First Migration to Abyssinia
Ibn Ishaq states with relation to the migration that the Holy Prophet (sa) witnessed the trials and tribulations his Companions (ra) were forced to suffer, whereas he was in relative security due to his status in the eyes of Allah and because of his uncle, Abu Talib. He realised he possessed no power or sway to alleviate the hardships they were facing.
Whilst he was in relative security, he was powerless to prevent the injustices the Companions (ra) were being inflicted with. Although he was safe to a certain degree from the injustices, he did not have the power to stop the atrocities being committed against his Companions (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) told his Companions (ra) that they should head to Abyssinia, a land of peace where they would find a king who committed no injustices on people and they should stay there until Allah the Almighty alleviated them of their current plight.
Anxious of the troubles they faced owing to their faith, they were forced to flee for the sake of Allah and set off for Abyssinia. This was the first ever migration in Islam. The Companions (ra) who migrated to Abyssinia included Hazrat Uthman (ra) who travelled with his wife, Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra), daughter of the Holy Prophet (sa).
(Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, bab Dhikr al-Hijrah al-Ula ila Ard al-Habashah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2001], pp. 237-238)
Hazrat Anas (ra) relates that when Hazrat Uthman (ra) departed for Abyssinia, he was accompanied by Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra), daughter of the Holy Prophet (sa). The news of their whereabouts was delayed in reaching the Holy Prophet (sa), meaning he did not know whether they had migrated, where they had reached or how they were. So he went out and continued to wait for news about them. Then a woman came and she gave the Holy Prophet (sa) news with regard to them. Thereupon, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated that after Lot (as), Hazrat Uthman (ra) was the first person to have migrated alongside his family in the way of Allah.
(Majma al-Zawa‘id wa Manba al-Fawa‘id, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab Hijratuh, Hadith 14498, Vol. 9, Da al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001)
Hazrat Saad (ra) relates that when Hazrat Uthman (ra) bin Affan made the intention to migrate to Abyssinia, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed him, “Take Ruqayyah (ra) along with you for I feel that each of you will be a support for the other.” That is to say that if both were together, they would continue to support one another.
The Holy Prophet (sa) then said to Hazrat Asma (ra), daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “Go and find out whether they have departed or not, where they have reached and what the situation is out there.”
When she returned, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was also with the Holy Prophet (sa). She said that Hazrat Uthman (ra) set forth towards the sea having sat Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra) upon the saddle of the mule. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “O Abu Bakr (ra), after Prophet Abraham (as) and Prophet Lot (as), these two are the first to migrate [in the way of Allah].”
(Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihain, Vol. 4, p. 414, Kitab Marifat al-Sahabah, Bab Dhikr Ruqayyah bint Rasulsa Allah, Hadith 6999, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut, 2002)