Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (سيرة 1/156)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

Al-Zuhrī said, “When I recounted this story to ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr he asked, ‘Do you know what the Negus meant when he said: “When Allah restored my kingdom to me, He did not take a bribe from me…”?’ I answered, ‘No.’

He replied, ‘ʿĀʾishah, Mother of the Believers, told me that the Negus’s father had been king over his people and had no child except the Negus. The Negus, however, had an uncle who had fathered twelve sons. The Abyssinians therefore said, “If we kill this king and enthrone his brother, he will have heirs—twelve sons—whereas the present king has only this single boy. The throne will then remain in that line for generations.” So they attacked the Negus’s father, killed him, and placed his brother on the throne.

‘Time passed, and the Negus grew up alongside his uncle. He proved intelligent and resolute, eventually assuming control of all his uncle’s affairs and occupying every position of trust. When the Abyssinians saw how influential he had become, they said among themselves, “By Allah, he has overpowered his uncle. We fear that his uncle will appoint him king over us, and if he becomes king he will kill us in revenge for his father.” They approached the king, but he said, “Woe to you! You murdered his father only yesterday—am I now to kill him today? Rather, drive him from your land.” They therefore led him out, sold him to a merchant for 600 dirhams, put him aboard a ship, and the merchant sailed away with him.

‘Toward the end of that very day a storm cloud rose. The Negus’s uncle went out hoping for rain, was struck by lightning, and died. The Abyssinians then hurried to his sons, but found them foolish and unfit to rule; chaos ensued. They said, “Realise this: by Allah, the only man who can set your affairs right is the very one you sold off this morning!” So they set out after him, caught up with him, retrieved him from the merchant, crowned him, and seated him upon the royal throne.

‘The merchant came forward and said, “What about my money?” They replied, “We will not give you anything.” The Negus spoke with them and ordered, “Give him back his silver or give him a slave.” They said, “We will return his silver.” That was the first demonstration of his justice—may Allah be pleased with him.’

Yazīd ibn Rūmān also narrated from ʿUrwah that the person who corresponded with the Negus was ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, may Allah be pleased with him.

قال الزهري: فحدثت عروة بن الزبير هذا الحديث فقال: هل تدري ما قوله: ما أخذ الله مني الرشوة إلى آخره؟ قلت: لا. قال: فإن عائشة أم المؤمنين حدثتني أن أباه كان ملك قومه، ولم يكن له ولد إلا النجاشي، وكان للنجاشي عم من صلبه اثنا عشر رجلا، فقالت الحبشة: لو أنا قتلنا هذا وملكنا أخاه، فإنه لا ولد له غير هذا الغلام، ولأخيه اثنا عشر ولدا، فتوارثوا ملكه من بعده بقيت الحبشة بعد دهرا، فعدوا على أبي النجاشي فقتلوه، وملكوا أخاه. فمكثوا حينا، ونشأ النجاشي مع عمه، فكان لبيبا حازما فغلب على أمر عمه، ونزل منه بكل منزلة، فلما رأت الحبشة مكانه منه قالت بينها: والله لقد غلب هذا على عمه، وإنا لنتخوف أن يملكه علينا، وإن ملك ليقتلنا بأبيه، فكلموا الملك، فقال: ويلكم، قتلت أباه بالأمس، وأقتله اليوم! بل أخرجه من بلادكم. قالت: فخرجوا به فباعوه لتاجر بستمائة درهم، فقذفه في سفينة وانطلق به، حتى إذا كان آخر النهار، هاجت سحابة، فخرج عمه يستمطر تحتها، فأصابته صاعقة فقتلته، ففزعت الحبشة إلى ولده، فإذا هو محمق ليس في ولده خير، فمرج الأمر، فقالوا: تعلموا، والله إن ملككم الذي لا يقيم أمركم غيره للذي بعتموه غدوة. فخرجوا في طلبه فأدركوه، وأخذوه من التاجر، ثم جاءوا به فعقدوا عليه التاج، وأقعدوه على سرير ملكه، فجاء التاجر فقال: مالي. قالوا: لا نعطيك شيئا، فكلمه، فأمرهم فقال: أعطوه دراهمه أو عبده. قالوا: بل نعطيه دراهمه، فكان ذلك أول ما خبر من عدله، ﵁. وروى يزيد بن رومان، عن عروة، قال: إنما كان يكلم النجاشي عثمان بن عفان، ﵁.