It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent about eighty men of us—including Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Sayyiduna Ja'far, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Afiṭah, Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz'un, and Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with them)—to the Negus. When these people reached the Negus, the Quraysh also sent Amr bin As and Amarah bin Walid with gifts. They entered the court of the Negus, prostrated before him, and quickly stood on either side, saying: "Some people from among our tribe have fled to your land, and they have shown aversion to us and our religion." The Negus asked: "Where are those people?" They replied: "They are in your land; please summon them to you." So the Negus sent for them. Sayyiduna Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his companions: "Today, I will be your spokesman." They all agreed. When they reached the Negus, they greeted him with peace but did not prostrate. The people said to them: "Why do you not prostrate before His Majesty the King?" They replied: "We do not prostrate before anyone except Allah, the Exalted." The Negus asked: "What do you mean?" They replied: "Allah, the Exalted, has sent a Prophet to us, and he has commanded us not to prostrate before anyone except Allah. He has also commanded us to give zakat and to pray." Amr bin As said to the Negus: "These people oppose you regarding Jesus (peace be upon him)." The Negus asked them: "What do you say about Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother?" They replied: "We say what Allah says: that he is the Spirit of Allah and His Word, which He cast towards the virgin maiden whom no man had touched, nor had she any children." Upon this, the Negus picked up a straw from the ground and said: "O people of Abyssinia! Priests! Monks! By Allah, these people do not say anything more about Jesus (peace be upon him) than this straw. I welcome you and the one on whose behalf you have come. I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah, and in the Gospel we find mention of him, and he is the very Prophet whose glad tidings Jesus (peace be upon him) gave. You may stay wherever you wish. If it were not for matters of state, by Allah, I would go to him, carry his sandals, and serve him in ablution." Then he ordered that the gift of Amr bin As and Amarah be returned to them, which was returned. After that, Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) quickly returned from there and participated in the Battle of Badr, and he used to say that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) received news of the Negus's death, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sought forgiveness for him.