al-As looked at his companion and said, “Do you not hear how they speak of Allah’s party, and how the Negus has answered them?” This displeased the two of them. Then they entered before him but did not prostrate to him. Amr ibn al-As said, “Do you not see that they consider themselves too exalted to prostrate to you?”

The Negus said to them, “What prevented you from prostrating to me and greeting me with the greeting by which those who come to me from every region greet me?” They replied, “We prostrate to Allah, who created you and your kingdom. That was our greeting when we worshipped idols, but Allah sent among us a truthful prophet, and he commanded us to use the greeting which Allah has approved: peace—the greeting of the people of Paradise.” The Negus recognized that this was true and that it was found in the Torah and the Gospel.

He said, “Which of you was the caller who said, ‘Allah’s party seeks permission to enter before you’?” Ja‘far replied, “I was.” He said, “Then speak.”

Ja‘far said, “You are one of the kings of the people of the earth and one of the People of the Scripture. Excessive speech and injustice do not befit your court. I would like to answer on behalf of my companions, so order these two men that one of them speak and the other listen, and you will hear our exchange.”

Amr said to Ja‘far, “Speak.” Ja‘far then said to the Negus, “Ask these two men whether we are slaves or free men. If we are slaves who have fled from our masters, then return us to them.” The Negus asked, “Are they slaves or free men?” Amr replied, “Rather, they are noble free men.” The Negus said, “Then they have escaped slavery.”

Then Ja‘far said, “Ask them whether we have shed blood unjustly, such that retribution should be exacted from us.” The Negus said, “Even if it were a qintar, I would pay it.” Amr replied, “No—not even a qirat.” The Negus asked, “Then what do you want from them?”

Amr said, “They and we had followed one religion and one way—the religion of our forefathers. But they abandoned that and sought another, so their people sent us to you in order that you hand them over to us.”

The Negus said, “What was this religion which you followed, and what is the religion that you have embraced? Tell me truthfully.” Ja‘far replied, “The religion that we followed and then abandoned was the religion of Satan: we disbelieved in Allah and worshipped stones. But the religion to which we have turned is Allah’s religion, Islam. A Messenger and a Scripture from Allah came to us, like the Scripture of Jesus son of Mary and in agreement with it.”

The Negus said, “Ja‘far, you have spoken of a grave matter, so speak carefully.” Then the Negus ordered the bell to be struck, and every priest and monk gathered before him. Once they had assembled, the Negus said, “I adjure you by Allah, who sent down the Gospel to Jesus: do you find that there will be a messenger-prophet between Jesus and the Day of Resurrection?” They replied, “O Allah, yes. Jesus gave us glad tidings of him and said: ‘Whoever believes in him has believed in me, and whoever disbelieves in him has disbelieved in me.’”

The Negus said to Ja‘far, “What does this man tell you? What does he command you to do, and what does he forbid you from doing?” He replied, “He recites to us the Book of Allah; commands what is right and forbids what is wrong; commands good treatment of neighbours, maintaining ties of kinship, and kindness to orphans; and commands us to worship Allah alone, with no partner.”

He said, “Recite to me some of what he recites to you.” So he recited to them the suras al-‘Ankabut and al-Rum. The eyes of the Negus and his companions overflowed with tears, and they said, “Give us more of this good discourse, Ja‘far.” So he recited to them Surat al-Kahf.

Amr wanted to anger the Negus, so he said, “They revile Jesus and his mother.” The Negus asked, “What do you say concerning Jesus and his mother?” Ja‘far recited to them Surat Maryam. When he came to the mention of Mary and Jesus, peace be upon them, the Negus raised a tiny splinter from his toothstick, no larger than a speck that irritates the eye, and said, “By Allah, the Messiah said no more than what you have said—not even by this much.”

Then he turned to Ja‘far and his companions and said, “Go, for you are secure in my land (1). Whoever reviles you or harms you shall be fined.” Then he said, “Rejoice and do not fear: today there shall be no oppression (2) against Abraham’s party.”

Amr said, “O Negus, who are Abraham’s party?” He replied, “This group, their companion from whom they have come, and those who follow them.” The polytheists rejected this, claiming Abraham’s religion for themselves. Then the Negus returned to Amr and his companion the wealth they had brought, saying, “Your gift to me is merely a bribe, so take it back. Allah granted me kingship without taking a bribe from me.”

Ja‘far said, “So we departed and remained in the best of lands and under the most generous protection.” On that day, while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was in Medina, Allah Most High revealed concerning their dispute about Abraham:

“Indeed, the people with the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, as well as this Prophet and those who believe. And Allah is the Protector of the believers.” (3)

“A group among the People of the Scripture wished that they could lead you astray, but they lead none astray except themselves, though they do not perceive it. (69) O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the signs of Allah while you bear witness? (70)”