Download Hijra to Ethiopia

By
Rashdan Rashid
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How many times did the companions of
Prophet Muhmmad (saw) make hijra?
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What is Ethiopia like today? What do you
know about Ethiopia?
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Who among the companions were Ethiopians?
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When did the hijra occurred-Meccan or
Medinan periods?
What were the reasons for the hijra?
Who were the companions involved?
Significant incidents occurred while Muslims
were in Ethiopia?
Was the hijra important in the development of
Islam?
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1
342_islamic_middle_east/map/
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In Sham (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel),
(almost) all the inhabitants were Christians.
In Morocco, Egypt and other North African
countries, majority of the population were
Christians.
King & Arab tribe of Ghassan were Chistians
Heracules, the Roman emperor of Byzantine
(Eastern Roman empire-Constantinople,
Alexandria, Jerusalem)
Leader and people of Yemen were Christians
Leader and people of Ethiopia were Christians
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What are 2 other names of Ethiopia?
Habsyah and Abbysinia
Orthodox Christianity-arrived in year 300 (4th
Century)
Originated from Coptic Christian in
Alexandria, Egypt
Conclusion: Arabia was surrounded by
Christians (North, South and West)
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3 verses in the Quran described the hijra to
Ethiopia:
Verse # 1:
“And for those who emigrated for the cause
of Allah, after suffering oppression, We will
certainly give them goodly residence in this
world, but indeed the reward of the hereafter
will be greater, if they but knew “ (Quran 16:
41)
According to Al-Qurtubee
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Verse # 2:
“Say (O Muhammad): O my slaves who believe
(in the oneness of Allah) be afraid of your
Lord and keep your duty to Him. Good is the
reward who do good in this world, and Allah’s
earth is spacious! Only those who are patient
shall receive their rewards in full, without
reckoning “ (Quran 39:10)
According to Ibnu Abbas
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Verse # 3:
“O my slaves who believe! Certainly spacious
is my earth. Therefore worship me alone”
(Quran 29:56)
According to Ibnu Katheer, the verse refer to
Hijra to Ethiopia
Were the hijra a significant part of the
Muslims’ community development &
preservation of Islam?
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How many times did the hijra to Ethiopia occur?
2 times year 615 AD & year 616 AD
Muslims were tortured for believing in Tauheed
Tortures increased after death of Khadijah & Abu
Talib-Why?
Prophet had no means to protect the early
Muslims
He suggested them to leave Makka and seek
sanctuary in Ethiopia
Ethiopia was ruled by a Christian king, just and a
God-fearing man.
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What was the main reason for the hijra?
To build a center for Islam away from Mecca?
To spread Islam?
To avoid Quraish persecution?
To freely worship Allah?
To avoid companions from being tempted to
apostasize?
Rationale:
All the migrants were Quraish who had status & tribal
protectionn & not the weak slaves
The companions only came back after the Battle of
Khandaq & conquest of Khaibar-Medinan peiod
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An Najashi was a just king
Ethiopia was the land of prosperity-trading
center & Quraish traded there
Ethiopia was out of the influence & authority
of the Quraish
Prophet knew about Ethiopia and loved the
country-through his nursemaid Ummu Aiman
Christians are the closest to Islam
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Prophet’s words: "If you were to go to
Abyssinia (it would be better for you), for the
king (there) will not tolerate injustice and it is
a friendly country, until such time as Allah
shall relieve you from distress."
10 men and 4 women left Makkah in Rajab,
5th Year of Prophethood.
They left secretly & Quraish chased them but
they were already in sea.
They left in stages-Uthman & Ruqayyah first
followed by others.
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Male: Uthman bin Affan, Mus’ab bin Umir and
Zubayr bin al-Awwam, a cousin of the
Prophet & others.
Female: Ruqayyah (Prophet’s daughter),
Ummu Salamah & others
Prophet appointed Uthman bin Mazoon as the
leader of this group.
Rationale:
From upper class of Quraish
Every one from different clan of Quraish
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The first migration took place in the 5th year
of the Prophethood, year 615 AD.
