Migration to Abyssinia
الهجرة إلى الحبشة
Unable to bear the persecution of Quraysh, the Prophet ﷺ permitted his companions to migrate to Christian Abyssinia — the first migration in Islam. The Negus (king) heard both sides and gave the Muslims full protection.
The Account
The First Migration
As Quraysh intensified their persecution of the early Muslims — torturing the weak, boycotting the traders, and pressuring the noble — the Prophet ﷺ told his companions:
"Go to Abyssinia, for there is a king there who does not wrong anyone. It is a land of truthfulness. Stay there until Allah makes for you a way out of what you are in."
The first group consisted of approximately 11 men and 4 women, crossing the Red Sea secretly by boat. They reached Abyssinia and were received kindly.
Quraysh, alarmed, sent two envoys — Amr ibn al-As and Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi'ah — carrying rich gifts for the Negus (Ashama ibn Abjar) and his bishops, demanding the Muslims be returned.
Ja'far's Speech Before the Negus
The Negus insisted on hearing from the Muslims directly. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib RA stood and delivered one of the most eloquent testimonies of Islam ever recorded:
"O King — we were a people of ignorance. We worshipped idols, ate carrion, committed indecencies, cut family ties, and the strong among us devoured the weak. We remained in this state until Allah sent us a messenger from among ourselves — whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and chastity we knew. He called us to Allah alone, to abandon idols, to speak the truth, fulfil trusts, maintain family ties, avoid what is forbidden, and refrain from bloodshed. He commanded us to pray, give charity, and fast."
He then recited the opening of Surah Maryam — about the Virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus ﷺ.
The Negus wept until his beard was wet. His bishops wept. He said:
"By God, the difference between what he said and what we say about Jesus is no more than the width of this stick."
He returned the gifts to the Qurayshi envoys and said: "I will never hand them over."
The Second Migration and the Negus's Islam
A second, larger group followed — eventually around 100 companions were in Abyssinia. When the Negus later heard that the Muslims had established themselves in Madinah, he accepted Islam privately. When he died, the Prophet ﷺ prayed the funeral prayer (salat al-ghayb) in absentia for him in Madinah — establishing that he was indeed a Muslim who died upon faith.
Hadith References
"When the Negus died, the Prophet ﷺ said: "A righteous man has died today. Rise and pray for your brother Ashama.""
Relevance: Confirms the Negus died as a Muslim and the Prophet ﷺ led his funeral prayer
"Umm Salamah RA narrated the full account of their migration to Abyssinia and the speech of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib before the Negus."
Relevance: Primary source for the events in Abyssinia
Scholar Views
"The migration to Abyssinia was divinely guided. Allah chose a just Christian king to protect His Prophet's companions, showing that His protection does not need Muslim political power to operate."
Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya, Vol. 3
"The Negus's protection of the Muslims was an act of extraordinary courage. He risked political conflict with the powerful Quraysh for the sake of justice. His reward was guidance to Islam before his death."
Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, Migration to Abyssinia chapter
Key Lessons
- ◆The migration to Abyssinia shows that seeking protection from just non-Muslim rulers is permissible when Muslims are oppressed
- ◆Ja'far RA's speech is a masterclass in presenting Islam clearly and confidently to authority
- ◆The Negus represents that sincerity and justice can exist in any heart — his acceptance of Islam shows truth crosses all cultural boundaries
- ◆The Prophet ﷺ praying the funeral prayer for the Negus establishes the legitimacy of salat al-ghayb for Muslims who die far away
Sources
- •Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum — Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri
- •Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya — Ibn Kathir
- •Zad al-Ma'ad — Ibn al-Qayyim
← Back to Seerah Timeline