Seerah Notes - Challenges and Migration to Abyssinia

Secret Period: Second Meeting

Why Quraysh Feared Losing to Rasulullah (ﷺ)

Four Phases:
- First 3 years: Secret Dawah
- Next 2 years: Public Dawah (persecution, troubling, mocking started)
- 5th-10th year: Serious phase (assassination planning, assaults)
- 6th year onwards: Phase of grief (continued after migration)

Examples of Persecution Sixth year

Abu Lahab:
- Abdullah ibn Utbah: Forced his sons to divorce Prophet's daughters.
- Mocked the Prophet (ﷺ) publicly.
Umm Jamil (Abu Lahab's wife):
- Laid thorns in Prophet's (ﷺ) path.
- Cursed him.
- Condemned in Surah Al-Masad as the "carrier of firewood" (Qur'an 111:4).

Reasons for Persecution

Quraysh feared losing trade, especially religious trade.
Concerned about loss of status and wealth.
Not concerned about religion or gods themselves.
Feared that monotheism would eliminate the need for idols and pilgrimage to Kaaba.
The idea of an unseen God was difficult for them to accept.

Escalation of Troubles

Initial mockery escalated to physical abuse and assassination attempts.
Quraysh were somewhat restrained by fear of inter-tribal conflict (ties of kinship).
Values of Islam made the situation extremely troubling.

Examples of Persecution and Torture

Uqba bin Abi Mu'ayt: Spat on Prophet (ﷺ) and physically abused him.
Bilal (RA): Dragged away and pressed under stones.
Amar bin Yasser's parents: Tortured.
- Yasser (RA) and Sumayya (RA) were killed; Sumayya (RA) became the first martyr.
Amar (RA) was forced to utter a word of disbelief, but his heart remained firm; Surah An-Nahl, 16:106 revealed regarding this incident.
Daughters of the Prophet (ﷺ) were beaten and tortured.

House of Al-Arqam: Secret Center of Dawah

Muslims needed a place to gather, discuss, and learn.
Reason for secret meetings: Extreme persecution by Quraysh.
Prophet (ﷺ) took precautionary measures to protect followers and the Dawah movement.
Secret meetings involved teaching and memorizing Quran.
Dar Al-Arqam (house of Arqam) became the center of Dawah.

Migration to Abyssinia (Ethiopia/Habshah)

First migration to Abyssinia was for the sake of protection from persecution.
Sumayya (RA) was the first martyr, killed in a harsh way.

Lessons from Persecution

The situation was worse than the boycott faced by Muslims in the valley, where they had to eat leaves to survive.
Ayats of Surah Al-Kahf gave direction to young believers of the cave to protect their Iman.
Quranic Guidance: Surah Al-Kahf (18:16) When you withdraw from them and what they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair, ease.
Allah (SWT) assured them that He would take care of them if they did their duties.

First Migration to Abyssinia

In Rajab, 5th year of Prophethood (ﷺ), 12 men and 4 women migrated, including Uthman ibn Affan (RA) and Ruqayyah (RA).
Prophet (ﷺ) chose Abyssinia because the Christian king (An-Najashi/Negus) was just and fair.
The story of Isa (AS)'s birth and upbringing is mentioned in Surah Maryam.
Quranic Verse: Surah Az-Zumar (39:10) Say, O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good; and the earth of Allah is spacious.
Allah (SWT) prepared them mentally for migration, emphasizing that the earth is spacious and they should not worry about possessions.
Quranic Verse: Surah Az-Zumar (39:10) Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.

An-Najashi (King of Abyssinia)

The title of the Christian king was An-Najashi, and his name was Ashama.

Incident During Recitation of Surah An-Najm

When Prophet (ﷺ) recited Surah An-Najm, the Quraysh were so overwhelmed that they prostrated, even the disbelievers.
Later, they fabricated lies, claiming they were praising their idols to justify their submission.
Quraysh's strategy: To drown out the voice of the Quran so no one would listen to it.
Quranic Verse: Fussilat (41:26) And those who disbelieve say, Do not listen to this Qur'an and speak noisily during its recitation that perhaps you will overcome.

