Najashi (Ashama ibn Abjar)

Ashama ibn Abjar — known to Muslims as al-Najashi (the Negus, meaning 'king' in the Ge'ez language) — was the Christian king of Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) who received the first Muslim emigrants and played a pivotal role in the survival of early Islam. When the persecution in Mecca became unbearable, the Prophet ﷺ directed a group of companions to emigrate to Abyssinia, saying: 'There is a king there who wrongs no one.' This first emigration (5 years into the prophethood) took place under the leadership of Uthman ibn Affan and Ruqayyah bint Muhammad. The Quraysh sent two envoys — Amr ibn al-As and Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi'ah — to convince Najashi to return the Muslims. Najashi refused to hand them over without hearing their case. Jafar ibn Abi Talib eloquently presented Islam to Najashi, reciting the opening of Surah Maryam. Najashi wept and said: 'By Allah, the difference between what Jesus said and what this says is no thicker than this' — and drew a line. He refused to extradite the Muslims. This act of justice preserved the seed group of the earliest Muslims. Years later, a letter from the Prophet ﷺ reached Najashi inviting him to Islam, and Najashi responded by accepting. He professed Islam secretly, as revealing it publicly might have led to civil war in his kingdom. When Najashi died in 9 AH / 630 CE, the Prophet ﷺ informed the companions of his death and said: 'A righteous man died today — pray for your brother Ashama.' He then performed the funeral prayer in absentia (salat al-gha'ib) — the only time the Prophet ﷺ is known to have done this. This established the permissibility of the funeral prayer in absentia.