Tarikh (al-Tabari) 756
The emigration to Abyssinia and what occurred therein
[ إحْضَارُ النَّجَاشِيِّ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَسُؤَالُهُ لَهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ، وَجَوَابُهُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ ] قَالَتْ: ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَدَعَاهُمْ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ اجْتَمَعُوا، ثُمَّ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضِ: مَا تَقُولُونَ لِلرَّجُلِ إذَا جِئْتُمُوهُ قَالُوا: نَقُولُ: وَاَللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا، وَمَا أَمَرَنَا بِهِ نَبِيُّنَا ﷺ كَائِنًا فِي ذَلِكَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ. فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا، وَقَدْ دَعَا النَّجَاشِيُّ أَسَاقِفَتَهُ، فَنَشَرُوا مَصَاحِفَهُمْ حَوْلَهُ سَأَلَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: مَا هَذَا الدِّينُ الَّذِي قَدْ فَارَقْتُمْ فِيهِ قَوْمَكُمْ، وَلَمْ تَدْخُلُوا ( بِهِ ) فِي دِينِي، وَلَا فِي دِينِ أَحَدٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمِلَلِ ؟ قَالَتْ: فَكَانَ الَّذِي كَلَّمَهُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ( رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ )، فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ، كُنَّا قَوْمًا أَهْلَ جَاهِلِيَّةٍ، نَعْبُدُ الْأَصْنَامَ، وَنَأْكُلُ الْمَيْتَةَ، وَنَأْتِي الْفَوَاحِشَ، وَنَقْطَعُ الْأَرْحَامَ، وَنُسِيءُ الْجِوَارَ، وَيَأْكُلُ الْقَوِيُّ مِنَّا الضَّعِيفَ، فَكُنَّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ، حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إلَيْنَا رَسُولًا مِنَّا، نَعْرِفُ نَسَبَهُ وَصِدْقَهُ وَأَمَانَتَهُ وَعَفَافَهُ، فَدَعَانَا إلَى اللَّهِ لِنُوَحِّدَهُ وَنَعْبُدَهُ، وَنَخْلَعَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْبُدُ نَحْنُ وَآبَاؤُنَا مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ الْحِجَارَةِ وَالْأَوْثَانِ وَأَمَرَنَا بِصِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ، وَأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ، وَصِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ، وَحُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ، وَالْكَفِّ عَنْ الْمَحَارِمِ وَالدِّمَاءِ، وَنَهَانَا عَنْ الْفَوَاحِشِ، وَقَوْلِ الزُّورِ، وَأَكْلِ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ، وَقَذْفِ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ؛ وَأَمَرَنَا أَنْ نَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ، لَا نُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَأَمَرَنَا بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَالصِّيَامِ - قَالَتْ: فَعَدَّدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمُورَ الْإِسْلَامِ - فَصَدَّقْنَاهُ وَآمَنَّا بِهِ، وَاتَّبَعْنَاهُ عَلَى مَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ اللَّهِ، فَعَبَدْنَا اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ، فَلَمْ نُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَحَرَّمْنَا مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْنَا، وَأَحْلَلْنَا مَا أَحَلَّ لَنَا، فَعَدَا عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا، فَعَذَّبُونَا، وَفَتَنُونَا عَنْ دِينِنَا، لِيَرُدُّونَا إلَى عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، وَأَنْ نَسْتَحِلَّ مَا كُنَّا نَسْتَحِلُّ مِنْ الْخَبَائِثِ، فَلَمَّا قَهَرُونَا وَظَلَمُونَا وَضَيَّقُوا عَلَيْنَا، وَحَالُوا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ دِينِنَا، خَرَجْنَا إلَى بِلَادِكَ، وَاخْتَرْنَاكَ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاكَ؛ وَرَغِبْنَا فِي جِوَارِكَ، وَرَجَوْنَا أَنْ لَا نُظْلَمَ عِنْدَكَ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ. قَالَتْ: فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّجَاشِيُّ: هَلْ مَعَكَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ عَنْ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ؟ قَالَتْ: فَقَالَ لَهُ جَعْفَرٌ: نَعَمْ؛ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّجَاشِيُّ: فَاقْرَأْهُ عَلَيَّ؛ قَالَتْ: فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ صَدْرًا مِنْ: كهيعص قَالَتْ: فَبَكَى وَاَللَّهِ النَّجَاشِيُّ حَتَّى اخْضَلَّتْ لِحْيَتُهُ، وَبَكَتْ أَسَاقِفَتُهُ حَتَّى أَخْضَلُّوا مَصَاحِفَهُمْ، حِينَ سَمِعُوا مَا تَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ. ثُمَّ قَالَ ( لَهُمْ ) النَّجَاشِيُّ: إنَّ هَذَا وَاَلَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ عِيسَى لَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ مِشْكَاةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، انْطَلِقَا، فَلَا وَاَللَّهِ لَا أُسْلِمُهُمْ إلَيْكُمَا، وَلَا يُكَادُونَ. [ مَقَالَةُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عِنْدَ النَّجَاشِيِّ ] قَالَتْ: فَلَمَّا خَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ، قَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ: وَاَللَّهِ لَآتِيَنَّهُ غَدًا عَنْهُمْ بِمَا أَسْتَأْصِلُ بِهِ خَضْرَاءَهُمْ. قَالَتْ: فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ، وَكَانَ أَتْقَى الرَّجُلَيْنِ فِينَا: لَا نَفْعَلُ، فَإِنَّ لَهُمْ أَرْحَامًا، وَإِنْ كَانُوا قَدْ خَالَفُونَا؛ قَالَ: وَاَللَّهِ لَأُخْبِرَنَّهُ أَنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ عَبْدٌ. قَالَتْ: ثُمَّ غَدًا عَلَيْهِ ( مِنْ ) الْغَدِ فَقَالَ ( لَهُ ): أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ، إنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ فِي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ قَوْلًا عَظِيمًا، فَأَرْسِلْ إلَيْهِمْ فَسَلْهُمْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ فِيهِ. قَالَتْ: فَأَرْسَلَ إلَيْهِمْ لِيَسْأَلَهُمْ عَنْهُ. قَالَتْ: وَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ بِنَا مِثْلُهَا قَطُّ. فَاجْتَمَعَ الْقَوْمُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضِ: مَاذَا تَقُولُونَ فِي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ إذَا سَأَلَكُمْ عَنْهُ ؟ قَالُوا: نَقُولُ وَاَللَّهِ مَا قَالَ اللَّهُ، وَمَا جَاءَنَا بِهِ نَبِيُّنَا، كَائِنًا فِي ذَلِكَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ. قَالَتْ: فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ، قَالَ لَهُمْ: مَاذَا تَقُولُونَ فِي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ؟ قَالَتْ: فَقَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ: نَقُولُ فِيهِ الَّذِي جَاءَنَا بِهِ نَبِيُّنَا ﷺ، ( يَقُولُ ): هُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ وَرُوحُهُ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إلَى مَرْيَمَ الْعَذْرَاءِ الْبَتُولِ. قَالَتْ: فَضَرَبَ النَّجَاشِيُّ بِيَدِهِ إلَى الْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذَ مِنْهَا عُودًا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَاَللَّهِ مَا عَدَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ مَا قُلْتَ هَذَا الْعُودَ، قَالَتْ: فَتَنَاخَرَتْ بَطَارِقَتُهُ حَوْلَهُ حِينَ قَالَ مَا قَالَ، فَقَالَ: وَإِنْ نَخَرْتُمْ وَاَللَّهِ، اذْهَبُوا فَأَنْتُمْ شُيُومٌ بِأَرْضِي - وَالشُّيُومُ: الْآمِنُونَ - مَنْ سَبَّكُمْ غَرِمَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَنْ سَبَّكُمْ غَرِمَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَنْ سَبَّكُمْ غَرِمَ. مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي دَبَرًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَأَنِّي آذَيْتُ رَجُلًا مِنْكُمْ - قَالَ ابْنُ هِشَامٍ: وَيُقَالُ دَبَرًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَيُقَالُ: فَأَنْتُمْ سُيُومٌ وَالدَّبَرُ: ( بِلِسَانِ الْحَبَشَةِ ): الْجَبْلُ - رُدُّوا عَلَيْهِمَا هَدَايَاهُمَا، فَلَا حَاجَةَ لِي بِهَا، فَوَاَللَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِنِّي الرِّشْوَةَ حِينَ رَدَّ عَلَيَّ مُلْكِي، فَآخُذَ الرِّشْوَةَ فِيهِ، وَمَا أَطَاعَ النَّاسَ فِيَّ فَأُطِيعَهُمْ فِيهِ. قَالَتْ: فَخَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ مَقْبُوحَيْنِ مَرْدُودًا عَلَيْهِمَا مَا جَاءَا بِهِ، وَأَقَمْنَا عِنْدَهُ بِخَيْرِ دَارٍ، مَعَ خَيْرِ جَارٍ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أَنَّ النَّجَاشِيَ قَالَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ: أَيُؤْذِيكُمْ أَحَدٌ؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ. فَأَمَرَ مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي: مَنْ آذَى أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرِمُوهُ أَرْبَعَةَ دَرَاهِمَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيَكْفِيكُمْ؟ قُلْنَا: لَا. قَالَ: فَأَضْعِفُوهَا. وَعِنْدَ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ: مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى هَؤُلَاءِ نَظْرَةً تُؤْذِيهِمْ فَقَدْ غَرِمَ. أَيْ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي. وَقَدْ قِيلَ: إِنَّ قُرَيْشًا بَعَثَتْ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ فِي أَمْرِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ مَرَّتَيْنِ ; الْأُولَى مَعَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَعُمَارَةَ وَالثَّانِيَةُ مَعَ عَمْرٍو وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ. نَصَّ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ فِي " الدَّلَائِلِ " وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وَقَدْ قِيلَ: إِنَّ الْبِعْثَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ كَانَتْ بَعْدَ وَقْعَةِ بَدْرٍ قَالَهُ الزُّهْرِيُّ لِيَنَالُوا مِمَّنْ هُنَاكَ ثَأْرًا فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُمُ النَّجَاشِيُّ ؓ وَأَرْضَاهُ، إِلَى شَيْءٍ مِمَّا سَأَلُوا. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.
Translation
✧ [The Negus Summoning the Emigrants, Asking Them About Their Religion, and Their Answer to That ] She said: Then he sent to the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and summoned them. When his messenger came to them, they gathered together, then some of them said to others: What will you say to the man when you come to him? They said: We will say: By Allah, we do not know, and what our Prophet ﷺ commanded us, whatever will be in that matter will be. When they came—and the Negus had called his bishops, and they spread their scriptures around him—he asked them, saying: What is this religion for which you have parted from your people, and you have not entered into my religion, nor into the religion of any of these nations? She said: The one who spoke to him was Jaʿfar b. Abī Ṭālib ؓ, and he said to him: O King, we were a people of ignorance, worshiping idols, eating carrion, committing abominations, severing the ties of kinship, and being bad neighbors; the strong among us devoured the weak. We were upon that until Allah sent to us a messenger from among us, whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and chastity we knew. He called us to Allah, that we should declare His oneness and worship Him, and cast off what we and our fathers used to worship besides Him of stones and idols. He commanded us to speak the truth, render trusts, maintain kinship ties, be good neighbors, and refrain from forbidden things and bloodshed. He forbade us from abominations, false speech, consuming the orphan's property, and slandering chaste women. He commanded us to worship Allah alone, not associating anything with Him, and he commanded us to pray, give zakāh, and fast. She said: He enumerated the matters of Islam. So we believed him and trusted him, and followed him in what he brought from Allah. We worshiped Allah alone, not associating anything with Him, and we forbade what He forbade us, and deemed lawful what He deemed lawful for us. Then our people transgressed against us, tortured us, and tried to turn us away from our religion, to bring us back from the worship of Allah, exalted be He, to the worship of idols, and to make us deem lawful the abominations we used to deem lawful. When they overpowered us, wronged us, and constrained us, and came between us and our religion, we went out to your land, and chose you over others, and desired your protection, and hoped that we would not be wronged in your presence, O King. She said: The Negus said to him: Do you have with you anything of what he brought from Allah? She said: Jaʿfar said to him: Yes. The Negus said to him: Then recite it