Episode 5: A Spotlight on the First Emigration and the Ordeal of (Shi'b) of Abu Talib

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet's companions suffered vicious tyrannical tortures. The polytheists became more aggressive. They never ran out of methods to abuse, harass and torture the believers (may Allah be pleased with them).

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They were severely tormented. Their children, wealth, homes were subjected to the mistreatment and abuse of Quraysh

Sheikh Ali Paqees:  Quraysh fastened severely its hold on them; the torments worsened; a feasible, liable way to avert the painful tortures was a must for the weak to escape that maltreatment.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon:  The prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم observed the miserable conditions of his companions in Mecca. He heard about Negus, the King of Abyssinia, a man known for his justice and fairness.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: and Negus is a title used for the Emperors of Abyssinia. The Negus at that time was Ashamah (may Allah be pleased with him) we pray to Allah to be pleased with him, for he had converted to Islam later on. So he صلى الله عليه وسلم suggested to his companions "Set out to the land of Abyssinia. There is a king there by whom no one is wronged, and it is a land of honesty. [Stay there] until Allah makes a way for you out from what you are suffering"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Consequently some of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) set out to Abyssinia to maintain their faith and rituals and to escape Quraysh's tortures.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The first emigration to the land of Abyssinia was on the month of Rajab, the fifth year of the prophethood.

(They set off on their first emigration, seeking none but the honest, fair Negus)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy:  a small group of the companions set out to Abyssinia; they were 10 to 12 men and 4 women, whom all was lead by 'Uthman bin 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) and his wife Ruqaiia the prophet's daughter

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They left secretly at night, escaping Quraysh vicious torments; they reached Al-Sha'ebah port, boarded the sailing boats and headed to Abyssinia. When they landed there, they found the Negus just as the prophet told them, a fair King whom no one is wronged on his land.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They stayed in Abyssinia for several nights before erroneous news regarding Quraysh, reached them

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon:  In Ramadan the prophet recited Surat Al-Najm (The Star) to Quraysh

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi:  So Mecca's polytheists gathered around him صلى الله عليه وسلم listening attentively to the Holy Quran, and its superb meanings and awe-inspiring words.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Consequently they were stunned, their hearts submitted, their spirits showed reverence and softened.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They gathered listening to the prophet's recitation, for the recitation sounded as the bees' booming over their heads.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: As far as the prophet reached the prostration verse

{فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا} [النجم: 62]

 Interpretation of the meaning: "So prostrate yourselves before the Lord and worship him" [An-Najm: 62]

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Then the prophet bowed down and prostrated himself before his Lord, whereas Quraysh could not abstain themselves from prostrating before Allah, for what they heard were unbelievably inspiring and superb, though they didn't embrace Islam.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: yet the news spread everywhere, as though Quraysh converted to Islam to the very last man among them! And so it was misreported to the Muslims in Abyssinia

Sheikh Ali Paqees:  the news which reached them were that Quraysh have embraced Islam.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: thus they saw no harm in going back to Mecca. Moreover for they suffered from homesickness, they were eager to go back to Mecca, the preferable place of all to Allah.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They actually came back to Mecca on Shawwal of the same year, the fifth year since the prophethood.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: When they were only an hour's travel from Mecca, the true situation was discovered, Quraysh didn't convert to Islam.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Consequently, a group of the recently arrived companions decided to travel back to Abyssinia

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon:  The rest decided to stay in Mecca, though the tortures Muslims suffered therein never stopped but worsened (may Allah be pleased with them)

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: A Solution were a must to dispel those torments away and comfort the weak ones, and Allah's lands are vast enough for the Muslims to emigrate to.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: thereupon some of the prophet's companions decided to immigrate to Abyssinia. Those who sneaked in Mecca upon their return from the first emigrant, reported the good hospitality and justice that they were accorded in Abyssinia

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: This time about 100 of the prophet's companion immigrated to Abyssinia, to the place of that just King.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: and so it was the second emigrant to Abyssinia, despite of Quraysh's attempts to prevent it; the Muslims succeeded

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: the polytheists were not pleased that the Muslims found an asylum in Abyssinia

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The plotted the evilest plans and used the most cunning of ways.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They decided to follow them to Abyssinia

