Death of the Negus (al-Najashi) of Abyssinia

The Negus (an-Najashi), the righteous Christian king of Abyssinia who had sheltered the Muslim refugees, died in the ninth year of Hijrah. The Prophet received news of his death through revelation on the same day and announced it to his companions: 'A righteous man has died today. Stand and pray for your brother Ashamah.' He led the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) in absentia in Medina, the first recorded instance of this practice. This established the precedent for praying the funeral prayer for someone who dies in a distant land.