Nazmi Luqa, a Copt, wrote many books, valiantly defending the Prophet Muhammad. His book ‘Muhammad; the Message and the Messenger’ especially was met by a huge outcry from people of both religions, who each saw him as part of some plot against their religion. Both Copts and some Muslims thought that he had denounced his faith in favor of Islam, to the extent that he was excommunicated by the church upon his death.