False News and Return from Abyssinia

Migrants were wrongly informed that the Quraysh had accepted Islam.
Some returned to Mecca, only to discover the truth.
Some went back to Abyssinia, and others sneaked into Mecca.

Quraysh's Attempts to Bring Back Migrants from Abyssinia

The Quraysh sent envoys to demand the return of the migrants, but An-Najashi refused.
The Quraysh claimed that the migrants were creating problems in Mecca.
They also claimed that the migrants were saying bad things about Isa (AS) in their Quran.
Jafar ibn Abi Talib (RA) recited verses from Surah Maryam to An-Najashi.

Second Migration to Abyssinia

Triggered by increased persecution after Prophet's (ﷺ) growing influence.
83 men and 19 women migrated.
Despite Quraysh's surveillance, Muslims escaped successfully.

Machinations Against Immigrants

The Quraysh couldn't tolerate Muslims finding refuge in Abyssinia.
The envoys, Amr bin Aas and Abdullah bin Abi Rabiyah, took valuable gifts for the king (An-Najashi) and bishops.
They claimed that the Muslims were rebels who abandoned their ancestral faith and promoted a dangerous new religion.

Jafar bin Abi Talib's (RA) Speech

Jafar (RA) gave a truthful speech, explaining that they were steeped in ignorance, worshipping idols, eating dead animals, and indulging in shameless acts.
Allah (SWT) sent them a messenger who taught them to worship Allah (SWT) alone, speak the truth, be just, and be kind to relatives.
He explained why they fled to Abyssinia for justice.

Recitation of Quran in Royal Court

Jafar (RA) recited from Surah Maryam.
The recitation deeply moved the king and the bishops.
An-Najashi's verdict: These words and those revealed to Jesus (AS) came from the same source.
He refused the extradition request and gave full protection to the Muslims.

King's Refusal and Final Attempt by Quraysh

The Quraysh made a second attempt, claiming Muslims spoke ill of Jesus (AS).
Jafar (RA) explained their belief in Jesus (AS) as a Messenger and the spirit and word of Allah (SWT) cast into Maryam.
An-Najashi confirmed his belief and rejected the Quraysh's claims.
The king returned the gifts.
Quraysh realized they had no reach beyond Mecca, and their envoy was defeated.
Frustration grew and they renewed their efforts to eliminate Islam from Mecca.

Quraysh's Political Pressure

They pressured Abu Talib (Prophet's uncle) to stop the Prophet (ﷺ) from preaching.
Abu Talib feared tribal hostility but also loved and protected his nephew.

Prophet’s (ﷺ) Famous Declaration to Abu Talib

Prophet (ﷺ), thinking his uncle might withdraw support, declared, "O my uncle, if they place the sun in my right hand and moon in my left to them to stop me from this mission, I would not give it up until Allah (SWT) makes it prevail or I die in the process."
Abu Talib, moved by this, stopped him and said, "Go and do what you have abandoned. I will never abandon you."

Khoresh's Second Attempt to Pressure Abu Talib

The Quraysh came with Amara bin Walid bin Mughairam, offering him in exchange for the Prophet (ﷺ).
They wanted to kill the Prophet (ﷺ).
Abu Talib's response: By Allah, this is unfair! Give me your son to raise, and I give you my son to kill?

Renewed Resolve to Kill Prophet (ﷺ)

Failure of persuasion led to renewed resolve to kill the Prophet (ﷺ).

Unexpected Conversions

Two mighty men of Quraysh embraced Islam, strengthening the Muslim community.

Curse upon Ubay ibn Khalaf

rejected and insulted and disrespected. Nabi (ﷺ). Verse of Surah Najm

Assassination Plots

The Quraysh were looking for any chance to attack the Prophet (ﷺ).
Abu Jahl's assassination plot: He planned to crush the Prophet's (ﷺ) head during Sujood.
He saw a terrifying being with fangs (Jibrail AS) and fled.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said that if Abu Jahl had come closer, Jibrail (AS) would have killed him.

Prophet's (ﷺ) Open Warning

Addressing the Quraysh, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, in whose hand is my soul, I have come to you with slaughter!"
This caused fear and retreat among the arrogant.