Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

باب ما جاء في كتاب النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم إلى النجاشي

Chapter: Chapter on what came in the Prophet's book, peace be upon him and his family, to Negus

Volume: 2 (Page:308)

English:

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Chapter on What Came in the Book of the Prophet to An-Najashi

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz informed us, he said: Abu Al-Abbas Muhammad ibn Ya'qub informed us, he said: Ahmad ibn Abd al-Jabbar informed us, he said: Yunus ibn Bukayr reported from Ibn Ishaq, he said: This is a letter from the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, to An-Najashi:

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is a letter from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to An-Najashi, the righteous king of Abyssinia. Peace be upon the one who follows guidance, believes in Allah and His Messenger, and testifies that there is no god but Allah, alone without partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. I invite you to the religion of Allah [ (59) ], for I am His Messenger. Embrace Islam, and you will be safe. O People of the Book, let us come to a common word between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us take others as lords besides Allah. If they turn away, then bear witness that we are Muslims [ (60) ]. If you refuse, then you will bear the sin of the Christians among your people [ (61) ]."

[ (59) ] In (59): "Islam". [ (60) ] [Aal-E-Imran-64]. [ (61) ] Narrated by Al-Hakim in "Al-Mustadrak" (2:623), and reported by Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir in "Al-Bidayah wa An-Nihayah" (3:82) from the compiler, and he said: "This is how it was mentioned by Al-Bayhaqi after the story of the migration to Abyssinia. In mentioning it here, some investigation is needed, for it appears that this letter was specifically to An-Najashi, the companion of Ja'far and his companions. This was when he wrote to the kings of the earth, inviting them to Allah before the conquest, as he wrote to Heraclius, the great Roman Caesar, and to Khosrow, the Persian king, and to the ruler of Egypt, and to An-Najashi. Az-Zuhri said: The letters of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, to them were all the same, meaning they were all one copy, and they all contained this verse, which is from Surah Aal-E-Imran, and it is a Medinan verse.

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Arabic:

بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي كِتَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وآله وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بن بكير عن ابن إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: هَذَا كِتَابٌ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى الله عليه وآله وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ «بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ هَذَا كِتَابٌ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللهِ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ الْأَصْحَمِ عَظِيمِ الْحَبَشَةِ سَلَامٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى وَآمَنَ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَشَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَدًا وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَأَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ اللهِ [ (٥٩) ] فَإِنِّي أَنَا رَسُولُهُ فَأَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ. يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ: أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللهَ، وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ- فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ [ (٦٠) ] . فَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ فَعَلَيْكَ إِثْمُ النَّصَارَى مِنْ قَوْمِكَ [ (٦١) ] .[ (٥٩) ] في (ص) : «الإسلام» .[ (٦٠) ] [آل عمران- ٦٤] .[ (٦١) ] أخرجه الحاكم في «المستدرك» (٢: ٦٢٣) ، ونقله الحافظ ابن كثير في «البداية والنهاية» (٣:٨٢) عن المصنف، وقال: «هكذا ذكره البيهقي بعد قصة هجرة الحبشة، وفي ذكره هاهنا نظر، فإن الظاهر أن هذا الكتاب إنما هو الى النجاشي صاحب جعفر وأصحابه، وذلك حين كتب الى ملوك الأرض يدعوهم إلى الله قبيل الفتح كما كتب إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ قيصر الشام، وإلى كسرى ملك الفرس، وإلى صاحب مصر، وإلى النجاشي، قال الزهري: كانت كتب النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلّم إليهم واحدة، يعني نسخة واحدة، وكلها فيها هذه الآية، وهي من سورة آل عمران، وهي مدنية

Volume: 2 (Page:309)

English:

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Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Message from the Prophet Muhammad to the Negus of Abyssinia

