemies
of Allah with severity and those who rely on Him with mercy, and they speak of
the Messiah that which the Lord and the disciples of the Messiah say of him.
They neither follow the innovations of those who surpassed the limit of his
admiration, nor those who had neglected him completely.
What triggered my desire to write to the Chief of his people and religion, is
that came to my knowledge of his esteem, genuine interest in religion, and love
for knowledge. It had also come to my attention the impression and praise of the
Shaykh Abul-'Abbas al-Maqdisi, for the fine behaviour and enthusiasm of the King
and the good manner of his clergy. We are indeed a benevolent people, and wish
that Allah may grant you the best reward of this life and the next. And since
one of the greatest worships was the advice to fellow humans, as it was the
occupation of the prophets, then there is nothing greater than the advice of men
to their duties towards Allah as the Meeting and Reckoning are absolute
certainties. Allah says:
"Thus [on Judgement Day] We shall most certainly call to account all those unto
whom a [divine] message was sent, and We shall most certainly call to account
the message bearers". (7:6)
This life is but a lowly pursuit of leadership and wealth and its reality is
worthless. This pursuit of leadership will eventually lead one to the fate of
the Pharaoh whom Allah had drowned in the water out of vengeance. Similarly, the
blind pursuit of wealth shall lead one on a fate akin to that of Korah. Allah
had caused the earth to engulf him, and that he is being punished in it until
the Day of Reckoning as a result of the harm he instigated against the prophet
of Allah, Moosa.
When viewing the commandments of the Messiah, the prophets before him and those
after, one sees common themes running throughout. These themes are the
insistence on the worship of Allah, preparation for the Day of Judgement, and
distancing oneself from excessive enjoyment of this life. Therefore I saw that
there is nothing more urgent or better than to present to the King the call to
the worship that pleases Allah; and, in reminding him about areas of knowledge
and religion without indulging in details, as they are those matters which are
the branches of the fundamentals. You [referring to the King] know that the
religion of Allah cannot be derived from one's desires or from the tradition of
fathers and community. Instead, the wise should exercise his reason regarding
what the prophets came with and what the distinguished people had agreed on.
Even if that wise human was not able to publicly proclaim his conversion to the
correct belief and fine action, he should persevere and Allah will reward him
accordingly.
It was always my habit to write to the leaders whom I felt possessed a genuine
desire for knowledge and good work. I have even considered travelling to Cyprus,
as I like to treat the ruler in accordance with the degree of his submission to
Allah's commandments.
When the leader of the Tatars, Qazan came with his followers to Damascus, he
claimed a false conversion to Islaam. Yet his behaviour and that of his
subordinates were a testimony to their abandonment of Allah's commands. I have
met them all in one famous gathering, the news of which became widespread. On
that occasion we humiliated him. Amongst his courtiers was the Christian chief
of the castle of Sees (2). This chief was never respected or honoured in the
company of Qazan, but rather treated as an ignorant minor. Furthermore, others
of the circle of Qazan knew that man's bad intentions and how we tried to commit
you deceivingly into a war with the Tatars. Nevertheless, our position had never
changed towards the Christians. I have always called for treating them with
justice and defending them when attacked.
It is also common knowledge the content of my correspondence with the Tatars and
my request for the release of prisoners of war. Yet their rulers agreed to
release Muslim prisoners only and retain the Christians prisoners from
Jerusalem. I had refused such a reply and insisted on the release of all
prisoners of war including Jews and Christians, whom are of the people of our
dhimmah3. This demand was granted to me, and this is our good work and reward
is sought solely from Allah.
It is common knowledge to all that even those prisoners that we have under our
hands are in fact treated justly and mercifully. This was indeed one of the
recommendations of the Seal of Prophets during his last days on this earth:
"Take good care of your prayers and those under your domain".
Allah, the Exalted in Might, said "And who give food - however great be their
own want of it - unto the needy and the orphan and the captive". (76:8)
The Tatars as I have mentioned, had proclaimed their conversion to this
religion, yet we never concur with their hypocrisy or stayed silent when viewing
their mistakes. Instead we made it very clear to them our objection to their
transgressions and deviations from Islaam, that obliges waging Jihaad against
them. When the army returned to Egypt and received the news about the immorality
and anti-religious activities of this cursed group (Tatar Army), they came out,
all these armies of Allah, and their size was great and whose numbers filled the
valleys. This great force that came prepared with Eemaan, sincerity and arms,
was fortified by the angels through whom Allah still aids his truthful nation.
Their enemies were surpassed, defeated and dazzled. Thus, Allah had completed
His favour and aided His servants and thereby promoted the glory of Islaam, a
religion of ascendance, leaving their enemies in disarray and anguish. The
Prophet (saw) said,
"Allah will send this nation at the helm of every century he who will revive its
religion".
The King, as I am sure, is well acquainted with the story of the deputation of
Najran's Christians who came to Prophet Muhammad (saw). The Prophet invited them
to Islaam, and they asked him about the Messiah. They debated with him, and when
their arguments were soundly beaten they resorted to slippery ways and deceitful
tactics, until the Prophet was commanded to invite them to Mubahalah.4:
"And if anyone should argue with you about this [truth] after all the knowledge
that has come unto you, say: "Come, let us summon our sons and your sons, and
our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves; and then let us pray
[together] humbly and ardently, and let us invoke Allah's curse upon those [of
us] who are telling a lie". (3:61)
The deputation consulted among itself reaching an agreement based on their fear
of the consequences and saying, "You know fully that he is a Prophet, and none
has ever succeeded when taken up a prophet's challenge of a Mubahala", and so
they paid the jizyah5.
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) had sent a letter to Caesar, the king of the
Christians from Syria to Constantinople. This king was a noble man and he knew
when reading the letter, of the authenticity of Muhammad's (saw) prophethood as
prophesied by the Messiah and promised by Ibraaheem to Isma'eel. Caesar then
urged his people to honour the Prophet's ambassador and he held the letter,
kissed it and put it on his eyes, saying, "If it was not for this kingdom and
rule, I would have loved to go to him and wash his feet".
The Ashamah Negus was another noble Christian king. He had met the migrant
believers in Abyssinia and migrated himself to Allah as a truthful believer,
crying at the recitation of Soorah Maryam and saying, "By God, these words and
those which were revealed to Moosa are rays of light which have radiated from
the same source!" Ashamah Negus had also sent his son, among others of his
people, to the Prophet (saw), and was prayed upon by the Prophet when he died.
In the Seerah of the Prophet of Allah Muhammad (saw), many examples are to be
found of his equitable and honourable treatment towards the Christians. Whoever
embraced Islaam from amongst them became one of Muhammad's (saw) nation with all
subsequent obligations and responsibilities. He indeed is liable to be rewarded
twice, one for his faith in 'Eesaa and the other for faith in Muhammad (saw). He
who did not believe, on the other hand, was liable to be fought, as Allah
instructed,
"Fight against those who - despite having been vouchsafed revelation - do not
believe either in Allah or the Last Day, and do not consider forbidden that
which Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and do not follow the religion of
truth [Which, Allah has enjoined upon them] till they [agree to] pay the jizyah
with a willing submission, and feel themselves subdued". (9:29)
I ask you, Oh King! Has the Messiah, 'alayhis salaam, or indeed did the
disciples after him, call for the struggle against our nation? How could you
then make lawful the spilling of blood, seizure of women and confiscation of
land without any justification? Does he not know that we have a great number of
protected people of dhimmah resident in our lands, under our authority,
protected and safe?
How is it then that our Muslim brothers are treated in a way that is
unacceptable to people of religion and honour? I do not, however, accuse the
King, his brothers and family directly, as I know of the hospitality and good
spirit that Abul-'Abbas was received with and his acknowledgement and praise of
it. Yet, are not our Muslim prisoners jaild at his pleasure and under his rule?
