Prophet Muhammad continues his outreach to foreign leaders, sending messengrs to the Persian emperor Khosrow II and the Coptic ruler Muqawqis of Alexandria.
The outreach teaches us:
- Islam was always meant to be globalized, not just for the Arabs. We need to also think deeply about how to universalize the messaging
- The way people respond to the Prophet had an impact on their dunya and akhira
- The prophet addresses world leaders with their respective titles. This is part of the etiquette of dialogue.
- Even when people are tyranical rulers, it doesn't give us the right to be abusive (especially when we're unprovoked). Even Musa was instructed to speak gently to Feron
- Communicate using simple language and get to the point. The letters were short and succinct.
- Customize your communication to cater to your audience
Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=628.
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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDuHQa1oDOs&list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT.