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When the punishment increased on the Muslims in Mecca, Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, ordered them to immigrate to Habasha (Abyssinia) in Africa saying: "there is a king there with whom no one will be treated unjustly", so the muslims escaped from Mecca secretly.
Quriysh, the tribe of prophet Mohammad, did not let the muslims go freely. They sent Amr Ibn Al-Aas and another man with alot of gifts to AnNajashi, the king of Abasinia, to convince him to submit the muslims to them.
Quriysh used to have 2 journeys for trading:
1. In the winter they go to Yemen.
2. In the summar they go to Sham (Jordan, Syriah, Lebonon and Palistine).
When Amr ibn Al-Aas reached Abyssinia, he started to spread the gifts among ministers so that they will help him in convincing the king to submit the muslims.
AnNajashi was happy with Amr, so he asked him "what do you want?"
Amr told the king that the muslims are dangerous people and they would curropt his kingdom with their new religion.
AnNajashi said: "I will not make a judge on them till I listen to them"
When the muslims came, their leader Jafar Ibn Abu-Talib said:
"O king! we were plunged in the depth of ignorance and barbarism; we adored idols, we lived in unchastity, we ate the dead animals, and we spoke abominations, we disregarded every feeling of humanity, and the duties of hospitality and neighbourhood were neglected; we knew no law but that of the strong, when God raised among us a man, of whose birth, truthfulness, honesty, and purity we were aware; and he called to the Oneness of God, and taught us not to associate anything with Him. He forbade us the worship of idols; and he enjoined us to speak the truth, to be faithful to our trusts, to be merciful and to regard the rights of the neighbours and kith and kin; he forbade us to speak evil of women, or to eat the substance of orphans; he ordered us to fly from the vices, and to abstain from evil; to offer prayers, to render alms, and to observe fast. We have believed in him, we have accepted his teachings and his injunctions to worship God, and not to associate anything with Him, and we have allowed what He has allowed, and prohibited what He has prohibited. For this reason, our people have risen against us, have persecuted us in order to make us forsake the worship of God and return to the worship of idols and other abominations. They have tortured and injured us, until finding no safety among them, we have come to your country, and hope you will protect us from oppression."
AnNajashi was impressed by the speech and asked for some of God's Revelations.
Jafar recited some of the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5aIi3OqOJU
"It seems as if these words and those which were revealed to Jesus are the rays of the light which have radiated from the same source." said AnNajashi
Turning to the crest-fallen envoys of Quraish, he said, "I am afraid, I cannot give you back these refugees. They are free to live and worship in my realm as they please."
Next day, Amr went to the king and said that Muhammad and his followers blasphemed Jesus.
Jafar said: "We speak about Jesus as we have been taught by our prophet, that is, he is slave of Allâh, His Messenger, His word bestowed on Mary, and a spirit from Him"
The king replied, "Even so do we believe. Blessed be you, and blessed be your master." The king turned to the two frowning Meccan envoys and to his bishops who got angry, he said: "You may fret and fume as you like but Jesus is nothing more than what Jafar has said about him."
The King assured the Muslims full protection and returned the gifts to the envoys of Quraish and sent them away.
Some friends of prophet Mohammad said: we used to think that the following verse was revealed for AnNajashi and his type of people
And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in Allâh and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allâh. They do not sell the Verses of Allâh for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, Allâh is Swift in account. (199) [Quran:Ch3]
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