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They plotted to extradite those Muslims and vituperate them before the Negus. They dispatched two staunch envoys. They were 'Amr bin Al-'As (when he was a polytheist still) and 'Abdullah bin Abi Rabi'a. They had taken with them valuable gifts to the king and his clergy as soon as they arrived at Abyssinia.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Firstly, they approached the clergy men, gave them the valuable gifts and persuaded them to participate in their plot. Consequently, they won their side.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: When they met with the Negus the following day, the clergy men were assembled there. They gave him the most valuable gifts of all: the tanned leathers in particular, which was favoured by the Negus as it was scarcely found in Abyssinia

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They greeted him and gave him the gifts they brought then 'Amr bin Al-'As, the Arab's smartest fellow, said "O' King of Abyssinia, A group of our people resorted to you. They had abandoned the religion of our forefathers, and they didn't convert to yours, and their leader was preaching a new religion which he invented. Their fathers and Uncles and the noble men of Mecca send us to ask you to send them back with us." At that moment the clergy men agreed with them and said to their King "you should expel them from our lands and hand them over to their people"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: When they finished their speech, the wise Negus didn't immediately believe them. He decided to listen first to the group of Muslims who requested his protection and refuge and he accepted. He sent for the prophet's companions to present before him

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They came to him and decided to tell him the whole truth, whichever the consequences were going to be. The Negus then told Ja'far bin Abi Talib, who resembled the prophet in both features and manners too much- what 'amr bin Al-'As and Abdullah bin Abi Rabi'a told him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: But Allah guided Ja'far to use the right methods and words, for what he said were worth its weight in gold. It maintained the new asylum of Muslims. Preserving the triumph of Islam over all other religions were all due to his words "O king! We were plunged in the depth of ignorance. We adored idols; we lived unchastely; we took unlawful interests on money; and we spoke abominations; we disregarded the duties of hospitality and neighborhood; we knew no law but that of the strong

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Ja'far mentioned further abominate deeds they were used to in their ignorance time.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: he continued "So was our state until Allah raised among us a prophet, of whose birth, truthfulness, honesty, and purity we were aware, and he called to the Oneness of Allah, and not to associate anything with Him. He forbade us the worship of idols"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: he counted to the Negus what the prophet forbade them "and he instructed us to pray and to do fasting" and he listed a number of Islam superior teachings.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He said: We have believed in him, we have accepted his teachings and his injunctions to worship Allah, and not to associate anything with Him, and we have allowed what He has allowed, and prohibited what He has prohibited صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: O' King; for this reason, our people have risen against us, have persecuted us, ripped us off our wealth, children and homes. They have tortured and injured us. We sought refuge in your lands, preferred you than all others for we knew of your justice and fairness"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "and we hoped you will protect us from oppression." Those words impressed the Negus greatly. He soon asked Ja'far "Could you recite some of what was revealed to Muhammad?" Ja'far replied "Yes"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Ja'far then recited the opening versus of Surat Mariam

{كهيعص (1) ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا (2) إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا (3) قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا (4) وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِنْ وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا (5) يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا (6)} [ مريم: 1-6]

 Interpretation of the meaning: "Kaf. Ha. Ya. Ain. Sad. (1) This is the story of the blessing of your Lord to His servant Zachariah. (2) When he quietly called his Lord (3) and said, "My Lord, my bones have become feeble and my hair has turned white with age. Yet I have never been deprived in receiving from You the answer to my prayers. (4) I am afraid of what my kinsmen will do after (my death) and my wife is barren. Lord, grant me a son (5) who will be my heir and the heir of the family of Jacob. Lord, make him a person who will please you". [Maryam: 1-6]

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: There upon the Negus was moved to tears. Here, he exclaimed: "It seems as if these words and those which were revealed to Jesus are the rays of a light radiated from the same source." Turning to the envoys of Quraish, he said, "by Allah, I shall not give you back these refugees. So go back to your own land."

