@finvory: Before the famous migration to Medina, some of Islam’s earliest followers found safety somewhere many people don’t expect: Africa. As persecution of Muhammad’s followers intensified in Mecca, a group of Muslims crossed the Red Sea into Abyssinia, the Christian kingdom associated with ancient Aksum in what is now primarily Ethiopia and Eritrea. This became known as the First Hijra—the migration to Abyssinia. Scholars describe it as the earliest Muslim migration away from persecution. (Cambridge University Press) According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad directed his followers there because Abyssinia was ruled by a just Christian king—the Negus (al-Najashi)—under whom nobody would be wronged. (Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research) When representatives of the Quraysh arrived seeking the refugees’ return, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib defended the Muslims before the king. Tradition records Ja’far reciting from Surah Maryam, the Qur’anic chapter telling the story of Mary and Jesus. The Negus rejected the attempt to have the Muslims surrendered and allowed them to remain under his protection. Historical scholarship confirms that Islamic sources strongly associate this encounter with Surah Maryam, although details vary among the surviving accounts. (Cambridge University Press) Some of those Muslims remained in Abyssinia for years before eventually joining Muhammad in Medina. (Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research) Long before Islam became a world empire, some of its earliest followers were refugees. And one of their earliest places of safety was a Christian African kingdom. #IslamicHistory #AfricanHistory #Ethiopia #Aksum #learnhistoryontiktok

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Saturday 12 September 2026 01:41:18 GMT