THE ACKNOWLEDGER OF VIRTUES

THE ACKNOWLEDGER OF VIRTUES

When the pagan Meccan’s hostility against the Muslims became unbearably brutal, the Prophet commanded a group of them to migrate to Abyssinia, even though Abyssinia was a Christian country and its ruler, the Negus, was a Christian. Since the repute of the King Negus reached the Prophet as a just and kind ruler, he selected the Christian country for the first and second migration. It was declared as an “Abode of Peace” for the Muslims.¹

Mut’im b. Adī was an idolater. Concerning him, the Prophet Muhammad said: “Were Mut’im b. Adi alive and interceded with me for these sinful people, I would definitely forgive them for his sake.”² And concerning, Mukhayriq, a Jewish Rabbi, he said: “Mukhayriq is the best of the Jews.”3

I Set forth by Ibn Hisham in al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya, 2:176-177. alTabarī in Tarikh al-Umam wa al-Mulūk, 1:547.

2 Set forth by al-Bukhārī in al-Ṣaḥīḥ, 3:1143 S2970. Abd al-Razzaq in al-Muşannaf, 5:209 S9400. ●

3 Set forth by Ibn Hisham in al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya, 3:51. Ibn ‘Asakir in Tārīkh Madīna Dimashq, 10:229. Ibn Sa’d in al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, 1:501.