Ashama ibn Abjar

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According to Arabic sources, Ashama ibn Abjar was Emperor of Aksum at the time of Muhammad, and gave refuge to several Muslims in the Kingdom of Aksum. Variants of the name "Ashama" include Ella-Seham, Asmaha, Sahama, Samaha, Asbeha, and Adriaz. Ashama may have been the same person as Emperor Armah, or his father or son.^[1] Taddesse Tamrat records that the inhabitants of Wiqro, where he is known as Ashamat al-Negashi claim his tomb is located in their village.^[2]

[edit] Islamic tradition

Main article: Migration to Abyssinia

According to later Arab tradition, Ashama converted to Islam. When the first Muslims emigrated to Abyssinia, the then Arab leaders from Mecca sent Amr ibn al-Aas to bring the traitors back. Amr was a friend of Al-Negashi, and at the same time had good relations with Abu Sufyan, the then leader of Quraish.

Ashama did not act in a hurry but showed patience and demanded the holy scripture of Muslims to be read. At this, Ja'far ibn Abu Talib read some verses from Quran. The very next day, Amr played a trick and asked Ja'far to tell Ashama the Islamic ideology about Jesus. This was a difficult situation because Jesus is not mentioned as the son of God in Quran. To this, Ja'far recited some verses of Sura Maryam. Next, he make a line on the sand with his mace and said, "The differences between you and us is not as broad as this line.", he then declared that Muslims could live in Abyssinia for as long as they wished for. Some accounts state that he read the Nikah at one of Muhammad's marriages.^[3] Abu Huraira narrates that Prophet Muhammad announced the death of al-Negashi (Ashama, cp. Negus, Negusa Nagast) on the same day that he died.

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Muhammad's Letter

From Muhammad the Messenger of Allâh to Negus, king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

Peace be upon him who follows true guidance. Salutations, I entertain Allâh’s praise, there is no God but He, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Source of peace, the Giver of peace, the Guardian of faith, the Preserver of safety. I bear witness that Jesus, the son of Mary, is the spirit of Allâh and His Word which He cast into Mary, the virgin, the good, the pure, so that she conceived Jesus. Allâh created him from His spirit and His breathing as He created Adam by His Hand. I call you to Allâh Alone with no associate and to His obedience and to follow me and to believe in that which came to me, for I am the Messenger of Allâh. I invite you and your men to Allâh, the Glorious, the All-Mighty. I hereby bear witness that I have communicated my message and advice. I invite you to listen and accept my advice. Peace be upon him who follows true guidance."(Ibn al-Qayyim or sometimes Za'ad al-Maad 3/60)

Reply from Al-Negashi

When this letter was presented to Negus, he took the parchment and placed it on his eye, descended to the floor, confessed his faith in Islam and wrote the following reply to the Prophet [pbuh]:

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

From Negus Ashama to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allâh. Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allâh! and mercy and blessing from Allâh beside Whom there is no God. I have received your letter in which you have mentioned about Jesus and by the Lord of heaven and earth, Jesus is not more than what you say. I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allâh, true and confirming (those who have gone before you), I pledge to you through your cousin and surrender myself through him to the Lord of the worlds."(Ibn al-Qayyim 3/61)

Nawawi said in his Commentary on Sahih Muslim:^[4]

Shafi and those who agree with him see in this hadith a proof for praying over the absent dead. There is in the hadith an evident miracle of the Prophet's due to his proclamation of the Negus's death on the same day that the latter died in Abyssinia. There is also in the hadith the desirability of proclaiming the death of someone, but not in the pre-Islamic fashion which means to glorify and so forth.

The Prophet [pbuh] had asked Negus to send Ja‘far and his companions, the emigrants to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), back home. They came back to see the Prophet [pbuh] in Khaibar. Negus later died in Rajab 9, A.H. shortly after Tabuk Ghazwa. The Prophet [pbuh] announced his death and observed prayer in absentia for him. Another king succeeded Negus to the throne and another letter was sent to him by the Prophet [pbuh] but whether or not he embraced Islam is still a question not answered yet. (Sahih Muslim 2/99)

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Sergew Hable Sellassie. Ancient and Medieval Ethiopian History to 1270 (Addis Ababa: United Printers, 1972), p. 185.
2. ^ Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (1270 - 1527) (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p. 34.
3. ^ "The history of Islam", by Nomani.
4. ^ Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim (al-Mays ed.) 7/8:25-28.

Preceded by Armah? or possibly Gersem?

King of Aksum

Succeeded by possibly Kwestantinos