Diplomatic Correspondence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the Negus: Analytical Review of its Consequences and Implications

Abstract

This research paper explores the strategic and diplomatic significance of the letters dispatched by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the Negus (Ashama ibn Abjar) of the Kingdom of Aksum. Beyond their primary theological objective, these missives established a foundational framework for international relations and diplomatic immunity in early Islamic history. By employing an analytical and descriptive methodology, this study examines the immediate outcomes of this correspondence, such as the provision of political asylum to the early Muslim migrants and the subsequent recognition of Islam in the African continent. Furthermore, the paper provides a contemporary reassessment of this diplomatic encounter, presenting it as a normative model (Uswah) for modern-day Muslim minorities living in non-Muslim states. It argues that the Prophetic approach emphasizes mutual respect, interfaith dialogue, and legal integration while maintaining religious identity, offering vital insights for navigating the socio-political challenges of the 21st century.

Keywords: Prophetic Diplomacy, Abyssinia, Tolerance, Kingdom of Aksum, The Negus, Muslim Minorities, International Relations, Political Asylum, Ethiopia, Correspondence, Interfaith Dialogue.