The Absynnian King who accepted Islam at the time of the Prophet

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
The Negus King of Abyssinia believed in the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

He said to the priests of his Kingdom:- "O' you priests and
monks, what they say (the Muslims) about the Son of Mary is not more than what you say, you messengers of Muhammad are welcomed here and so is he.

I bear witness that he (Muhammad) is the Messenger of God, and that he is the one Jesus gave glad tidings of his coming. And if I wasn't occupied with this kingdom I would go to the
Prophet and personally carry his shoes
". (Source:
Narrated by Abu Dawud (3205), and Ibn Shayba (346/14)
 

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
Its important to note that the first letter sent by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to the Negus [Najjashi] of Ethiopia inviting him to Islam was not to this Emperor, but to an earlier monarch. The more famous Najjashi may have been the crown prince at the time and most likely was a child. The Emperor who received the Prophet's letter may have been the father and was among those killed in a palace revolution that left most of the royal family dead with the child as the sole survivor and heir.

He later occupied the throne as an adult and it was during that time that the first set of Companions migrated to Ethiopia. While the Prophet (SAW) himself never met the Najjashi himself, members of his family did and they included Usman, his son in law, Ruqaiyah, his daughter and the wife of Usman, Umm Habiba, his future wife and Umm Ayman the Prophet's parents Absynnian maid.
 

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
It is also known that during the time period the Companions were in Ethiopia, the Najjashi allotted a piece of land to the Muslims and they and they alone lived there, but there were no boundaries or gates that separated them from Ethiopians. Both communities socialised with one another, the Companions would visit the markets, trade with the native residents and give da'wah. The Najjashi always sent representatives to the Companions to ask about their welfare, ask for anything they required and just to check up on them from time to time. The Najjashi did not keep their presence a secret, he announced it to his people and gave his pledge that they were under his official patronage and protection. This did not make him unpopular. Overall he was an excellent ruler and a very charismatic monarch.

The only occasion he faced a rebellion was shortly after he met with the Companions and the Quraish the first time. This was the occasion when Ja'far Ibn Abu Talib [the older bother of Ali] recited verses from Surah Maryam about Prophet Isa (AS) and his mother. The Najjashi replied that the belief he held and the one that the Muslims held was the same. This incident was related to the people and they believed he had abandoned Christianity and so revolted.

Before appearing before his subjects, the Najjashi spoke with the Companions and made provisions for them to leave the country if he was going to be overthrown. This was because he could not guarantee or preserve their safety if he was no longer king. However, it proved to be un necessary as the masses were assured of the Najjashi's good intentions and sincerity and he remained as king until his death.
 
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