Migration to Abyssinia (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s (ra) Narration)
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has presented his research with reference to the migration to Abyssinia. Even though I have mentioned some of this in the past with regard to other Companions (ra), nonetheless, it is necessary to also mention it here. The research of Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) is as follows:
“When the suffering of the Muslims had reached its limit and the Quraish continued to aggravate the affliction of the Muslims, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia and said, ‘The king of Abyssinia is just and equitable. None are subjected to oppression under his rule.’ The country of ‘Habashah’, which is known as Ethiopia or Abyssinia in the English language, is situated to the north-east in the continent of Africa. It is exactly opposite southern-Arabia and with the exception of the Red Sea, no country intercedes it.
“During that era, a strong Christian sovereignty was established in Abyssinia and the king was referred to as Negus. As a matter of fact, the ruler there is still called upon by the same name.” This is referring to the time when Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) wrote this. “Arabia had business relations with Abyssinia and in the era that we are currently mentioning, the capital of Abyssinia was Aksum, which is located near the present-day city of Adowa and until now, is considered a sacred city. In those days, Aksum was the centre of a very powerful sovereignty.
“During that time, the personal name of the Negus was Ashamah, who was a just, intelligent and powerful king. In any case, when the pains of the Muslims reached their limits, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed that those who could afford to do so, should migrate to Abyssinia. Therefore, upon the instruction of the Holy Prophet (sa), in the month of Rajab, 5 Nabawi, 11 men and four women migrated to Abyssinia.
“The well-known names among them were as follows: Hazrat Uthman (ra) bin Affan and his wife Ruqayyah (ra) (daughter of the Holy Prophet (sa)), Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, Zubair (ra) bin al-Awam, Abu Hudhayfa (ra) bin Utbah, Uthman (ra) bin Maz‘un, Mus‘ab (ra) bin Umair, Abu Salamah bin Abdil-Asad and his wife Umm Salamah (ra).”
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) further writes:
“It is very strange that the majority of these pioneer immigrants were those who belonged to powerful tribes of the Quraish and the weaker ones were few and far between. This illustrates two things: firstly, even those who belonged to the powerful tribes of the Quraish were not safe from the cruelties of the Quraish. Secondly, weak people such as slaves, etc., at that time were in such a grave state of weakness and misery that they were not even able to migrate.
“Travelling south, when the immigrants reached Sha‘ibah, which was a sea-port in Arabia at that time, by the grace of Allah, they found a trade ship which was just ready to leave for Abyssinia and thus, all of them boarded safely. When the Quraish were informed of this, they were deeply enraged that this ‘prey’ had slipped their hands. Hence, they pursued these immigrants, but when their men reached the coast, the ship had already departed and for this reason, they returned disappointed. Upon reaching Abyssinia, the Muslims found a life of great peace and protection from the cruelties of the Quraish after much difficulty and prayers.
“However, as some historians have mentioned, it had not been long since the immigrants had migrated to Abyssinia, when a wandering rumour reached them that all of the Quraish had accepted Islam and Mecca was now a place of complete peace and security. The result of this news was that most immigrants returned immediately and when they reached near Mecca, they found that this news was false.
“Now they were confronted with great difficulty. Ultimately, some returned, while others secretly or under the protection of an influential and powerful individual, entered Mecca. This incident occurred in Shawwal 5 Nabawi. In other words, the duration between the commencement of migration and the return of the immigrants was only two and a half to three months …
“In actuality, although this was a completely false and unsubstantiated rumour, which was probably spread in order to lure the immigrants to Abyssinia back and to put them in difficulty, as a matter of fact, on closer investigation, this rumour and the tale of the immigrants’ return, in itself, seems to be baseless.
“Nonetheless, if it is taken as true, the incident mentioned in various ahadith could be hidden beneath the surface.”
In light of those narrations which state that Hazrat Uthman (ra) stayed in Abyssinia for a few years, this aforementioned incident would prove to be false. But if we accept the earlier incident to be correct, then that means they returned after three or four months. Nonetheless, according to the research of Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra), this entire incident is false.
He further writes:
“… if it is taken as true, the incident mentioned in various ahadith could be hidden beneath the surface. As mentioned in Bukhari, once the Holy Prophet (sa) recited verses of Surah al-Najm in the courtyard of the Ka‘bah. At that time, many a chieftain of the disbelievers were also present along with the Muslims. When the Holy Prophet (sa) completed the chapter, he fell into prostration and with him all the Muslims and disbelievers fell into prostration as well.
“The reason behind the prostration of the disbelievers has not been mentioned in ahadith, but it seems that apparently the Holy Prophet (sa) recited the verses of God in such a manner as touched the cords of the heart. Those verses particularly illustrated the unity of God, His Power and Majesty in an extremely eloquent and perspicuous manner and His favours were reminded of. Then, the Quraish were warned in a very majestic and awe-inspiring manner, that in case they did not refrain from their evil doings, they would meet the same end as past nations because they rejected the Messengers of God. Then, at the conclusion of these verses it was ordered that come and prostrate before Allah.
“After the recitation of these verses, the Holy Prophet (sa) and all the Muslims fell into prostration at once and as a result, these words and this sight had such a miraculous effect on the Quraish that they also fell into prostration involuntarily.
“This should not be surprising, for under such circumstances, as have been mentioned above, the human heart, at times, falls in awe and powerlessly commits such a deed as is against its actual principles and religion.” It is not necessary that one acts in this way only after professing belief; at times, one can do this involuntarily.
“Therefore, at times, we have witnessed that during a severe and sudden affliction, even an atheist cries out, ‘O God! O God!’ or ‘O Ram Ram!’”
I have also asked some atheists and they agreed that this is in fact absolutely true. Despite the fact that they do not believe in God, when they are faced with danger, sometimes they utter the word God involuntarily.
“The Quraish were not even atheists and they actually believed in the being of God. Hence, after the recitation of this majestic word, full of awe, the community of Muslims, all at once, fell into prostration; it had such a miraculous effect that the Quraish powerlessly fell into prostration as well.
“However, such an influence is usually temporary and man quickly returns to his original state. As such, the same was the case here, for when the Quraish rose from prostration, they remained the very same idolaters they were before.” It was not the case that they became monotheists after this.
“In any case, this occurrence is such as is substantiated by authentic ahadith. Hence, if the news of the return of the immigrants to Abyssinia is in fact true, it seems that the Quraish”, who were ever-longing to have the immigrants of Abyssinia return, “probably utilised this action to spread the rumour that the Quraish of Mecca had become Muslim and that Mecca was now completely safe for Muslims.
“When this rumour reached the immigrants of Abyssinia, they were naturally delighted to hear it and in the fervour of their delight, they quickly returned. When they were near Mecca, they were enlightened of the actual matter at hand, upon which some secretly, and others under the protection of a powerful and influential chieftain of the Quraish, entered Mecca, while others set back again. Therefore, if there was any truth in the rumour that the Quraish became Muslim, it was merely confined to the incident of the prostration upon the recitation of chapter al-Najm. Allah knows best.
“In any case, if the immigrants of Abyssinia did in fact return, the majority of them set back again. Moreover, since the Quraish continued to progress in their infliction of suffering and their tyrannies were increasing day by day, other Muslims, upon the instruction of the Holy Prophet (sa), began secret preparations to migrate as well. They began to leave gradually whenever they could find an opportunity to do so.
“This chain of migration was such that ultimately, the number of immigrants to Abyssinia reached 101, 18 of whom were women. Very few Muslims were left in Mecca with the Holy Prophet (sa). Some historians have termed this migration ‘The Second Migration to Abyssinia.’”