And have not the commandments of the Messiah and the rest of the prophets
prohibited acts of castigation and enjoined acts of good will? Furthermore, how
can the treacherous way our prisoners were captured be justified and treachery
is forbidden in all religions, sects and wise ways. How can you render lawful
for yourselves an act of deceit? Are you not afraid that Muslims will reward you
in a similar way, and Allah will be their helper and guide?
Let me tell the King that the Muslims are already in preparation for Jihaad and
strenuous struggle against the Tatars, and they are returning to their Lord and
pursuing His Pleasure. Moreover, those princes ruling the coastal outposts who
are increasing in number and authority are staunch believers. Let me tell the
King that, among the Muslims are many virtuous people whose prayers are not
refused and whose requests are not denied and whose anger does Allah avenge!
Indeed, the Tatars are an example of a people who had outraged the Muslims, and
although they were great in number, Allah had placed His Wrath upon them and
they were afflicted in numerous ways. Is it then suitable, Oh King, that a
people who border Muslims on many frontiers to treat them in this way? A way
that is unacceptable by the wise, be it Muslims or not.
I would like to remind the King that those lands occupied on the seashore, and
ever Cyprus itself, had been Muslim-held until less than 300 years ago. I would
like to also remind that the Prophet of Allah (saw) had promised that a group of
Muslims would be aided until the Day of Reckoning. Does the King not think that
Allah is able to assist those wrongly and oppressively imprisoned in the King's
lands, and that He can avenge them as He has done for others? Or is the King
safe from a Muslim reawakening that will return to them what they had lost? We
will treat with kindness those who do the same to us, and Allah shall succour
him who is transgressed upon.
Such a renaissance for Muslims is not a difficult matter to reoccur. I am now
writing in the noblest manner in order to assist in directing to the truth and
the way that is best. If the King has among his advisors wise men whose
judgement and sincerity he trust, then he should consult with them on the
realities of knowledge and origins of religions. He should not be satisfied
being a part of those blind following Christians, who hear not, understand not
and they are like the lead animals and even worse.
This endeavour can be achieved by relying upon Allah and seeking His guidance.
The King should say, "O Allah! Show me truth so plainly and assist me to follow
it, and show me falsehood for what it is and guide me to keep away from it, and
make the two extremes very distinct as not to follow desire and be misguided".
The King should say, "O Allah! The Lord of Jibra'eel, Mikayeel and Israfeel6,
the Originator of the Heavens and Earth, the All-Knowing of the seen and the
unseen, You are the Judge between your servants in their disagreements. Guide
me, O Allah, to the truth with your grace for You guide who You will to the
straight path!"
What I wish to convey unto the King, are my hopes for his well-being and benefit
in this life and the next. These hopes are two things, one personal and the
other general. On a personal note, I wish for him to grasp knowledge and
religion, for truth to unveil before his eyes and for doubt to disappear. I wish
for him to worship Allah, according to His Command, for it is better than rule
over the whole earth. Indeed, this is what the Messiah was sent with and what
his disciples were taught. The second is for his benefit and that of the Muslims
in his lands in general. This can be attained through his help to our prisoners
and commanding his people to treat them with kindness and aid their release.
Truly, the harm incurred on our prisoners will stain his reputation and inflame
Muslims. Therefore, helping the release of those prisoners would be a good deed
for the King in his own religion, and as the religion of Allah testifies.
Furthermore, it would be a sign of goodwill towards the Muslims, and indeed the
Messiah was the greatest caller to this way of behaviour.
It is surprising that the Christians are taking as prisoners a group of people
through treachery or not, who did not even fight them. Has not the Messiah
proclaimed: Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other
also? It can then be assumed that the more prisoners held, and the longer that
they are held for, the more invoking of Allah's Wrath is attempted. How can one
be silent about the Muslim prisoners in Cyprus, when the majority are weak and
poor and have no one to speak on their behalf?
