She said: The two of them set out and arrived before the Negus while we were living with him in the best of homes and enjoying (1) the finest neighbourliness. There was not a single one of his courtiers whom they did not first place (2) his gift in his hand before speaking to the Negus. Then they said to each courtier: “Some foolish youths from among us have defected (3) to the King’s land. They have abandoned their people’s religion, have not entered yours, and have brought with them an innovated creed that neither we nor you recognise. The nobles of their people—their fathers, uncles and clansmen—have sent us to you (4) so that you may send them back to them. Therefore, when we address the King about them, advise him to hand them over to us without granting them an audience, for their own people have the clearest view of their case (5) and know best the faults they have found in them.” They replied, “Indeed.”

Next the two men presented their gifts to the Negus, and he accepted them. They then addressed him, saying, “Your Majesty, a number of foolish youths from among us has defected to your realm. They have forsaken the religion of their people without embracing yours, and they have come with an innovated creed that neither we nor you recognise. The nobles of their people—their fathers, uncles and clansmen—have dispatched us to you so that you may return them (6) to them; they have the keenest insight regarding them and know best the faults for which they have reproached them.”

She said: Nothing was more hateful to ʿAbd Allah ibn Abi Rabiʿah and ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ than for the Negus to listen to their plea.

The courtiers around him said, “They have spoken the truth, O King; their own people have the sharpest eye concerning them,”