Najaashi

The name of the king of Ethiopia was Ashamah [اَصْحَمَە]. His title was Najaashi. He was a strict but just and merciful Christian who was also an outstanding scholar of the Torah and the Injeel. During the fifth year of the declaration of Nubuwwah, 11 men and 4 women migrated to Ethiopia in the month of Rajab. The names of these respected migrating Muslims are as follows: (1) Sayyiduna ‘Usman رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and his wife, i.e. (2) Sayyidatuna Ruqayyah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا - a daughter of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم . (3) Sayyiduna Abu Huzayfah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and his wife, i.e. (4) Sayyidatuna Sahlah Bint Suhayl رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. (5) Sayyiduna Abu Salamah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and his wife, i.e. (6) Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Salamah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. (7) Sayyiduna ‘Aamir Ibn Rabee’ah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and his wife, i.e. (8) Sayyidatuna Layla Bint Abi Hashmah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. (9) Sayyiduna Zubayr Ibn ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ (10) Sayyiduna Mus’ab Ibn ‘Umayr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ (11) Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Ibn ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ (12) Sayyiduna ‘Usman Ibn Maz’oon رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ (13) Sayyiduna Abu Sabrah Ibn Abi Ruhm orSayyiduna Haatib Ibn ‘Amr رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا (14) Sayyiduna Suhayl Bin Bayda رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ (15) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood ¹رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

When the disbelievers of Makkah became aware of the migration of these people, they chased them but these Muslims had already boarded the ship. Hence, the disbelievers returned, unsuccessful. This caravan of the migrating Muslims landed on the soil of Ethiopia and worshipped the Almighty peacefully there. After a few days, a piece of news spread like wildfire that the disbelievers of Makkah had become Muslims. Listening to it, some of those who had migrated, returned to Makkah from Ethiopia only to learn that the news was false. Hence some of them returned to Ethiopia, whereas others remained secretly in Makkah. The disbelievers of Makkah traced them and treated them even more cruelly. The Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمordered them to go to Ethiopia once again. Therefore, eighty three oppressed Muslim men and eighteen Muslim women migrated to Ethiopia, including those who had returned from Ethiopia.²