In a book narrated by Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz, he mentioned that Abu Al-Hasan Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al-Faqih reported to him from Marwa, saying: Hammad Ibn Ahmad narrated to us, who said: Muhammad Ibn Humaid narrated to us, who said: Salamah Ibn Al-Fadl narrated to us, from Muhammad Ibn Ishaq, who said: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, sent Amr Ibn Umayyah Al-Damri to the Negus concerning Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib and his companions. He wrote a letter with him, saying: 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to the Negus Al-Asham, the king of Abyssinia. Peace be upon you. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Faithful, the Guardian. And I bear witness that Isa, son of Maryam, is the spirit of Allah and His word which He conveyed to Maryam, the pure, the chaste. She conceived Isa by His spirit and breath, just as He created Adam with His hands and breath. I invite you to worship Allah alone with no partners, and to follow me and believe in me and in the message that has come to me. For I am the Messenger of Allah, and I have sent to you my cousin Ja'far, along with a group of Muslims. When they come to you, honor them and abandon arrogance. I invite you and your soldiers to Allah. I have conveyed the message and given sincere advice, so accept my counsel. Peace be upon those who follow guidance.'"

Response from the Negus to the Prophet Muhammad

The Negus replied to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, saying: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. To Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, from the Negus Al-Asham Ibn Abjar. Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah, from Allah and His mercy and blessings. There is no god but Him. He has guided me to Islam. Your letter has reached me, O Messenger of Allah, concerning the matter of Isa. By the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Isa is just as you described, and we know what you have brought to us. We have met your cousin and his companions. I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah, truthful and confirmed. I have pledged allegiance to you and to your cousin Ja'far, and I have embraced Islam sincerely for the sake of Allah..."

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Arabic:

وَفِي كِتَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظِ فِي الْجُزْءِ الَّذِي أَجَازَ لِي رِوَايَتَهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْفَقِيهُ، بِمَرْوَ، قال: حدثنا حماد ابن أَحْمَدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، عَنْ محمد ابن إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ: «بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّمَ عَمْرَو بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ الضَّمْرِيَّ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ فِي شَأْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، وَكَتَبَ مَعَهُ كِتَابًا: «بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللهِ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ الْأَصْحَمِ مَلِكِ الْحَبَشَةِ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ فَإِنِّي أَحْمَدُ إِلَيْكَ اللهَ الْمَلِكَ الْقُدُّوسَ الْمُؤْمِنَ الْمُهَيْمِنَ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رُوحُ اللهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ الْبَتُولِ الطَّيِّبَةِ الْحَصِينَةِ فَحَمَلَتْ بِعِيسَى فَخَلَقَهُ مِنْ رُوحِهِ وَنَفَخَهُ كَمَا خَلَقَ آدَمَ بِيَدِهِ وَنَفَخَهُ، وَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ إِلَى اللهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَالْمُوَالَاةِ عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ، وَأَنْ تَتَّبِعَنِي وَتُؤْمِنَ بِي وَبِالَّذِي جَاءَنِي فَإِنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَقَدْ بَعَثْتُ إِلَيْكُمُ ابْنَ عَمِّي جَعْفَرًا وَمَعَهُ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَإِذَا جَاءُوكَ فَاقْرِهِمْ وَدَعِ التَّجَبُّرَ فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ وَجُنُودَكَ إِلَى اللهِ وَقَدْ بَلَّغْتُ وَنَصَحْتُ فَاقْبَلُوا نَصِيحَتِي وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى» .وَكَتَبَ النَّجَاشِيُّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّمَ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللهِ مِنَ النَّجَاشِيِّ الْأَصْحِمِ بْنِ أَبْجَرَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ مِنَ اللهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الَّذِي هَدَانِي إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ، فَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي كِتَابُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فِيمَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَمْرِ عِيسَى فَوَرَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّ عِيسَى مَا يَزِيدُ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرْتَ، وَقَدْ عَرَفْنَا مَا بَعَثْتَ بِهِ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدْ قَرَيْنَا ابْنَ عَمِّكَ وَأَصْحَابَهُ، فَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَادِقًا مُصَدَّقًا وَقَدْ بَايَعْتُكَ وَبَايَعْتُ [ (٦٢) ] ابْنَ عَمِّكَ وَأَسْلَمَتُ على يديه لله[ () ] بلا خلاف، ... فهذا الكتاب إلى الثاني لا إلى الاول، وقوله فيه: إلى النجاشي الأصحم، لعل الأصحم مقحم فيه من الراوي بحسب ما فهم، والله اعلم.وانسب من هذا هاهنا ما ذكره البيهقي ايضا عن الحاكم ... وهي الرواية التالية، أنه أرسل الكتاب مع ابن عمه جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ.[ (٦٢) ] في (ص) : «تابعتك، وتابعت ابن عمك» .

