ARMAH

Armah (7th century AD), ruler of the Aksumite kingdom, was one of the wisest and most important rulers in the earlier history of Ethiopia. He lived during the period of the rise of Islam, and established friendly relations with the Prophet Muhammad (circa 570-632).

PHOTO CAPTION: Armah with his followers. SOURCE: EA Library.

Although the Ethiopian occupation of South Arabia ended during his time, he had good connections with South Arabia, where there were many Ethiopian merchants. He controlled the Red Sea area where all traffic was subject to his supervision. His relationship with South Arabia influenced his attitude to Islam.

His predecessor, Ella Gabaz, cultivated good relations with Islam by giving asylum to the Muslim refugees who came to Ethiopia in about 615 on the advice of Muhammad. When Muhammad was at Medina, to which he had moved from Makkah (Mecca) in the famous hijrah (emigration) in 622, he heard of the death of Ella Gabaz and of the succession of Armah. He began correspondence with Armah asking that Muslim refugees be allowed to return from Ethiopia. Armah agreed to the Prophet’s request. Some of these refugees were sent to Medina, where they found the Prophet in dire straits. The king supported the Prophet by sending him money through his ambassador. The Muslims received inspiration and consolation from the emperor’s friendly attitude, and this led Muhammad’s opponents in Makkah to become less hostile towards his followers. Many writers believe that without the assistance of the Aksumite empire, Islam would have been a short-lived religion.

After Muhammad’s return to Makkah from Medina in 630, the friendly relations between Muhammad and Armah continued. When Muḥammad promulgated his message to the emperors and rulers of the world, he also sent a copy of his letter to Armah. Except for the Aksumite ruler, none answered him positively. In his message he summoned them to “worship the One God” and acknowledge Muhammad as God’s apostle. Some Arab writers insist that Armah converted to Islam, uttered the “testimony,” and sent a message to Muhammad, expressing his regrets that he could not go personally to Makkah to pay tribute to him.

The historical evidence does not lend credence to their claims. And the evidence of the coins of the time shows that during Armah’s reign Ethiopia was Christian. Apparently some Arab writers circulated this story to justify the attitude of Islam towards Christian Ethiopia. There is a strict prohibition in Islam which says: “Leave the Abyssinians in peace, so long as they do not take the offensive.” This order was supposed to have come from Muḥammad, and was consequently respected by his successors. Essentially, however, it was the friendly attitude of Armah towards Islam which enabled Ethiopia to remain Christian despite the proximity of strong Islamic states.

SERGE HABLE-SELASSIE