Persecutions and opposition by Quraysh got intensified from 610 to 615 AD.

They targeted the slaves and the poor Muslims like Bilal, Zinnira, A

Bin Yasir and his parents, and Khabbab Bin al-Aratt. Bilal was beaten

a wild way by his master: Zinnira had been blinded while Ammar's parem

were among the earliest martyrs. Then, with the conversion of powerful

like Hazrat Hamza and Hazrat Umar, anger of Quraysh reached its pear

the persecutions became more organised.

The Prophet me allowed some of his followers to migrate to Abyssinia, an

Wha

African state west of Arabia. The Prophet knew that Ashamah, who held

the title of Najashi or the Negus, was a fair ruler of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

So, he allowed some of the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia. Accordingly, in

Rajab of the 5th year of Prophethood (615 AD), a group of twelve men and

four women left Makkah. They included Uthman and his wife Ruqayya bint

Muhammad. The Prophet on this occasion remarked:

"They are the first people to migrate in the cause of Allah after Ibrahim and Lot".

These emigrants found a safe haven in Abyssinia under the just and fair rule

of King Negus.

Shortly afterwards, a second batch of emigrants left Makkah. This was a

larger group with 83 men and 19 women. They, too, found solace and comfort

in Abyssinia, much to the dismay of the Quraish.

The Quraishite chiefs got worried over this new development and, apprehending

the possible growth of Islam, they decided to counter the move. Two notable Makkans

were dispatched to influence Negus against the Muslim emigrants and they

were 'Amr bin al-'As and 'Abdullah bin Rubiya. They carried rich bribes with

them and complained to the military generals as well as the King Negus about

the escape of their fellow Makkans. The emigrants, they blamed, had renounced

their religion not for the sake of Christianity but for a "new religion".

The king summoned the emigrants who included such notables as Uthman.
Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib and Ja'far bin Abu Talib (all with influential

herkground). Negus interviewed them about Islam and Jafar bin Abu Talib

who led the Muslims, delivered a convincing speech before the Negus. He

said, "O King! We were ignorant people; we worshipped idols, ate carrion and

committed all sorts of injustice; brother wronged his brother; the strong

exploited the weak. In these circumstances a noble man (Hazrat

Muhammad called us to Islam, taught us to renounce idol worship,

be truthful, abstain from blood shed, be good to others, avoid fornication,

offer prayers, observe fasts and pay the charity. We abandoned all evil

practices, and for this, were deemed guilty and our people turned against

us." Then he recited the following verses of Surah Maryam:

"And make mention of Mary in the Book, when she withdrew from her people

unto a place towards the East, and secluded herself from them and We sent unto

her Our Spirit He said: I am only a messenger from your Lord, that I may give

you the news of the birth of a holy son" (19:16-21).

The Negus and his generals were deeply moved and they felt their hearts

softened by the recitation. Then Negus dismissed the appeal of the Makkan

pagans and granted full permission to the Muslims to live happily in his

country. (He later embraced Islam).

(b) This migration was important in the early history of Islam in many ways.

Muslims in Makka began to feel how difficult it would be to live in their home

town. Many of them feared they would be killed by the powerful priest com-

munity of Makka and there would be no one to save them there. By migrating

to a land ruled by a just and kind ruler gave them hope of survival and

success. By this migration, Islam of Arabia was introduced in the Christian

republic of Abyssinia. This marked first formal inter-faith dialogue. This

migration prepared and trained them for the major migration to Yathrib as

they developed a strong faith in putting God and His messenger before their

own interests and belongings. They got trained in establishing a community

without the physical presence of the Prophet among them. Similarly, they

came to know about the fundamental similarities between Islam and his

tianity after Najashi uttered these remarks, "This has truly come rom

same source as that which Jesus brought". Thus, this migration, though carried

Out in dismal circumstances, had long term benefits for Islam and its followers.