IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHIR 25"'When they had finished putting the questions they wanted to ask the
Messenger of God, he invited them to come to God, the Almighty and Glorious,
and he recited the Qur'xn to them. When they heard it, their eyes overflowed
with tears. They then responded positively to him, believed in him and accepted
and trusted him, recognising what had been described to them about him in their
scripture.
"'When they arose to leave him, Aba Jahl and a group of Quraysh blocked
their path and told them, "What a hopeless party you are! You were sent here
by your co-religionaries hack home to undertake an investigation for them and
to return with information about this fellow, yet no sooner did you sit down
in comfort with him than you abandoned your faith and believed all he told
you. We've never known a group more foolish than you." Or words to that
effect.
'"They replied, "We do not denigrate you; peace be upon you! We act as we
see fit, as do you as you see fit. We spare no pains to attain what is good."'"
It is said that the group of Christians were from Najriin; hut God alone knows
whether that was so.
It is also said, though God alone knows, that the following verses were
revealed about them, "And those to whom we gave the book before it do believe
in it. When it is recited to them, they say, 'We do believe in it; it is the truth from
our Lord. We were accepting (its message) even before it came.' Those shall
receive their reward twice, for they have been steadfast and repay evil with good
and expend from what We have given them. And when they hear idle gossip they
turn away from it and say, 'We act as we see fit, as do you as you see fit. Peace be
upon you; we do not desire the ignorant and foolish'" (swat al-@?af; XXVIII,
v.52-5).
Al-Bayhaqi in his book Dal~~"il (The Szgns) entitles a chapter "On the contents of
the document sent by the Prophet (SAAS) to the Negus."
He then relates, from al-Hakim, from al-Asamm, from Ahmad b. 'Abd
al-Jabhzr, from Yonus, from Ibn Ishaq, as follows, "In the name of God, the
most Merciful and Compassionate: this is a document from Mu.hammad, the
Messenger of God (SAAS), to the Negus, al-Asham, the great leader of
Abyssinia: Peace be upon those who follow guidance, believe in God and His
messenger, and testify that there is no god hut God alone, Who has no partner,
Who took no female partner for Himself, and Who has no child, and they testify
that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. I call out to you in God's
name, for I am His messenger. So submit (to Him) and be at peace! 0 People
of the Book, come to an agreement that is equal between us both; that we will
worship none but God and associate no other god with Him; that we will not take
one another as masters to the exclusion of God. But if they do turn aside, then