Second migration to Abyssinia

Following the migration and return of the most Sahabas from the first migration to Abyssinia (Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and some did not return but left Abyssinia by sea for preaching overseas to east Asia), the Muslims continued to suffer Persecution by the Meccans. This time, in 6 BH (615 CE) almost one hundred Muslims made a second migration back to Abyssinia where they stayed protected.

After the Muslims in Arabia had migrated to Medina in 7 AH (628/629CE) and attained security, the Muslims in Ethiopia migrated back to Arabia and reunited with them in Medina after six years absence.

Following the first migration to Abyssinia, the Meccan polytheists were on the alert for a second migration, however, they were not able to stop the Muslims' escape.

The second migration took place in 615 CE. The group of emigrants this time comprised eighty-three men and eighteen to nineteen women.

The Meccan polytheists did not appreciate that the Muslims had found a refuge, so they equipped ‘Amr ibn al-‘As and ‘Abdullahi bin Abi Rabi‘a with valuable gifts and sent them to the court of Aksum. They became successful in winning some of the courtiers over to their side and argued that the King should expel the Muslims back to Mecca and make over to them, because they had apostated and preached a religion alien to both the Meccan religion and Christianity, the official Aksumite religion.

The king of Abyssinia, Ashama ibn Ajbar, also known as Negus in the Muslim tradition (Ella Seham and variants in the Ethiopian), summoned the Muslims to the court and asked them to explain the teachings of their religion. The Muslim emigrants had decided to tell the whole truth whatever the consequences were. Ja'far ibn Abu Talib, the son of Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, the powerful Banu Hashim leader, stood up and addressed the king in the following words:

O king! we were plunged into the depth of ignorance and barbarism; we adored idols, we lived in unchastity, we ate the dead bodies, and we spoke abominations, we disregarded every feeling of humanity, and the duties of hospitality and neighbourhood were neglected; we knew no law but that of the strong, when God (Arabic: [[Allah|الله]] Allāh) raised among us a man, of whose birth, truthfulness, honesty, and purity we were aware; and he called to the Oneness of God, and taught us not to associate anything with Him. He forbade us the worship of idols; and he enjoined us to speak the truth, to be faithful to our trusts, to be merciful and to regard the rights of the neighbours and kith and kin; he forbade us to speak evil of women, or to eat the substance of orphans; he ordered us to fly from the vices, and to abstain from evil; to offer prayers, to render alms, and to observe fast. We have believed in him, we have accepted his teachings and his injunctions to worship God, and not to associate anything with Him, and we have allowed what He has allowed, and prohibited what He has prohibited. For this reason, our people have risen against us, and have persecuted us to make us forsake the worship of God and return to the worship of idols and other abominations. They have tortured and injured us, until finding no safety among them, we have come to your country, and hope you will protect us from oppression.

Ashama was impressed by the speech and asked for some of God's Revelations. Ja‘far recited the opening verses of Surah Maryam. The chapter is about the birth of John and Jesus, and Mary having been fed with the food miraculously. The story moved to tears the bishops and king who exclaimed: "It seems as if these words and those which were revealed to Jesus are the rays of the light which have radiated from the same source." Turning to the crest-fallen envoys of Quraish, he said, "I am afraid, I cannot give you back these refugees. They are free to live and worship in my realm as they please.".