Migration to Abyssinia

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This is a sub-article to Muhammad before Medina and Muhammad in Medina

According to Islamic tradition, twelve male and twelve female Sahaba, the Muslims who originally converged in Mecca, sought refuge from persecution in the Kingdom of Aksum (modern-day Ethiopia) in seventh Islamic month (Rajab) of 7 BH (614–615 CE). This act is known as the First migration to Abyssinia; Abyssinia in this incident because of the Arabic word, al-Habasha, whence "Abyssinia" is derived. They returned after three months to Arabia due to misinformation, only to find that the persecution had not halted.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Prelude

After the conversion of Hamza, the companions of Muhammad began to offer prayers publicly. In turn, the Quraysh intensified their opposition by torturing the Muslims. Muhammad told his followers to leave for Ethiopia, where "a king rules without injustice, a land of truthfulness-until God leads us to a way out of our difficulty."

[edit] First migration

In seventh Islamic month (Rajab) of 7 BH (614–615 CE) [1], eleven men and four women undertook the first migration [2].

They sneaked out of Mecca a dark night and headed for the sea where two boats happened to be sailing for their destination, Ethiopia. News of their intended departure reached Quraish, so some men were despatched in their pursuit, but the Muslims had already left Shuaibah Port towards their secure haven where they were received warmly and accorded hospitality by Negus, King of Abyssinia, also called al-Najashi, (Arabic: ﺍﻠﻨﺠﺎﺸﻲ). Among these emigrants were Usman and Ruquyyah. [3]

[edit] Returning

In ninth Islamic month (Ramadan), the events regarding the Satanic verses transpired, and when news was misreported to the emigrants, they were informed that the whole of Quraish had embraced Islam so they made their way back home and arrived in tenth Islamic month (Shawwal) of 7 BH (614–615 CE) [3].

Upon return, however, they found the persecution even stronger [2].

When the returning emigrants were only an hour's travel from Meccan, they realized that the situation. Some of the Muslims returned back to Ethiopia while the rest continued to Mecca, some sneaked in secretly while others sought asylum (Arabic: Istijarah) [3].

When the Meccan polytheists came to know the good treatment they had received in Ethiopia they got indignant and started to mete out more severe maltreatment and tortures on the Muslims, thus Muhammad announced a second migration to Ethiopia.[3].

[edit] List

Those emigrating to Abyssinia included:

Male

Female

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Sahabah Migation to Abyssina
  2. ^ a b witness-pioneer.org
  3. ^ a b c d e f The Sealed Nectar The Second ‘Aqabah Pledge on sunnipath.com