Refuge in Abyssinia

A Land Where No One Is Wronged

The persecution in Makkah had become too much for many believers. Historians reportHistorians report that the Prophet ﷺ advised them to go to Abyssinia, across the Red Sea in Africa, because its king did not allow anyone to be wronged in his land. Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah 1:321

This was the first hijrah in Islam. Among the first to go were Uthman ibn Affan and his wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, and Abu Salamah and his wife Umm Salamah. Later a larger group followed, led by the Prophet's ﷺ cousin Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah 1:321–324

The Qur'an promises those who emigrate for Allah after being wronged “a good home in this world, and the reward of the Hereafter is greater”. Qur'an 16:41–42

Two Envoys with Gifts

Quraysh did not let them go so easily. Umm Salamah, who was there, remembered what happened next. Quraysh sent two clever men, Amr ibn al-As and Abd Allah ibn Abi Rabi'ah, with fine leather gifts for the king and his generals. Their plan: give the gifts, then ask the king to hand the Muslims back without even listening to them. Musnad Ahmad 1740 · Shakir: sahih; al-Arna'ut: hasan

The generals agreed. But the Najashi said: “No. I will not hand over people who came to my country and chose me over everyone else until I have heard what they say.” Musnad Ahmad 1740

Ja'far Speaks

The Muslims were called in. They agreed among themselves to say only the truth, whatever happened. The king asked what this new religion was. Ja'far answered for them. In Umm Salamah's account, he described what their lives had been like before Islam: worshipping idols, eating dead animals, doing shameful things, cutting family ties, mistreating neighbours, the strong eating up the weak. Musnad Ahmad 1740

Then, he said, Allah sent them a messenger from among themselves, whose family, truthfulness and honesty they knew. He called them to worship Allah alone and leave the idols, to speak the truth, keep trusts, keep family ties, be good neighbours, and stop shedding blood and doing shameful things. They believed him, and for that their people had attacked them, until they came to his land, choosing him over others, hoping not to be wronged there. Musnad Ahmad 1740

“Do you have anything of what he brought from Allah?” asked the king. Ja'far recited the opening of Surah Maryam. The Najashi wept until his beard was wet, and his bishops wept until their books were wet. “By Allah, this and what Musa brought come from the same lamp,” said the king. He refused to hand them over. Musnad Ahmad 1740