and the kingdom of the Abyssinians slipped from their hands and their plight became unbearable. They said to one another, “Realise—by Allah—that the only person who can set your affairs right is your king, the very one you sold!”

They therefore went out in search of him and of the man who had bought him. When they caught up with the merchant they took the young man from him, brought him back, set the crown upon his head and seated him on the royal throne.

The merchant then approached and said, “Either give me my money or grant me permission to address him about the matter.” They replied, “We will give you nothing.” He said, “Then, by Allah, I shall speak to him myself.” They answered, “Go ahead.” So he sat down before the Negus and said, “O King, I bought a slave from his people in the market for six hundred dirhams. When I had travelled some distance with him they overtook me, seized him, and withheld my money.” The Negus ruled, “Give him either his slave or his dirhams.” They said, “We will give him his dirhams.”

ʿĀʾishah said, “That is why he used to declare: ‘Allah did not take a bribe from me when He restored my kingdom to me, so how could I take a bribe concerning it?’ This was the first thing people learned of his steadfastness in faith and his justice.”

Ibn Isḥāq said: Yazīd ibn Rūmān related to me, from ʿUrwah, from ʿĀʾishah, who said: “When the Negus died it was commonly reported that a light continued to shine over his grave.”

He also said: Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad narrated to me, from his father, that the Abyssinians once gathered and said to the Negus, “You have abandoned our religion,” and they rose against him. He therefore sent to Jaʿfar and his companions, prepared ships for them, and said, “Board them and remain as you are. If I am defeated, sail on until you reach whatever land you wish; but if I am victorious, stay.”

He then took a document and wrote: “He bears witness that there is no deity but Allah and that Muḥammad is His servant and messenger; and he bears witness that Jesus is His servant and messenger, His spirit, and His word.” He placed it inside his tunic, went out to confront the Abyssinians, they formed ranks before him, and he said, “O—”