The second emigration to Abyssinia – I

The second emigration to Abyssinia – I

Ibn Sa‘d  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said

Upon their return to Makkah from the first emigration, the Companions of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) were subjected to harsh treatment and severe harm at the hands of their tribes. Hence, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) permitted them to set out for Abyssinia for the second time. This was much more difficult than the first time, and they were greatly harmed by the Quraysh who were infuriated at learning that An-Najaashi (Negus), may Allah have mercy on him, was being kind to the Muslims living under his protection.
Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) “Messenger of Allah, we emigrated once and are going to immigrate for the second time and you are not with us!” The Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: ‘You are emigrating to Allah and to me. Both emigrations are entirely yours [in reward].’ Thereupon, ‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “This is enough for us, Messenger of Allah.”
Many people traveled with them forming, according to Ibn Is-Haaq, may Allah have mercy on him, a group of eighty-three men including ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir, may Allah be pleased with him, or eighty-two men without him. As-Suhayli, may Allah have mercy on him, said that this latter view was sounder, according to the historians of prophetic biography such as Al-Waaqidi, Ibn ‘Uqbah, may Allah have mercy on them, and others. In addition, there were eleven women from Quraysh and seven women who were not from Quraysh, excluding their young ones who set out with them and those who were born in Abyssinia.
Quraysh’s endeavor to bring the emigrants back
When Quraysh saw that the Companions of the Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) lived in peace and security in Abyssinia and found it to be a place to reside and settle in, and that they enjoyed the kind treatment from An-Najaashi (the Negus) and worshipped Allah The Almighty without being harmed by anyone, Quraysh deliberated about sending a delegation to An-Najaashi to bring the Muslims back to Makkah after stirring up discord among the Muslims and the king of Abyssinia. The delegation, however, inadvertently served Islam and the Muslims. Their scheme resulted in a constructive dialogue between one of the immigrants, Ja‘far bin Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, and the king of Abyssinia, and ended up with An-Najaashi embracing Islam and granting protection to the Muslim emigrants.
It is narrated on the authority of Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah bin Al-Mugheerah, wife of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) that she said
When we went to the land of Abyssinia, we stayed under the protection of the best host [An-Najaashi]. We enjoyed security in our religion and worshipped Allah The Almighty without being harmed or hearing anything offensive. When the Quraysh were informed about this, they planned on sending two formidable men equipped with attractive and sought after gifts from Makkah to offer to An-Najaashi. The thing that most appealed to him was leather, and so the Quraysh gathered a great deal of leather for him, and they assigned a gift to each of his bishops. They equipped ‘Abdullaah bin Abi Rabee‘ah bin Al-Mugheerah Al-Makhzoomi and ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas bin Waa’il As-Sahmi with the gifts and passed their orders to them. They asked them to offer each bishop a gift before they were to discuss with An-Najaashi the Muslim emigrants and offer him his gifts afterwards and then ask him to hand over the Muslims to them before speaking to them.
Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said thatboth ‘Abdullaah and ‘Amr came to An-Najaashi, our righteous and fine host, and gave each bishop his gift before they spoke to An-Najaashi. They said to each bishop, “Some foolish young men have come to the king’s land. They have deserted the religion of their people and did not enter yours. They have come up with a new religion which neither we nor you know. The noblemen of their tribes have sent both of us to deliberate with the king about them so that we may take them back. So if we speak with the king about them, advise him to surrender them to us without consulting them. Their own people are more aware than others about them and the mistakes they have committed”.
The bishops consented. Then, the two delegates offered the gifts to An-Najaashi and he accepted them. They addressed him, “O king! Some foolish young men from among us have come to your country. They left the religion of their people and did not enter your religion. They have come up with an innovated religion which neither we nor you know about. The noblemen of their tribes from among their fathers and uncles sent us to you concerning them so that you will return them, as their people are more aware of them and better acquainted about the mistakes which they rebuke them for”.
Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, continued, “Nothing was more unfavorable to ‘Abdullaah bin Abi Rabee‘ah and ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas than An-Najaashi listening to the Muslims. His bishops around him said, ‘They have said the truth, king. Their own people are better acquainted with them and with the mistakes they have made. So deliver these people to them so that they will take them back to their land and people.’”
She continued, may Allah be pleased with her, continued
An-Najaashi was enraged by this and swore by Allah The Almighty neither to surrender the Muslims to them, nor to let down his guests and neighbors who were staying in his land and chose to be under his protection alone. He summoned the Muslims to ask them about what the two men had said about them. If they met the description, he would surrender them and return them to their own people. Otherwise, he would not let them down and would instead be a kind host as long as they chose to be under his protection. [Ahmad]

The second emigration to Abyssinia – II

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