The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABO AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHTR 5
Ibn Ishaq stated, "The number of those Muslims who migrated and went to
Abyssinia, not counting the little children and thbse born there, totalled 83. This
assumes that 'Ammar b. Yasir was among them, but there is some doubt about
him."
I would comment that the inclusion by Ibn Ishaq of Aba Miisa al-Ash'ari among
those who migrated from Mecca to Abyssinia is very strange.
Imam Abad stated, "Hasan b. Masa related to us that he heard Hudayj,
brother of Zuhayr b. Muswiya say, on the authority of Abii Ishaq, from 'Abd
Allah b. 'Utba, from Ibn Mas'tid, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS) sent us, a
body of some 80 men, to the Negus. These included 'Abd Allah b. Mas'iid,
Ja'far, 'Ahd Allah b. Arfata, 'Uthmm b. Mq'an, and Abii Masa. These men
went to the Negus.
"'Then Quraysh dispatched to him 'Amr b. ai-'TZs and Wmra b. al-Walid
with a gift.
"'When they went in to the Negus, they bowed down before him. Then they
took up positions to the left and right before him and said, "A group of our
people have taken up residence in your land, after having turned away from us
and from our religion."
""'Wbere are they? ," he asked.
"'"In your land. Send for them," they suggested.
"'He did so and Ja'far said, "I will be your spokesman today." And they
followed him.
"'He made salutation, but did not bow down. They asked him, "What is
wrong with you, not bowing down before the king?"
"'He replied, "We bow down only before God, the Almighty and Glorious."
"'"What is this all about?" he was asked.
"'He answered, "God has sent a messenger to us and told us to bow down to
no one but God, the Almighty and Glorious. He also ordered us to pray, and to
give alms."
'"'Amr commented, "They differ with you about Jesus, son of Mary."
"'He (the Negus) asked, "What do you say about Jesus son of Mary and His
mother?"
"'He (Ja'far) replied, "We say as God did: He is His word and His spirit
which He cast into the Virgin whom no man had touched and no child had been
inside."
"'The king then picked up a stick from the ground and said, "0 people of
Abyssinia, and you, priests and monks; by God, they are not so much as the size
of this stick away from what we say! Welcome to you and greetings to him from
whom you come! I bear witness that he is the Messenger of God, and that it is him
we find in the Bible. He is the Messenger of whom Jesus, son of Mary, made
prophecy. You may reside wherever you wish; and, by God, were it not for my role
as king, I would go to him so that I could be the one who carries his shoes for him! "