Volume: 2 (Page:310)

English:

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The Sending of Arīḥā b. al-Aṣḥam to the Prophet (PBUH)

In the book of Al-Bidāya wa-l-Nihāya, it is mentioned that a man named Arīḥā b. al-Aṣḥam was sent to the Prophet (PBUH). He expressed his willingness to come but emphasized his limited capabilities, stating: "I testify that what you say is true."

According to Abu Abdullah Al-Hāfiẓ, Muhammad b. Yaqūb narrated from Aḥmad b. Abd al-Jabbār, who narrated from Yūnus b. Bukayr, who heard from Ibn Isḥāq that the name of the ruler was Maṣḥama from the Negus family. In the Arabic language, his name was ʿAṭīyah. However, the Negus is a title similar to Kisrā and Heraclius in this narration, where he was referred to as Maṣḥama.

In a hadith narrated by Jābir b. Abd Allāh, it is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) prayed for Maṣḥama of the Negus family.

References:

  • Al-Bidāya wa-l-Nihāya (3:83-84)
  • Reported by Al-Bukhārī in the Book of Funerals, Chapter: Permissibility of Calling the Takbīr Four Times During Funerals and in the book of Virtues, Chapter: Death of the Negus, and in An-Nasā'ī (4:69) under Funerals, Chapter: Arranging Rows in a Funeral. Al-Bukhārī also reported: "A righteous man has passed away today, so stand up and pray for your brother, Maṣḥama."
  • There are narrations in this chapter from Abū Hurayrah, Imrān b. Ḥuṣayn, Ḥudhayfa b. Asīd, Majmaʿ b. Ḥāritha, ʿAbd Allāh b. Umar, and Jarīr b. Abd Allāh.
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Arabic:

رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَقَدْ بَعَثْتُ إِلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ بِأَرِيحَا بْنِ الْأَصْحَمِ بْنِ أَبْجَرَ فَإِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ آتِيَكَ فَعَلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، فَإِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مَا تَقُولُ حَقٌّ» [ (٦٣) ] .أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ كَانَ اسْمُ النَّجَاشِيِّ مَصْحَمَةَ، وَهُوَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ عَطِيَّةُ، وَإِنَّمَا النَّجَاشِيُّ اسْمُ الْمَلِكِ كَقَوْلِكَ كِسْرَى هِرَقْلَ كَذَا فِي هَذِهِ الرِّوَايَةَ مَصْحَمَةُ وَالَّذِي رُوِّينَا عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَصْحَمُ أَصَحُّ فَفِي حَدِيثِ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ «أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وآله وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى عَلَى أَصْحَمَةَ النجاشي» [ (٦٤) ] .[ (٦٣) ] البداية والنهاية (٣: ٨٣- ٨٤) .[ (٦٤) ] من حَدِيثِ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله أخرجه البخاري في كتاب الجنائز. باب التكبير عن الجنائز أربعا، وفي كتاب المناقب، باب موت النجاشي، والنسائي (٤: ٦٩) في الجنائز، باب الصفوف على الجنازة ولفظ البخاري: «مَاتَ الْيَوْمَ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ فقوموا فصلوا على أخيكم اصحمة» .وفي الباب روايات مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وعمران بن حصين، وحذيفة بن أسيد، ومجمع بن حَارِثَةَ، وَعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عمر، وجرير بن عبد الله.

Vols: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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