18 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD"This reached the Messenger of God (SAAS), and when the Negus died he
prayed for him and sought God's forgiveness for him."It is established in both jahih collections, on the authority of Abii Hurayra, God
be pleased with him, that the Messenger of God (SAAS) lamented the death of
the Negus on the day he died and went with others to the place of prayer. There
he lined up with them and four times recited the litany, Allahu Akbar, God is
most great. Al-Bukhari stated: "The Death of the Negus. Abti al-Rabic related to
us, as did Ibn Wyayna, from Ibn Jurayj, from <At%', from Jiibir, who said, 'The
Messenger of God (SAAS) stated on the day when the Negus died, "Today a
good man died; arise and pray for your brother Ashama."'"
This is also related from a hadith of Anas b. Malik, Ibn Masciid, and others.
In some accounts he is named Ashama, though in one it is Mqhama. His
name was Ashama b. B&. He was an honest, devout and intelligent man, just
and honourable. May God be pleased with him.
Yiinus stated, from Ibn Ishaq, "The name of the Negus was Mashama." In
one manuscript d-Bayhaqi has corrected this to Asham. 'The name means in
Arabic 'atryya; gift. The word 'Negus' is the title for a king, equivalent to using
the word 'Chosroe' or 'Heraclius'."
This, I observe, is how this text reads; no doubt he meant "Emperor", the title
used for all kings who rule Syria along with the Roman peninsula. "Chosroe" is
the title of those ruling Persia, "Pharoah" that for those ruling dl Egypt,
"d-Muqawqis" for he who rules Alexandria, "Tubbac" for those ruling Yemen
and &Shah, the "Negus" for those ruling Abyssinia, "Batlimus" for those ruling
Greece, and, it is said, India, and "Khiiqan" for those ruling the Turks.
Some scholars said that he only prayed for hi because he kept his faith hidden
from his people and there was no one there with him to pray for him the day he died.
These scholars thus maintain that for someone not present, if the funeral
prayers were said for him in the place where he died, then such rites are not
ordained for him in another country. This is why funeral prayers were said for
the Prophet (SAAS) only in Medina and not by the people of Mecca or else-
where. The same was true of Abii Bakr, Wmar, Wthmw and others of the
Companions; it is not reported that funeral prayers were said for them in towns
other than the ones in which they died. But God knows best.
I add the comment that the fact that Abii Hurayra, may God be pleased with
him, witnessed the prayers for the Negus points to his having died after the
conquest of Khaybar, the year when the remainder of the Emigrants to Abyssinia
arrived along with Jacfar b. Abii Talib, God bless hi, namely on the day of the
conquest of Khaybar.
It is therefore related that the Prophet (SAAS) said, "By God, I don't know
which makes me happier - the conquest of Khaybar or the arrival ofJacfar b. Abii
Txlib!"