Najashi

Today we will continue with the life story of the Abyssinian king, Najashi. (We reached the point where we explained how Najashi helped and allowed the Sahabah RA to live in his country, will kicking the Quraishi convoy out.)

Not long thereafter, a man from Abyssinia rebelled against him, contesting with him for his kingdom. The Muslims were anxious over this, fearing that he might be overpowered. They thus implored Allah seeking aid for Najashi. Zubair ibn Awwam RA surfed on the Nile on a blown up water skin to witness the epic battle between Najashi and his rival. Through the prayers of the Muslims, Najashi was victorious and his opponent was killed.  “By Allah, we never felt such joy upon anything as the joy we felt upon Najashi’s victory,” they later said. [Musnad Ahmed, al Bidayah wal Nihayah]

He might have lived hundreds of miles away from Rasulullah ﷺ, but was continuously in his supplications. Najashi had the great fortune of receiving two epistles from Rasulullah ﷺ. The first correspondence was sent with ‘Amr ibn Umayyah RA to Najashi calling him to Islam. The translation of the letter is reproduced below:

In the name of Allah, the Exceedingly Compassionate, Excessively Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah to al Najashi, king of Abyssinia. I praise Allah before you, the Sovereign, the Holy One, Giver of Peace, and the Protector. I testify that ‘Isa ibn Maryam is the spirit of Allah and His word which He cast into Maryam, the chaste virgin, which resulted in her giving birth to ‘Isa. I invite you to one Allah, without any partner and that you follow me and believe in what has been revealed to me, for indeed I am the Messenger of Allah. I have sent to you my cousin Jafar. With him are a group of Muslims. Peace be upon those who follow the guidance. [Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah]

Najashi held the letter of Rasulullah ﷺ and placed it on his eyes; a gesture of reverence and appreciation. He then descended from his throne and sat humbly on the earth. Thereafter, he embraced Islam and recited the proclamation of truth. He submitted, “Had I possessed the ability to go to him, I would have.” [Tanwir al Ghabash] He wrote to Rasulullah ﷺ his response, filled with love and admiration:

In the name of Allah, the Exceedingly Compassionate, Excessively Merciful. To Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah from al Najashi. Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and Allah’s mercy and His blessings. The being besides whom there is no deity, Who guided me to Islam. After praising Allah, indeed your epistle has reached me, O Messenger of Allah. What you have mentioned about ‘Isa―by the Rabb of the heavens and the earth―’Isa ibn Maryam `alayh al-Salam did not increase on what you said to the extent of the pericarp of a date. Indeed, the reality is as you have declared. We know of the people you sent to us; your cousin and his companions have come here.

I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah. I have pledged allegiance to you and to your cousin and I have embraced Islam at his hands, for the pleasure of Allah, the Lord of the Universe. I have sent my son to you. If you desire that I come personally, I will comply, O Messenger of Allah, for I testify that what you say is the truth. And peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. [Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah]

On one side, arrogance and love for authority proved an impediment for other kings, while on the other side, Najashi’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu humbleness and search for the truth bore the fruits of devoutness. He was one of the very few kings who had the great fortune to embrace Islam.

The verses which speak favourably of the adherents of Christianity and Judaism (Ahl al kitab) most definitely include Najashi radiya Llahu ‘anhu for he is one of them to answer the call of Islam after having faith in a previous divine faith.

In the second letter, Rasulullah ﷺ ordered him to marry Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan RA to him and to send all the Sahabah RA on a ship back to him. Najashi complied with these requests. Umm Habibah RA had immigrated to Abyssinia with her husband, ‘Ubaidullah ibn Jahsh. He turned Christian but she remained firm upon her faith. After her ‘iddah was completed, Najashi’s messenger, Abrahah, came to her and informed her that Rasulullah ﷺ had written to him ordering him to get them married. Umm Habibah RA appointed Khalid ibn Sa’id ibn al ‘As RA as her representative.

Najashi summoned all the Muslims. After they gathered, he recited the khutbah and conducted the marriage of Umm Habibah RA to Rasulullah ﷺ. He gave her 400 gold coins as dowry on behalf of Rasulullah ﷺ. He then prepared a feast for the Muslims.

