The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
When the first group of Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who migrated to Abyssinia reached there, they began to live in the land in peace and safety. The king Najaashi allowed them permission to practice on Islam without any hindrance and interference.
They lived in Abysinia for over two months, when rumours reached them that the Quraish of Makkah Mukarramah had embraced Islam and had begun to follow Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hearing this news, they were extremely excited and happy that now they will be able to return to their homeland and practice their deen in total peace and safety. Subsequently, some of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) left Abyssinia and returned to Makkah Mukarramah.
Imaam Waaqidi (rahimahullah) mentioned that the Sahaabah had departed from Makkah in the month of Rajab 5AH, and remained in Abyssinia for two months – Sha’baan and Ramadhaan – and then returned to Makkah Mukarramah in the month of Shawwaal.
When these Saaabah reached close to Makkah Mukarramah, they met a group of people from the Kinaanah clan. They enquired from them as to whether the Quraish had embraced Islam, as this news reached them while they were in Abyssinia. The people of Kinaanah told them that this news was false and a mere rumour.
Hearing this, these Sahaabah were overcome by extreme worry and fear. Some decided to return to Abyssinia, while others decided to enter the city of Makkah Mukarramah. Hence, some of them slipped into Makkah Mukarramah secretly, while others entered the city taking amnesty under the protection of some influential disbeliever.
When the disbelievers found that these Muslims had returned, they began to persecute them and torture them once again. These Muslims resided in Makkah Mukarramah for a little while, but every coming day presented a greater challenge for them on account of the severe torture and persecution meted out to them by the kuffaar, until Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) permitted them for the second time to migrate to Abyssinia. On this occasion, they were joined by other Sahaabah who were also being persecuted at the hands of the kuffaar.
After the Sahaabah migrated to Abyssinia for the second time, the Quraish became infuriated as they could not tolerate that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were now living in safety in Abyssinia and were practising Islam in peace. Hence, they held an urgent meeting among themselves and decided that they will send envoys to speak to Najaashi and request him to expel the Sahaabah from Abyssinia and send them back to Makkah.
For this purpose, they appointed Amr bin Aas and Abdullah bin Abi Rabee’ah as their envoys to go to Najaashi. Accordingly, Amr bin Aas and Abdullah bin Abi Rabee’ah travelled to Abyssinia. Before coming to Najaashi, they first went to the ministers of Najaashi and presented them with gifts in order to bribe them and win their support. They then said to them, “A few foolish and naïve people of our city have renounced their ancestral religion and taken refuge in your city. They did not renounce their ancestral religion in order to accept your religion of Christianity. Rather, they have adopted an entirely new religion which neither us nor you are familiar with. Our leaders have sent us to your king to request him to hand these people over to us. We request you to intercede to the King on our behalf and ask him to hand them over to us without speaking to them or having any discussion with them.”
Amr bin Aas and Abdullah bin Abi Rabee’ah were extremely apprehensive of the King summoning the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), questioning them and hearing what they had to say. The reason is that they knew well that that the moment the truth left the tongues of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), it would entrench itself into the heart of the King. It is for this reason that they wanted Najaashi to send the Sahaabah away from his land without speaking to them.
Nonetheless, after presenting their gifts and pleading their case before the ministers, they were able to win their support in them interceding to the King on their behalf. Thereafter, Amr bin Aas and Abdullah bin Abi Rabee’ah came to Najaashi.
(To be Continued)
(Rowdh-ul-Unuf 2/108-115 & Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah 3/67-73, Uyoon-ul-Athar 1/139-140, Dalaa’il Abi Nu’aim #193, Majma’uz Zawaa’id #9850, Sharhuz Zurqaani 2/31)
