Muslim (1) transmitted the report through Abū Kurayb and Abū ʿĀmir ʿAbd Allāh ibn Barad—[ibn Yūsuf ibn Abī Burdah ibn Abī Mūsā] (2)—both of whom related it from Abū Usāmah. The two scholars also recorded the narration elsewhere at greater length. God knows best.
As for the account of Jaʿfar with the Negus, al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAsākir reproduced it in the biography of Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib in his History (3) on Jaʿfar’s own authority, on the authority of ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ—at whose hands the discussion took place—on the authority of Ibn Masʿūd, as mentioned earlier, and on the authority of Umm Salamah, as will follow. Jaʿfar’s personal narration is extremely rare. Ibn ʿAsākir related it from Abū al-Qāsim [al-Samarkandī, from Abū al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Naqqūr, from Abū Ṭāhir al-Mukhlis, from Abū al-Qāsim] (4) al-Baghawī, who said:
“Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Juʿfī narrated to us, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar ibn Abān (5); Asad ibn ʿAmr al-Bajalī narrated to us, from Mujālid ibn Saʿīd, from al-Shaʿbī, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Jaʿfar, from his father. He said:
‘The Quraysh dispatched ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ and ʿUmārah ibn al-Walīd with a gift from Abū Sufyān to the Negus. While we were in his presence they said to him, “Some of our rabble and simpletons have reached you; hand them over to us.”
He replied, “No, not until I have heard what they have to say.”
He then sent for us and asked, “What do these people claim?”
We answered, “They are a people who used to worship idols, and God has sent us a Messenger, so we believed in him and affirmed him.”
The Negus asked them, “Are they your slaves?”
They said, “No.”
He asked, “Do you have any debt against them?”
They said, “No.”
He said, “Then let them go.”
We left his court, and ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ said, “These people say concerning Jesus something different from what you say.”
The Negus replied, “If they do not say about Jesus what I say, I will not allow them to remain in my land for even an hour of the day.” He therefore summoned us again, and this second summons weighed on us more than the first.
He asked, “What does your companion say concerning Jesus son of Mary?”
We said, “He says that he is God’s Spirit and His Word which He cast into a chaste virgin.”
He then called out, “Bring me So-and-so the priest and So-and-so the monk.” Some of them came to him, and he asked, “What do you say about Jesus son of Mary?”
They responded, “You are the most knowledgeable among us; what do you say?” The Negus picked up a small quantity of earth and said, “Jesus did not exceed what these have said by as much as this.”
He then asked, “Does anyone harm you?”
They said, “Yes.”
So he announced, “Whoever harms any of them shall be fined four dirhams.”
He then said, “Is that sufficient for you?”
We replied, “No.” So he doubled the amount.
When the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, migrated to Madinah and was given victory there [we said to him, “The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, has appeared and migrated to Madinah; those whom we told you about have been killed, and we wish to leave for him, so provide us with provisions.”]
He answered, “Certainly,” and he conveyed us and supplied us.
He then said, [“Inform your Companion of what I have done for you, and this companion of mine will go with you. I bear witness that there is no god but God…"]