[EP11] Story Of Muhammad (ﷺ) -When The Muslims Migrated To Abyssinia - #SeerahSeries - Yasir Qadhi

[EP11] Story Of Muhammad (ﷺ) -When The Muslims Migrated To Abyssinia - #SeerahSeries - Yasir Qadhi
he first journey in the history of Islam was the migration of Muslims to Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia). This article offers the reasons for this migration, when it occurred, why Prophet Muhammad (s) chose this country over others, and the actions that came about during the Muslims’ stay there. Also, a brief explanation of the Prophet’s contact with the king of Abyssinia after the hijrah is given, along with an analysis concerning the significance of this event. From this migration, we learn that

1) when persecuted, Muslims should migrate when the opportunity is available, and seek a land ruled by a just leader, and
2) Muslims have the responsibility of learning how to interact efficiently in clarifying and enlightening others about Islam.
Historians agree that the migration took place on two different occasions. The first one occurred in the fifth year of the Proclamation of Islam in the month of Rajab. In this month, twelve to seventy men and women migrated to Abyssinia. They stayed there during the months of Sha‘ban and Ramadan until some Muslims heard of the Gharaniq rumors and returned to Mecca. After learning that the Gharaniq reports were false, the Muslims headed back to Abyssinia.

The exact time of the second migration is unknown. However, Ja‘farian states that there was only a short gap between the two migrations, because both migrations happened before the Quraysh drafted and signed in the 7thyear after the Proclamation a document that ordered the Bani Hashim to surrender or they would be subjected to economic and social boycott11.Therefore, the time in between the two migrations could not have extended for more than two to three years.

Ja‘farian refutes Ibn Ishaq’s view that the migration took place only once. Eighty people traveled with Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib leading the group. Thirty-three people returned, although Ibn Ishaq does not believe in the fiction of Gharaniq. Biladhari compiled a list of those who migrated, and according to Ja‘farian, this proves that some migrants went twice.

The members of this group did not belong to one family, and according to Ibn Hisham every one of these ten persons belonged to a separate family12.Ja’far the son of Abu Talib was the leader of the second migration. This migration was arranged with perfect freedom and some of the migrants were, therefore, successful in also taking their women and children with them. Consequently, the number of the Muslims in Ethiopia reached eighty-three and taking into account the children taken there or born there the number exceeds this figure.

According to Sayyid Ali Asgher Razvy in A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims, the king of Abyssinia welcomed the Muslim refugees from Mecca into his kingdom. He gave them sanctuary and they enjoyed peace, security, and freedom of worship under his protection. About a year later, the Muslims in Abyssinia heard rumors (Gharaniq) that the Quraysh in Mecca had accepted Islam. They were homesick and found no reason to live in exile: thus, they decided to return to Mecca. Upon their arrival, they found out that not only were the rumors they had heard false, but also that the Quraysh had intensified their abuse of the Muslims.

For this reason, the Muslims left for Abyssinia once again. Many other Muslims also accompanied them. This new group comprised of 83 men and 18 women. All narrations agree that the Prophet Muhammad selected his first cousin, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib, an elder brother of Ali, as the leader of this group. This second migration of the Muslims to Abyssinia took place in the sixth year of the Proclamation, or 616 C.E.13.Ja‘far appeared to be the only member of the Bani Hashim to leave for Abyssinia with the other refugees. All other members of Bani Hashim stayed in Mecca.