attached to Quraysh without actually belonging to its lineage. Those of the Emigrants who were with you had blood-relations there who could shield their families in Mecca, but I had no such tribal bond. So, when I missed out on that advantage, I hoped to forge a favor whereby they might protect my relatives. I did not do this out of disbelief, nor out of apostasy, nor out of any satisfaction with unbelief after having embraced Islam.”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “He has told you the truth.”

ʿUmar said, “Allow me to strike off the head of this hypocrite.”

The Prophet replied, “He fought at Badr—and what do you know, perhaps Allah has already looked upon the people of Badr and said, ‘Do whatever you wish; I have forgiven you.’”

The letter, then, contained information alerting the idolaters that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intended to raid them, and Allah had informed him of it.

In the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections it is narrated from Abū Hurayrah:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, announced to the people the death of the Negus on the very day he died. He went out to the prayer ground and pronounced four takbīrs over him.”

In another report from Jābir he said:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, offered the funeral prayer for Aṣḥamah, the Negus.”

And in yet another wording from Abū Hurayrah he said:

“Today a servant of Allah has died.”