981 — Abū Bakr Umar ibn Sad al-Qarātīsī narrated to us, saying: Ahmad ibn Mansūr al-Ramādī narrated to us, saying: Abū Sālih Abd Allah ibn Sālih narrated to us, saying: Muāwiyah ibn Sālih narrated to me, from Alī ibn Abī Talhah, from Ibn Abbās, concerning the words of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—“You will surely find that those nearest in affection to the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians’” [al-Mā’idah: 82]. He said:

“While the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was in Mecca, he feared that the polytheists might harm his Companions. The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—therefore sent Jaʿfar ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—Ibn Masūd, Uthmān ibn Mazūn, and a group of his Companions to the Negus, king of Abyssinia. When the polytheists learned of this, they sent Amr ibn al-Ās with a group of their men. Ibn Abbās mentioned that they reached the Negus before the Companions of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and said to him, ‘A man has arisen among us who has disparaged the reason and judgment of Quraysh. He claims to be a prophet and has sent a group of men to you to corrupt your people. We therefore wished to come and inform you about them.’

“He replied, ‘If they come to me, I shall consider what they have to say.’

“When the Companions of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—arrived, they came to the Negus’s door and said, ‘Ask leave for the allies of Allah to enter.’ He replied, ‘Admit them. Welcome to the allies of Allah!’ When they entered, they greeted him with the greeting of peace. The delegation of polytheists said to him, ‘Do you not see, O king, that we told you the truth? They did not greet you with the greeting customarily offered to you.’

“He said ⦗1458⦘ to them, ‘What prevented you from greeting me with my customary greeting?’

“They replied, ‘We greeted you with the greeting of the people of Paradise and the angels.’

“He asked them, ‘What does your companion say concerning Jesus and his mother?’

“They replied, ‘He says that Jesus is a servant of Allah, a word from Allah, and a spirit from Him, which He conveyed to Mary. Concerning Mary, he says that she is the pure and chaste virgin.’

“The Negus picked up a twig from the ground and said, ‘Jesus and his mother are nothing beyond what your companion has said—not even by so much as this twig.’ The polytheists disliked his words, and their expressions changed because of them.

“He then asked, ‘Do you know any part of what has been revealed to you?’

“They replied, ‘Yes.’

“He said, ‘Recite it.’ They recited while priests and monks gathered around him. Whenever they recited, the priests’ and monks’ tears streamed down because of the truth they recognized. Allah—Mighty and Majestic—said: ‘That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. When they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth they recognize. They say, “Our Lord, we believe, so inscribe us among the witnesses”’ [al-Mā’idah: 83]—Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his community.”