The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'iL IBN KATH~R 19
that Daws' land was very far, but that he would write a message to the king of
Abyssinia who was also of the same religion and whose country was closer at
hand. The emperor then wrote such a message asking hi
to provide help and to
seek revenge for Daws.
So Daws took Caesar's letter to the Negus10 who dispatched 70,000 troops
from Abyssinia under the leadership of one of his officers named Aryst, along
with another named Abraha al-Ashram. Aryat crossed over the sea and reached
the shores of Yemen, accompanied by Daws. Dhii Nuwas came out to meet him
with his forces made up from Himyar and the Yemeni tribes under his control.
When they engaged, Dha Nuws and his men were defeated. When he realized
that disaster had befallen himself and his people, Dhii Nuwas turned his horse
to the sea and beat it until it entered the water and took him through the shallows
and out to the depths of the sea where he perished. Aryq entered Yemen and
took control there. At this point Ibn Ishaq records several poems by the Arabs
detailing these strange events. These poems are in he, eloquent, vivid, and elegant
language, but we omit them here to avoid boring or wearying the reader. And
God is our helper.
An Account of how Abraha al-Ashram rebelled against, fought, and
killed Aryiit, and so assumed power over Yemen.
Ibn IshHq stated: "Aryq remained in control over Yemen for some years but
eventually Abraha challenged him and the Abyssinian forces split into two sides.
One side moved to attack the other, but when the armies approached for battle,
Abraha sent a message to Aryst suggesting that he was wrong to pit the
Abyssinians against one another to the ultimate damage of all, and that they
should meet alone in battle, all forces then combining under the authority of the
one victorious. To this AryXt responded with agreement.
"Abraha, a short, stocky man and a devout Christian, then went out to fight
Aryq who was tall, handsome, powerfully built, and bore a javelm. Behind
Abraha was a slave named 'Atwada protecting his rear. Arya~ struck out, aiming
at the top of Abraha's head, hut his javelin hit him on the forehead and slit his
eyebrow, eye, nose, and lip; that was why he was known as al-Ashram, i.e. the
cleft-face. Then 'Atwada advanced from behind Abraha and attacked and killed
Aryxt. The forces of kyat went over to Abraha and all Abyssinians in Yemen
united under him. Abraha then paid over the blood price for Aryat's death.
"When this news reached the Negus, who had dispatched them both to
Yemen, he was furious at Abraha, for he had attacked and billed his commander
without orders from himself. Then the Negus swore an oath that he would give
10. The title given to the ruler of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia)