to their former error and enmity.
Among those who had returned from Abyssinia was ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn and his companions. They found that they could not enter Mecca except under someone’s protection, so al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah granted ʿUthmān his jiwār (security pledge). When ʿUthmān saw the hardship that befell his fellow believers—some of them lashed with whips and burned with fire—while he himself remained unharmed, he preferred to share their trial. He said to al-Walīd, “Uncle, you have sheltered me, but I would like you to bring your clan together and declare yourself free of me.” Al-Walīd replied, “My nephew, has anyone harmed or insulted you?” He said, “No, by Allah, no one has confronted or hurt me at all.” But when ʿUthmān insisted, al-Walīd took him to the mosque, where Quraysh were gathered in full, and the poet Labīd ibn Rabīʿah was declaiming verse to them. Al-Walīd took ʿUthmān by the hand and announced, “This man has compelled me to renounce the protection I extended to him. I hereby declare before you all that I am quit of him, unless he so wills.” ʿUthmān said, “He has spoken the truth. By Allah, I forced him to do that, and he is free of any obligation toward me.” He then sat with the assembly, and they began to assail him.
Mūsā said: Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib and his companions set out, fleeing with their religion, to Abyssinia. Quraysh dispatched ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ and ʿAmārah ibn al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, instructing them to hurry, which they did. They sent the Negus a horse and a brocade robe, and they presented the nobles of Abyssinia with gifts as well. The Negus accepted their offerings and seated ʿAmr beside him on his throne. ʿAmr said, “In your land are some reckless youths of ours who follow neither your religion nor ours; hand them over to us.” The Negus replied, “Not until I have spoken with them and learned what they hold.” ʿAmr said, “They are the followers of the man who has arisen among us; they do not testify that Jesus is the son of God, nor do they prostrate to you when they enter.”
The Negus then summoned Jaʿfar and his companions. When they entered, neither Jaʿfar nor his companions prostrated; they greeted him with peace. ʿAmr exclaimed, “Did I not inform you about these people?” The Negus said, “Tell me, company of men: why do you not greet me as those who come to me from your own people do? Inform me what you say about Jesus, and what is your religion. Are you Christians?” They replied, “No.” He said, “Are you Jews?”