The Emigration to Abyssinia

The oppression and suffering was increasing, and so the Muslims started asking our Prophet for permission to immigrate to a place where they would be able to worship freely. Upon their request, the Messenger of Allah spoke to them and said, “Go to the land of the Abyssinians. Allah will grant you relief there and there you will be reunited.”

Thus, in the fifth year of Prophethood, a group of fifteen Muslims, ten men and five women, left Mecca and emigrated to Abyssinia, the country of the Christian king, the Negus. Our Prophet’s son in law, Uthman ibn Affan, and his daughter, Ruqayyah, were also a part of this group. The Qurayshi non-believers noticed them as they left Mecca and they ran after them. Yet, because the Muslims had long boarded the boat and put out to the Red Sea, the non-believers were not able to catch them.

The Abyssinian ruler, Negus, welcomed the Muslims and assisted them in every way possible. When the Qurayshi non-believers heard that the believers were doing well, they sent delegates to Abyssinia to ask Negus to turn the Muslims over to them. They did not want the believers to gain power. Negus, however, did not accept their requests and refused to hand over anyone that had taken refuge in his land.