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4. http://fazaileamaal.com/1110_abyssinia_ostracism.htm

The king then asked them to submit what defense they could make to the charges brought against them. Ja'far (Radhiyallaho anho) rose and addressed the king thus:

"0, king! we were an ignorant people. We neither knew Allah nor His Prophets A.S. We worshipped stones. We used to eat carrion and commit all sorts of undesirable and disgraceful acts. We did not make good our obligations to our relatives. The strong among us would thrive at the expense of the weak. Till at last, Allah raised a Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) for our reformation. His noble descent, up right conduct, integrity of purpose, and pure life are only too well known amongst us. He called upon us to worship Allah, and exhorted us to give up idolatry and stone-worship. He enjoined upon us right conduct, and forbade us from indecency. He taught us to tell the truth, to make good our trust, to have regard for our kith and kin, and to do good to our neighbours. From him we learnt to observe Salaat, Fasting, Zakaat and good conduct; and to shun everything foul, and to avoid bloodshed.

He forbade adultery, lewdness telling of lies, misappropriating the orphan's heritage, bringing false accusations against others, and all other indecent things of that sort. He taught us the Qur'an, the wonderful book of Allah. So we believed in him, followed him and acted up to his teachings. Thereupon our people began to persecute us, and to subject us to tortures, thinking that we might abjure our faith and revert to idolatry. When, however, their cruelties exceeded all bounds, we took shelter in your country by the permission of our Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)."

The king said:

"Let us hear something of the Qur'an that your Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) has taught you."

Hadhrat Ja'far (Radhiyallaho anho) recited a few verses from the beginning of Surah "Maryam", which touched the hearts of the king and the priestly class so much that tears flowed down their cheeks and wetted their beards. The king remarked:

"By Allah, these words and the words revealed to Moosa ('Alayhis Salam) are the rays of one and the same light," and he told the Qureysh embassy that he would by no means hand over the refugees to them. Then, disappointed and disgraced, they held a counsel. One of them said:

"I have hit upon a plan that is sure to draw the king's wrath upon their heads."

Although the others did not agree to such a drastic step (for after all they were their own flesh and blood), yet he would not listen. The next day, they excited the king by telling him that those heretics denounced 'Isa ('Alayhis Salam) and did not believe in his Divinity. The Muslims were again summoned to the court. They were much more distressed this time. When the king inquired about their belief in 'Isa ('Alayhis Salam), they said:

"We believe in what Allah has revealed about him to our Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), i.e. he is a servant and Prophet of Allah, and is His word, which He conveyed to the virgin and pure Maryam."

Negus said: '"Isa ('Alayhis Salam) himself does not say anything beyond that."

The priests then began to murmur in protest, but the king would not listen to them. He returned to the delegation the presents they had brought for him, and said to the Muslims:

"Go and live in peace. If anybody ill-treats you, he will have to pay heavily for it."