He was a Christian, yet he ruled with justice. A number of the Muslims emigrated to his realm.

When Quraysh learned of their emigration to Abyssinia, they sent two of their shrewdest envoys—one of them being ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ—bearing gifts for the Negus (al-Najāshī). They said, “These people have fled from us, though they are our kinsfolk. We want them to come back, for they are troublemakers; do not let them spread corruption in your land…” and so forth.

They offered him the gifts in order to sway him, but the Negus summoned the emigrants, listened to their account, and gave them the option. They chose to remain in Abyssinia, so the two envoys returned in disappointment, while the emigrants who were there stayed on.

Thereafter Allah bestowed His favor upon the Negus, and he embraced Islam—his acceptance of the faith was sound. When he died, the Messenger ﷺ and his Companions performed the funeral prayer in absentia for him. Thus their emigration to him was also a source of good for him: Allah guided him through them, and he entered Islam.

Later the Prophet ﷺ met a group of the Ansar at Mina during the pilgrimage season. The Prophet ﷺ used to present himself to the tribes on those days, going to the encampments of the Arabs in Mina and inviting them to Allah. On that occasion he encountered some men from the Ansar, invited them to Allah, set forth his message, and they accepted his call and pledged allegiance to him to