The king ordered the women to send perfume to Umm Habibah RA with which she adorned herself and presented herself to Rasulullah ﷺ. Najashi sent her with Shurahbil ibn Hassanah RA to Madinah. [Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan al Nasa’i]

These are just few glimpses of how well he treated the Muslims in Abyssinia. “We lived with the best neighbour in the best country,” Umm al Mu’minin Umm Salamah RA states―one of the immigrants to Abyssinia. [Musnad Ahmed]

Although Najashi and Rasulullah ﷺ did not meet, they had a close relationship. Rasulullah ﷺ wrote him two letters, the details of which appeared previously, and Najashi sent two gifts for Rasulullah ﷺ. The first gift was a pair of leather socks, which Rasulullah ﷺ wore and made masah upon during wudu’ [Sunan Abi Dawood, Jami’ al Tirmidhi,] The other was a garment coupled with a gold ring studded with an Abyssinian rock. Rasulullah ﷺ gave the ring to Umamah bint Abi al ‘As RA — his granddaughter — to wear. [Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan Ibn Majah]

Najashi sent his son with sixty men from Abyssinia in a ship towards Rasulullah RA. Allah selected them to be martyrs in His path. The ship sank and they all drowned. [Tanwir al Ghabash]

Notwithstanding his major responsibilities as a king, Najashi kept tabs upon the happenings in Arabia. After the Battle of Badr, he sent for Jafar RA and his comrades and gave them glad tidings of the victory at Badr. At the time, he was sitting on the floor, without anything under him. Upon enquiry he said, “We find in what has been revealed to ‘Isa. It is binding upon the bondsmen of Allah that they display humility before Allah when He favours them with His bounties. Now that Allah has favoured me with assisting His Nabi ﷺ, I have displayed this form of humility to Him.” [Munasarat al Sahabah al Afariqah] A king with this level of humility is exceptional and unique.

Najashi arranged for 40 men of his country to travel to Madinah and accept Islam at the hands of Rasulullah ﷺ. These men were fortunate to participate in the Battle of Uhud. They were injured during this battle, although none of them lost their lives.

In 6 A.H., the Sahabah RA who were still by Najashi requested him to allow them to immigrate to Madinah, explaining to him that Rasulullah ﷺ was victorious against his enemies. With a hard heart, Najashi acceded to their request. Their stay in his country had come to an end. His hospitality and generosity, however, were still ongoing. He made all necessary arrangements for their transport to Arabia and supplied them with provisions for the way. He also sent one of his men with them. Before they could leave, he expressed one desire, “Let your Messenger know that I have accepted Islam and request him to seek forgiveness on my behalf.”

The Sahabah RA thus returned from the land of safety, on the rough seas, until they reached Rasulullah ﷺ who was at Khaybar at the time. Rasulullah ﷺ was elated by their return. Jafar RA gave a detailed report to Rasulullah ﷺ of the welcoming and munificent behaviour of Najashi towards them, not forgetting his farewell request. The man who gave sanctuary to his Companions, was asking him a favour. The only favour he ever asked from Rasulullah ﷺ. Rasulullah ﷺ stood up, performed wudu’, and supplicated thrice in his favour, “O Allah, forgive al Najashi.” While the Sahabah chanted, “Amin”. How splendid a request and how superb a fulfillment. [Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah]

And the love and appreciation was mutual. When a delegation of Najashi RA came to meet Rasulullah ﷺ, he began serving them personally. The Sahabah RA said that they will do the serving, but Rasulullah ﷺ insisted that he will personally serve them stating, “Indeed, they honoured my Companions. So I desire to pay them back the favour.”

The love and friendship they shared was astonishing. He passed away in a foreign land in Rajab 9 A.H, yet Rasulullah ﷺ announced his obituary to the Sahabah RA, referring to him as their brother, the righteous man of Abyssinia, Ashamah. On the exact day he passed on, Rasulullah ﷺ instructed the Sahabah RA to seek forgiveness for him and perform his Salat al Janazah. Rasulullah ﷺ proceeded to the musalla for an amazing spectacle, never seen before and never to be seen thereafter. He ordered the Sahabah RA to form rows and from hundreds of miles away he led the Salat al Janazah on Sayyidina al Najashi radiya Llahu ‘anhu. A speciality exclusive to him. [Bukhari, Muslim]

‘Aisha RA says, “After al Najashi passed away, we were told that light would be seen perpetually upon his grave.” [Sunan Abi Dawood]

Managing a kingdom with justice and humbleness was a special characteristic of Sayyidina Ashamah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, the king of Abyssinia. May Allah be pleased with him and make him happy.