The Story of Negus (Najashi), the Good Christian King of Ethiopia

In the middle of the fifth year of Prophethood, the Muslims were forced out of their land because of the persecution of the Qureishi Arabs. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) commanded the Muslims to migrate to Abysynnia, to live under the King Negus. He knew that he was a just ruler Christian king. He delegated Ja'far son of Abu Talib to take charge of them, and he set out with seventy men until they took to sea. The Qureishi Arabs refused to let them leave peacefully, and confronted the king to demand the return of the Muslims by sending ‘Amr Bin Al-‘as’ and ‘Abdu-Allah Bin Abi Rabia’. They had taken with them valuable gifts and had won over some of his clergy, they claimed that those Muslim living in kingdom should be handed over to them because they had abandoned the religion of their forefathers, and their leader was preaching a religion different from their own and of that of the king.

The king summoned the Muslims to the court and asked them to explain the teachings of their religion. The Muslim emigrants had decided to tell the whole truth whatever the consequences were. Ja'far bin Abi Talib stood up and addressed the king in the following words:

"O king! we were plunged in the depth of ignorance and barbarism; we adored idols, we lived in unchastity, we ate the dead bodies, and we spoke abominations, we disregarded every feeling of humanity, and the duties of hospitality and neighborhood were neglected; we knew no law but that of the strong, when Allâh raised among us a man, of whose birth, truthfulness, honesty, and purity we were aware; and he called to the Oneness of Allâh, and taught us not to associate anything with Him. He forbade us the worship of idols; and he enjoined us to speak the truth, to be faithful to our trusts, to be merciful and to regard the rights of the neighbors and kith and kin; he forbade us to speak evil of women, or to eat the substance of orphans; he ordered us to fly from the vices, and to abstain from evil; to offer prayers, to render alms, and to observe fast. We have believed in him, we have accepted his teachings and his injunctions to worship Allâh, and not to associate anything with Him, and we have allowed what He has allowed, and prohibited what He has prohibited. For this reason, our people have risen against us; have persecuted us in order to make us forsake the worship of Allâh and return to the worship of idols and other abominations. They have tortured and injured us, until finding no safety among them; we have come to your country, and hope you will protect us from oppression."

The king was very much impressed by these words and asked the Muslims to recite some of Allâh's Revelation. Ja'far recited the opening verses of Sûrah Maryam (Mary). There upon the king, along with the bishops of his realm, was moved to tears that rolled down his cheeks and even wet his beard. Here, the Negus exclaimed: "It seems as if these words and those which were revealed to Jesus are the rays of the light which have radiated from the same source." Turning to the crest-fallen envoys of Quraish, he said, "I am afraid, I cannot give you back these refugees. They are free to live and worship in my realm as they please."

On the next day, ‘Amr Bin Al-‘as’ and ‘Abdu-Allah Bin Abi Rabia’.went to the king again. they aimed to spark enmity in the heart of the king by claiming that Prophet Muhammad and his followers blasphemed against Jesus Christ. Again the Muslims were summoned and asked were asked, this time over what they claimed of Jesus. Ja‘far, the very man who had spoken on behalf of the Muslims the day before, stood up again and replied: “we speak about Jesus as we have been taught by our Prophet (peace be upon him) , that is, he is the servant of Allah, His Messenger, His spirit and His Word breathed into Virgin Mary.” Upon hearing this reply, the king at once remarked, “even so do we believe. Blessed be you, and blessed be your master.” He then turned to the envoys, whose hopes had been agitated once more saying: “you may fret and fume as you like but Jesus is nothing more than what Ja‘far has said about him.”

Negus returned to the envoys of Quraish, the gifts they had brought with them and sent them away. The Muslims lived in Abyssinia undisturbed for a number of years till they returned to Madinah.

By: Nouran Radwan

References:

Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar) By Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

http://www.whymuhammad.com/en/contents.aspx?aid=8479

http://www.ilmfruits.com/jafar-ibn-abu-talibs-speech-to-the-negus