kill him and his followers, I shall never cut off this modest stream of gifts to you.” (1)

He said, “Summon him.”

I replied, “He will not come with me.”

So he dispatched a messenger with me to bring him, and he came. When we reached the entrance I called out, “Ask leave for ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ.”
He, however, called out, “Ask leave for the Party of Allah.”

When the Negus heard his voice he granted permission for him and his companions, and then he permitted me. I entered to find him seated. When I saw him, I advanced and sat directly before him, placing him behind me.
I also seated one of my men between every two of his.

The Negus said, “Nakhirū!” (2)

I said, “The cousin of this man who is in our land claims that there is no deity but the One God.”

At that he pronounced the testimony of faith—in fact, that was the first time I ever heard the shahādah.
The Negus said, “He has spoken the truth; he is my cousin, and I follow his religion.”

He then cried out loudly and exclaimed, “Ah!”
I wondered, “What is the matter with this Abyssinian?”

He said, “It is the Namūs—the angel of revelation—like the Namūs of Moses. What does he say about Jesus?”

He replied, “He says that Jesus is the Spirit of Allah and His Word.”

The Negus picked up something from the ground and said, “He has not deviated from the truth by even this much.”
He added, “Were it not for my kingdom, I would have followed you.”

Then he said to ʿAmr, “I would not have cared if neither you nor any of your people had ever come to me.”
And to Jaʿfar he said, “Go, for you are safe in my land; whoever strikes you I shall kill.” (3)

I later met Jaʿfar in private, drew close to him and said, “Indeed, (4) I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger and servant of Allah.”
He replied, “May Allah guide you.”

I returned to my companions, and it was as though