Period 6 of 18
Persecution and the Migration to Abyssinia
As the call spread, Quraysh tortured the weak believers and harassed the Prophet ﷺ, and some Muslims sought refuge with the just king of Abyssinia.
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Torture of the early believers
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه reported that the first seven to openly declare Islam were the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, Ammar and his mother Sumayyah, Suhayb, Bilal and al-Miqdad. Allah protected the Prophet ﷺ through his uncle Abu Talib and Abu Bakr through his people, but the others were seized by the polytheists, dressed in coats of mail and exposed to the burning sun. Each of them gave the polytheists some of what they asked, except Bilal, who held himself cheap for the sake of Allah. Sumayyah is remembered as among the first to give her life for Islam.
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Harassment of the Prophet ﷺ
Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ was praying at the Kaaba when Abu Jahl and his companions had the entrails of a slaughtered camel placed on his back as he prostrated; Fatimah رضي الله عنها came and removed them, and he prayed against the leaders of Quraysh by name. Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنهما, asked about the worst that the polytheists did to the Prophet ﷺ, described how Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt wrapped his cloak around his neck and choked him until Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه pushed him away, saying: “Would you kill a man for saying: My Lord is Allah?” (40:28).
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The migration to Abyssinia
In about 615 CE, the sirah books record, the Prophet ﷺ advised a group of Muslims to seek safety in Abyssinia, whose king, the Negus, did not wrong anyone. Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه and his wife Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها were among the first, and later a larger group, including Ja'far ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه, followed. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه also set out, as Aisha رضي الله عنها described, but was turned back by Ibn ad-Daghinah, who gave him protection. Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه recalled returning from the Negus; when the Negus died, the Prophet ﷺ announced it and prayed for him.
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Hamzah and Umar embrace Islam
In these years two strong men of Quraysh accepted Islam. The sirah books record that Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle, became Muslim after hearing how Abu Jahl had insulted his nephew. Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه followed, and Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said: “We have been mighty ever since Umar became Muslim.” The sirah books add that the Muslims could now pray openly at the Kaaba, though the persecution continued.
How the sources are used
Sources are chosen in this order: the Quran first, then the hadith collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, and then other collections such as al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Malik. The sirah books, mainly Ibn Ishaq as transmitted by Ibn Hisham, are used only for details not found in the hadith, and these are marked as “recorded in the sirah books.” Dates in the Christian era are approximate, and hadith numbers follow the hadith library of this website.
Hadith numbers follow the hadith library on this site, and each source opens its hadith there. Details that are not in the hadith collections are marked as coming from the sirah books.
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.