King Armah of Axum was the King of Axum during the early 7th century. Known as Ashama ibn Abjar in Arabic, he gave shelter to the Muslims in 614-615 after they fled Mecca and the Quraysh, and he believed that Muslims and Christians were very similar.
Biography[]
Armah was the Christian ruler of Axum in Ethiopia, and he was known to be a benevolent and peaceful ruler. In 614, he allowed for the Muslims to enter Abyssinia after they fled from the Quraysh of Mecca, and he refused 'Amr ibn al-'As' bribes to return the Muslims to Mecca. Armah believed that the Muslims were peaceful, and he allowed for the Muslims to explain themselves before him and 'Amr. 'Amr tried to discredit them, saying that they meant to destroy all other religions and that they believed that Jesus was a mere man and not the son of God; they responded by saying that they believed in helping the poor, loving thy neighbor and family, and being peaceful, and that Jesus was God's spirit, word, and messenger sent to spread God's message. Armah compared Islam and Christianity to two beams of light that entered the palace - they were separate, yet they came from the same source, and he said that he would not give the Muslims up for a mountain of gold. He was said to have converted to Islam afterwards, becoming the first outsider to be converted.