to me. She said: He recited to him a portion of Kāf Hā Yā ʿAyn Ṣād. She said: By Allah, the Negus wept until his beard was wet, and his bishops wept until they wet their scriptures, when they heard what he recited to them. Then the Negus said to them: Indeed this and what ʿĪsā brought come forth from one niche. Go, for by Allah, I will not hand them over to you two, nor will they be harmed. [ The Statement of the Emigrants about ʿĪsā ﷺ before the Negus ] She said: When the two went out from his presence, ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ said: By Allah, I will come to him tomorrow about them with something by which I will root out their greenness. She said: ʿAbd Allāh b. Abī Rabīʿah said to him—and he was the more God-fearing of the two men toward us: Let us not do that, for they have ties of kinship with us, even if they have opposed us. He said: By Allah, I will inform him that they claim that ʿĪsā son of Maryam is a servant. She said: Then he went to him the next day and said to him: O King, they say a tremendous thing about ʿĪsā son of Maryam. So send to them and ask them about what they say concerning him. She said: So he sent to them to ask them about him. She said: Nothing like it had ever befallen us. The people gathered together, then some of them said to others: What will you say about ʿĪsā son of Maryam when he asks you about him? They said: We will say, by Allah, what Allah said, and what our Prophet brought us, whatever will be in that matter will be. She said: When they entered upon him, he said to them: What do you say about ʿĪsā son of Maryam? She said: Jaʿfar b. Abī Ṭālib said: We say about him what our Prophet ﷺ brought us, saying: He is the servant of Allah and His messenger, and His spirit, and His word which He cast to Maryam the virgin, the pure. She said: The Negus struck his hand to the ground and took a stick from it, then said: By Allah, ʿĪsā son of Maryam did not exceed what you said by this stick. She said: His patriarchs snorted around him when he said what he said. He said: Even if you snort, by Allah, go, for you are shuyūm in my land—and shuyūm means the secure ones—whoever reviles you shall pay a fine. Then he said: Whoever reviles you shall pay a fine. Then he said: Whoever reviles you shall pay a fine. I would not love to have a dabar of gold, and that I should harm a single man among you— Ibn Hishām said: It is also said dabar of gold, and it is said: you are suyūm, and al-dabar in the language of the Abyssinians means the mountain—Return to them their gifts, for I have no need of them. By Allah, Allah did not take a bribe from me when He returned my kingdom to me, so that I should take a bribe in it; and the people did not obey me concerning myself, so that I should obey them in it. She said: So the two went out from his presence disgraced, and what they had brought was returned to them. And we stayed with him in the best abode, with the best neighbor. In another narration, the Negus said to the Muslims: Does anyone harm you? They said: Yes. So he ordered a crier to announce: Whoever harms any of them, fine him four dirhams. Then he said: Is that enough for you? We said: No. He said: Then double it. According to Mūsā b. ʿUqbah: Whoever looks at these people with a glance that harms them has incurred a fine—that is, he has disobeyed me. It has also been said that Quraysh sent to the Negus regarding the matter of the emigrants twice: the first time with ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ and ʿUmārah, and the second time with ʿAmr and ʿAbd Allāh b. Abī Rabīʿah. Abū Nuʿaym stated this in al-Dalāʾil, and Allah knows best. It has also been said that the second sending was after the Battle of Badr, as stated by al-Zuhrī, so that they might obtain vengeance upon those who were there, but the Negus ؓ, ؓ, did not grant them anything of what they asked. And Allah knows best.
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