Abu Nu'aym's Dala'il — Ja'far's defence before the Negus

دلائل النبوة لأبي نعيم — دفاع جعفر بن أبي طالب أمام النجاشي

Abu Nu'aym transmits, with the mursal chain through Ibn Lahi'a and Urwa ibn al-Zubayr, the scene when Quraysh sent Amr ibn al-As (may God be pleased with him) and Umara ibn al-Walid ahead to the Negus demanding the emigrants' surrender, and Ja'far's company arrived after them. Ja'far called from the door 'let the party of God enter', the Negus heard and admitted them; he asked what had brought them — not trade or tribute — and Amr and Umara accused them of bloodshed and refusal to prostrate before kings. Ja'far answered in three questions: ask this man, are we slaves kept from our masters? Return us to our masters. Ask him, did we shed blood unjustly? Hand us to the avenger. The author shows it as a locus of the Abyssinian kingdom's recognition of the mission — among the first kings to believe.