The king of Abyssinia (An Najashi) welcomed
the Muslim refugees from Makka into his
kingdom.
Najashi gave them sanctuary, and they found
peace and security, and they enjoyed freedom
of worship.
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After few months in Ethiopia, Muslim refugees
heard rumors that the Quraysh in Makka had
accepted Islam.
Due to the conversion of Hamzah & Omar Al
Khattab.
Quraish lessened their punishment.
No reason for them to live in exile, and they were
very homesick.
They returned to Makkah.
Quraysh had stepped up the persecution of the
Muslims.
They left Makkah once again in bigger numbers.
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Occurred in the sixth year of the Prophethood, year 616
AD.
83 men and 18 women, included both the old and the
new migrants. There were also children.
Migrants were Abdur Rahman ibn Auf and Abu Salama
Makhzoomi.
Prophet’s cousin, Jaafar ibn Abi Talib, the elder brother
of Ali, as the leader of this group.
The big migration and their reception in Abyssinia,
alarmed the Quraysh of Makkah.
Muslims in Abyssinia might grow in strength and find
new allies. Some day, might return to Makkah to
challenge Quraish.
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The story is from Ummu Salamah’s narration
Quraish sent Amr bin Al-Aas and Abdullah Ibn
Abu Rabeah.
They had good plan-brought rich presents (fine
leathers) for the king and his ministers.
Amr claimed that Muslims were not genuine
refugees avoiding persecution but were fugitives
running from justice and law
Amr requested An Najshi to extradite them to
Makkah.
The king, before giving any judgment summoned
Jaafar ibn Abi Talib to answer the charges against
the Muslims.
"O king! We were ignorant people and we lived like
wild animals. The strong among us lived by
preying upon the weak. We obeyed no law and we
acknowledged no authority save that of brute
force. We worshipped idols made of stone or
wood, and we knew nothing of the human
dignity. Then God in His mercy sent to us His
messenger who was himself one of us. We knew
about his truthfulness and his integrity. His
character was exemplary, and he was the most
well-born of the Arabs. He forbade us to worship
idols and he invited us to the worship of One
God.
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…. He exhorted us to speak the truth, and to
protect the weak, the poor, the humble, the
widows and the orphans. He ordered us to
show respect to women, and never to slander
them. We obeyed him and followed his
teachings. Most of the people in our country
are still polytheists, and they resented our
conversion to the new faith. They began to
persecute us, and it was in order
to escape from persecution by them that we
sought and found sanctuary in your kingdom."
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When Jaafar concluded his speech, the king
declared that he was convinced of his truth.
The king confirmed that Muslims could live in
his kingdom as long as they wished, without
any fear.
Amr B. Al Aas tried a second argument
…..Why Christianity issue?
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Amr brought a new argument-Muslims view of
Christianity.
Next day, Amr requested the king to waive his
protection of the Muslims
He claimed Muslims rejected the divine nature of
Jesus, and asserted that he was a mortal like other
men.
Jaafar said: "Our judgment of Jesus is what was
revealed to our Prophet, that Jesus is the servant of
God, and is His Prophet, His Spirit, and His Command
given unto Mary, the innocent virgin."
The king said to Jaafar: "Jesus is just what you have
stated him to be, and is nothing more than that."
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An Najashi’s verdict?
King said to Muslims: "Go to your homes and
live in peace. I shall never give you up to your
enemies."
Why was he a very just king?
What happened to him before becoming king?
……coming soon next lecture…..
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Why was Amr selected by the Quraish
leadership to meet with An Najashi?
…..Next lecture insya Allah……..
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The Noble Life of the Prophet by Ali
Muhammad As-Sallaabee (pg. 485-517)
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Commanders of the Muslim army (among the
companions of the Prophet) by Mahmood
Ahmad Ghadanfar (pg. 111-120)
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The History of Islam Vol. 1 by Akhbar Shah
Najeebabadi (pg. 113-116)
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Jazakumullah khair for your attention