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The first Muslim Hijra, “Al Hijra Ila Al-Habsha” which is the First Migration to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) of the first followers of Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam, who were known as “As-Sahabah” (which means “the companions”), took place in the year 613 AD. They were the very first Muslims, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet, who fled to Abyssinia in modern-day Ethiopia, in the then Kingdom of Axum (Solomonic Dynasty of the Amharas), from the persecution of the ruling pagan Quraysh tribe of Mecca.(1) The Monarch of Orthodox Christian Axum who received them is known, in Islamic tradition, as Al-Najashi (the King) Ashama Ibn Abjar, believed to be King Armah of Axum. Among the Sahabah, some made the Hijrah to Medina with their Prophet upon returning from Axum, and others stayed in Abyssinia and went to Medina from there in 628 AD. In the account of Ibn Ishaaq’s prophetic biography (Sira), Mohammad advised his companions to seek refuge in Abyssinia upon facing persecution:
‘When the apostle saw the affliction of his companions, . . . he said to them: “If you were to go to Abyssinia (it would be better for you), for the king will not tolerate injustice and it is a friendly country, until such time as Allah shall relieve you from your distress.” Thereupon his companions went to Abyssinia, being afraid of apostasy and fleeing to God with their religion. This was the first hijra in Islam.'(2)
Upon learning that the Sahabah could safely practice their religion in Abyssinia, the Quraysh sent an embassy to the Negus of Axum, to demand that they return to Mecca, and accusing Mohammad’s companions of being foolish youths who invented a new religion, that neither the Meccans nor the Ethiopians had heard of, and that their return was expected by their relatives.Although the King granted them audience, he rejected their request, and did not hand the Sahabah over to them. The Muslims were questioned before the Negus and his bishops, Jafar Ibn Abi Talib acted as their leader and spoke in their defense. He described to the Negus how they lived as pagans before they embraced the religion of their prophet, and what he taught them, and how the Quraysh persecute them. When the Negus asked them if they had anything with them which had come from God, Jafar confirmed, upon which the Negus commanded him to read it. Then Jafar recited a passage from the Surah of Mariam, the mother of Jesus. When he heard it, the King wept and said, this and what Jesus brought has come from the same source of light, and affirmed that he would never give them up.(3)
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(1) E. A. Wallis Budge (Aug 1, 2014). A History of Ethiopia: Volume I: Nubia and Abyssinia. Routledge. p. 7.
(2) Ibn Ishāq (2004). Sīratu Rasūlillāh (tr. Alfred Guillaume). Oxford University Press. p.146.
(3) Ibid., pp.150-153.