NEGUS, THE KING OF ABYSSINIA
IN the early period of his mission, when the Prophet was in Makkah, the oppression of the Quraysh became so severe that the Prophet advised believers to leave Makkah and migrate to Abyssinia, modern-day Ethiopia. Abyssinia, he told them, was ruled by a Christian king Negus, who did not persecute anyone based on their beliefs. The Prophet asked believers to stay there till God showed them an alternative solution to their problem.
And so, more than 100 of the Prophet’s Companions left their homeland and went to Abyssinia. When the Quraysh of Makkah learned of this, they discussed the matter among themselves and sent two of their men, Amr ibn Al-As and Abdullah bin Abi Rabia, to Abyssinia. When these men got there, they met with the king’s courtiers and gave gifts to them so that they would put in a word in their favour before the king. After this, this delegation from Makkah entered the court of Negus, the king of Abyssinia. They told Negus that some ‘foolish’ people of their town had left their homeland and were living in his kingdom and that they had come on behalf of their families and relatives to take them back to their homes. They sought his permission for this, and asked him to hand over these people to them. Negus’ courtiers also supported their appeal.
It is a form of oppression to listen to only one party’s version of the story and then pass a judgement.
The Makkan delegation wanted that the king should hand over the believers to them on their request. They did not want the believers to be questioned by the king. When they made this plea in front of him, Negus was displeased. He replied, ‘By God, never! I will never hand them over to you, unless they are called before me and I speak to them, and find out what is the matter with them.’
After this, the King ordered that the Makkan believers who were living in his land be brought into his court. When these believers were presented before the king, contrary to the local custom, they did not prostrate before him. Negus was a Christian ruler. And so, he believed that Jesus was the son of God. But during the course of his conversation with the believers, when Jesus was mentioned, the representative of the Prophet’s Companions, Jafar Ibn Abi Talib, said that Jesus was a prophet of God.
After ascertaining the truth about the whole affair, Negus gave back to the Makkan delegation their gifts and told them to return to their land. He said that he would not hand over the Muslim believers to them. The Muslims, he said, could stay on in his land for as long as they liked. (Seerath ibn Kathir)
This is the true method of dispensing justice. Justice is not a one-sided process. Rather, it entails examining both sides of a matter and then arriving at a just decision. According to the Prophet’s direct testimony, King Negus’ manner was an exemplary model of just behaviour. Whenever a conflict appears between two parties, it is not just; but, rather, a form of oppression, to listen to only one party’s version of the story and then pass a judgment. This is wholly improper behaviour for anyone, no matter how high a position he holds in society.
Justice is not a one-sided process.
In this matter, Negus was not influenced by the gifts of the Makkan delegation. Nor did he accept the advice and recommendations of his courtiers and people who were close to him. In fact, he did not even bother that the Muslim believers did not observe the customary form of paying respect that he was used to, thereby perhaps dishonouring him in the eyes of his courtiers. In addition, they had denied and critiqued some of the religious beliefs of the king and his people, asserting them to be wrong.
The King did not bother about all this, and focused only on the issue of justice in this entire affair. He completely ignored all other aspects, personal as well as other. He heard both parties and impartially investigated the affair. And then he gave his decision, which was in accordance with the demands of justice.
The greatest form of piety is when man decides a matter justly, uninfluenced by pressure and by the possibility that a just decision might go against one’s ego and its interests. These are the exalted souls who, in the hereafter, will find a place in Paradise.