Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 9845

Sayyiduna Ja'far bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Quraysh sent Amr bin al-As and Umarah bin al-Walid to the Negus with gifts on behalf of Abu Sufyan. While we were staying with the Negus, these people said to the Negus: "Some of our lowly people have come to you; hand them over to us." The Negus said: "That will not happen until I have heard what they have to say." Then he sent for us and asked: "What is your position?" We said: "We were a people who worshipped idols. Then Allah Almighty sent us a Messenger; we believed in him and affirmed him." The Negus asked them (that is, Amr bin al-As and his companion): "Are these people your slaves?" They replied: "No!" The Negus asked: "Are you owed any debt by them?" They replied: "No." The Negus said: "Then leave these people alone!" We came out from the Negus, and Amr bin al-As said: "These people hold a view about Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him) different from yours." The Negus said: "If they do not believe about Sayyiduna Isa (peace be upon him) as we believe, I will not let them stay in my land for even an hour of the day." Then the Negus sent for us; this was a second summons, harder for us than the first. He asked: "What does your master say about Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him)?" We replied: "He says that he was the spirit of Allah and His word, which He cast to the pure virgin lady." The Negus sent a message and said: "Bring such-and-such priest and such-and-such monk." Some of them came to him. He asked: "What do you say about Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him)?" Those priests replied: "You know better about this; what do you say?" Then the Negus took something from the ground and said: "Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him) was not more than what this man has stated even by as much as this; he is exactly so." Then he said to these people: "Does anyone harm you?" They replied: "Yes!" So the Negus ordered a crier to announce that whoever harmed any one of these (Muslims) would be fined four dirhams. The Negus said: "Is that sufficient?" We said: "No." So the Negus doubled the fine. (The narrator says:) When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated to Madinah and gained the upper hand there, we said to the Negus: "Our master has come to Madinah and has gained the upper hand there. He has migrated to the people we told you about, so now we wish to depart from here; give us provisions for the journey." He said: "Very well." Then he arranged mounts for us, gave us provisions for the journey and made payments to us. Then he said: "Tell your master how I have treated you. This messenger of mine is with you. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah. Tell him to pray for my forgiveness." Sayyiduna Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) says: We set out from there until we came to Madinah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) met us, embraced me and said: "I do not know whether I am happier at the conquest of Khaybar or at the arrival of Ja'far." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down. The Negus's messenger stood up and said: "Here is Sayyiduna Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him); ask him how our master treated them." I said: "Yes, he did this and that for us. He gave us mounts and provisions for the journey and helped us, and he bore witness that there is no god but Allah and that you (peace and blessings be upon him) are the Messenger of Allah. He also said: 'Tell him to pray for my forgiveness.'" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) got up, performed ablution and then supplicated three times: "O Allah! Forgive the Negus!" The Muslims said: "Amin." Sayyiduna Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I said to the messenger: "Now go and tell your master what you have seen from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)."