The Migration to Abyssinia – Islam's First Refuge

In the early years of Islam in Makkah, the small Muslim community endured severe persecution at the hands of the Quraysh. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had no political power yet to protect his followers, many of whom were tortured, enslaved, and killed for their faith. In response to this suffering, the Prophet made a pivotal decision — he instructed some of his companions to seek refuge in the Christian kingdom of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia).

In 615 CE, a group of approximately 15 Muslims — the first emigrants of Islam — crossed the Red Sea to Abyssinia. They were fleeing not out of weakness of faith, but by wisdom and the Prophet's guidance. The Prophet praised the Negus (Najashi), the king of Abyssinia, as a just ruler under whom none were wronged. This migration is known as the First Hijra.

When the Quraysh learned of the Muslim community finding safety in Abyssinia, they sent two of their most skilled envoys — Amr ibn al-As and Abdullah ibn Abi Rabia — with precious gifts to the Negus, requesting the extradition of the Muslim refugees. The Negus, however, insisted on a fair hearing first.

Jafar ibn Abi Talib (RA), the spokesperson of the Muslims, delivered one of the most moving speeches in early Islamic history before the Negus and his bishops. He described their former life of ignorance, the beautiful teachings of Islam, and recited verses from Surah Maryam about Jesus and Mary. The Negus and his bishops were moved to tears. The king declared that the difference between what the Muslims said about Jesus and what the Christians believed was no wider than a line he drew on the ground, and he refused to hand over the refugees.

The story of Abyssinia teaches us several profound lessons. It shows the nobility and wisdom of the Prophet (PBUH) in protecting his community. It demonstrates that justice and truth can be found across religious boundaries. And it reveals how the early Muslims prioritized preserving their faith above all worldly comfort, setting an example of migration for the sake of Allah that echoes through Islamic history.