The religion of Islaam commands aid towards the poor and the weak. The King has
the ability and an obligation to assist in this regard more than most,
especially as the Messiah instructs this in the Bible, calling for an
encompassing mercy and general goodwill by all towards all, akin to the work of
the sun and the rain.
There have always been amongst the Christians those at an advantage in knowledge
and religion. Many of the rulers, the clergy and the general public recognise
parts of the truth and aim to follow it. This group know the status of Islaam
and its people where many do not, and as a result treat Muslims equitably.
Indeed many are the sayings of the prophets and pious regarding the virtue of
releasing the imprisoned and freeing the oppressed. In short, the King is bound
to see the fruits of his labour in this regard. It is of note how the
Christians, leaders and general public, who live in Muslim lands, far outnumber
Muslims living in your own country. Yet at the same time, we do not seek our
prisoners for our own lack of number, neither is it out of our dire need for
them. Rather we seek the reward of Allah, the Exalted, and His Pleasure on the
Day when He shall recompense the truthful and He shall not fail the pious.
It was Abul-'Abas, the carrier of this message who had informed of the good
attributes of the King and his brother amongst us, and my message was written
after this knowledge. I write to the King, sensing his eagerness for the truth,
and his search for knowledge and deen, as I am one of the representatives of the
Messiah and the rest of the prophets, advising the rulers and directing them to
guidance. Indeed, the nation of Muhammad (saw) is the best nation, raised for
mankind, as they want for the whole of creation the best state in this life and
the next. This nation enjoins good, forbids evil and calls mankind to Allah and
assists them in the affairs of their life and their hereafter. If any
information defiling Muslims or deeming their religion has reached the King,
then it is either a lie or a misinterpretation of a condition. In fact, rarely
is such information true, that some oppression, sins or vice were viewed within
Muslim lands. Yet the fact remains that although every nation will possess some
sickness of one type or another, evil when found amongst Muslims, is much less
than that found amongst others, and their merit and righteousness is unequalled
by any.
The King and most wise men know that the majority of the Christians are
non-adherents to the commands of the Messiah, his disciples or even the letters
of Paul and other saints. A detailed look will show that what they have of
Christianity is but wine-drinking, swine eating, glorifying the cross and other
innovated rites that were never commanded by Allah. Some even render lawful what
the Almighty had forbidden and these are things that cannot be disputed. They
dispute over what we have of prophecies. It is of the authentic speech of the
truthful and believed messenger of Allah, Muhammad (saw), that the Messiah, 'Eesaa,
the son of Maryam, will descend in our land by the white minaret in Damascus,
his hands placed on the shoulders of two angels. He will break the cross, kill
swine, impose the jizyah and not accept from any a belief save Islaam. He will
kill the anti-Christ, the one-eyed Dajjaal of evil whom the Jews will follow.
The Messiah 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam, will then summon the Muslims for war with
the Jews until the tree and the stone are made to speak to the Muslim, informing
of a Jew's hideout, urging his killing. Allah will then avenge the Messiah, the
son of Maryam, the Messiah of Truth, against the Jews for the harm they
inflicted upon him and their rejection of him when he was sent to them.
What is clear is that, all who have done good towards the Muslims and leaned
towards them, were never thereafter harmed by them. Indeed the result of such
work is good and a lasting relationship repaying the extent of service received.
Allah says
"And so, he who shall have done an atom's weight of good, shall see it; and he
who shall have done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it". (99:7-8)
I conclude my letter by requesting aid to Shaykh Abul-'Abas and assistance to
all of the prisoners. I request that none be harmed or forced to change his
belief. When this is achieved, the King shall see the good result of his good
act. The King knows of my good intentions towards him, as Allah the Almighty
demands it of us. We, the Muslims, are instructed to seek good for all, show
sympathy to all of His creation, and call them to the way of Allah and His
Religion, thereby protecting them from the evils of the devils and humans.
Allah alone is able to guide the King in his responsible position, and to direct
him for what is better for him. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
and may His Peace and Blessings be upon the messengers and prophets - especially
Muhammad the final messenger. Peace be upon them all.
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