Ashama Ibn Abjar (ra) - Negus the Righteous King

𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒂, 𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒃𝒚𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒂, 𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒌𝒔𝒖𝒎, 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚. Ashama ibn Abjar (Negus’ name) had to be for he knew how life could be on the other side of it. For he wasn’t always a king.

His father, the Negus before, was murdered by his uncle – out for the throne himself. Raised under his wing, his uncle (now the Negus) saw wisdom and cleverness in his young nephew; for Ashama became learned in scriptures. His intelligence threatened his Uncle and his own 12 foolish sons’ positions. So a slave Ashama was made, expelled to a far off place till a time when his people saw their folly in letting him go. Ashama was found, returned to his people and rightful throne to succeed where his uncle and cousins failed.

Grateful to God, Ashama ruled wisely and soon his reputation came to be known by the Prophetﷺ. When the Muslims were at their most vulnerable, to Abyssinia the Prophetﷺ ordered the first hijra seeking refuge therein, free to perform their religious duties without fear of persecution.

The Quraysh sent a delegation to shower the Negus and his ministers with gifts, hoping to rally their support. They defamed the Muslims before the Negus, urging him to expel them and cut them off from his mercy.

But Negus refused to act until he heard from the other party directly. The Muslims were summoned. It fell on Ja’far ibn Abi Talib(ra) to convince the Negus and with wisdom he presented their side of the story. When Negus asked Ja’far(ra) to recite from revelation, Ja’far(ra) cleverly chose Surah Maryam and the story of Jesus(as). Negus listened; shedding tears that soaked his beard. At the close Negus vowed not to return the Muslims to Makkah, promising his protection.

There’s two sides to a story. Yet there are those who think it okay to hear one side, succumb to rumours and brandish names of innocents in exchange for maybe some benefit or worldy gain- what is there for them but a loss of integrity. Ashama(ra) became a Muslim. His fairness earned the respect of the Prophetﷺ, to be remembered honourably in our history not for his colour but his deeds and righteousness, for these succeed in the sight of Allah(swt).

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