Sheikh Ali Paqees: He announced his just judgment; the Muslims shall not be handed over; they were to be protected in his lands and wronged by no one under his rule.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The envoy of Quraysh could not help but leave the meeting. As soon as they did, 'Amr bin Al-'As decided to inform the Negus false notions against the Muslims "I would tell him that those Muslims vituperate Jesus, sure enough he won't like that at all"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Again, the Negus sent for the Muslims; asked Ja'far "what do you say in your Quran about Jesus Christ?" Ja'far calmly answered: We say about him what we was taught by our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "Jesus is the servant of Allah, His Messenger, His spirit and His Word breathed into Virgin Mariam (Mary)." The Negus held a straw and said "By Allah, you didn’t say a word more than he said about himself, even of the weight of this" The clergy men then mooed furiously. The Negus said" Fret and fume as you may like, but that's the truth"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The Negus then said to the Muslims his infamous words "you are free to live and worship in my realm as you please, under my own protection; whoever wrong you, shall be punished" he repeated the last sentence 3 times.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He then commanded his bishops and those around him "return to them their gifts immediately. By Allah I shall take nothing from them, for Allah restored me my kingdom without bribery, and he the Mighty didn't suppress me for others' sake, and I shall not discontent him now for the sake of anyone". Um Salama reported, for she was among the first emigrants, " we had lived peacefully in the best of lands, next to the best neighbor"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The envoy of Quraysh went back to Mecca; their machination was met with utter fail, for Allah protected the believers against that envoy's evils.

(How blessed is the Negus! He found the peace of faith; and he attained it, although the apostle whom Allah sent with it laid miles and miles away from him)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: realizing that all their previous schemes had failed, they consequently began to entertain a horrible idea of killing the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Abu Talib realized their wicked intentions, so he assembled his kinsfolk of Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib, sons of 'Abd Munaf and exhorted them to immunize and defend his nephew. All of them responded positively, except Abu Lahab, the prophet's uncle who sided with the idolaters.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: soon afterwards the prophet and the Muslims resorted to a valley of a narrow passage between two mountains (Shi'b Abi Talib) along with Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib; even the disbelievers among them followed their steps. They were afraid any harm may extend to the prophet. This incident occurred on the seventh year since the prophethood.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Look carefully at Abu Talib, who although a disbeliever, he defended the prophet no matter what, ready to sacrifice himself and his children and his calm life for him.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: When Quraysh realized that Abu Talib would go far extents to defend his nephew; they gathered in Bani Kananah's tent to make their evil pact.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They gathered to form a confederation hostile to both Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib, punishing them for defending Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم; and so was the infamous pact and boycott. Their injustice, merciless pact articles were not to have any sort of inter-marriage with Bani Hashim and Bani Abdel-Muttalib.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: neither to sell them

Sheikh Ali Paqees: nor to buy from them

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: not to sit among their groups

Sheikh Ali Paqees: or to eat with any of them

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: not to pay visits to them

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: as they banned any social intervention with them

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Social relations, visits and even verbal contacts with both clans were banned until the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was given up to them to be killed. They wrote those articles assisting that they'd never accept conciliation from both clans or pity them till Muhammad was handed over.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: they hanged that written pact inside Al-Ka'bah

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: the one who was committed to write it was Bagheed bin ‘Amir, and true to his name he was Bagheed (loathsome) for he wrote the idolaters that article and brought the wrath of Allah upon himself, when the prophet's heard, he invoked Allah’s imprecations upon Bagheed, whose hand was later paralyzed.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Consequently; nothing was left for Bani Hashim and Bani Abdel-Muttalib but to confine to narrow passage (Shi'b) of Abu Talib. That was during the seventh year since the prophet hood.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They were sieged there for three long years.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They were subjected there to utter seclusion, banned from any social or business intercourses with Mecca's people. They starved to the extent that they sometimes ate the leaves.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They went through the severest hardships starvation sickness distress There were among them whom may eat the leaves even though it may fester his mouth's corners.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The children cried loudly out of starvation with their mothers.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Their painful cries were heard even behind mountains and walls

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Even the women would wail loudly out of starvation.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The idolaters used to buy whatever food commodities entered Mecca lest they should leak to the Shi'b (the narrow passage) where both clans were confined out of severe punishment and torture.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They would overbid Bani Hashim for any commodities or food supplies

Sheikh Ali Paqees: during the injustice siege, Abu talib paid extra attention to guard the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He 'd awake the prophet during the night and lead him to another mattress, or he may sleep in his place, or order one of his children to sleep in the prophet's mattress صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They tolerated those hardships for defending the prophet, and defending the religion he call unto, till Allah drove away their grief and hardships.

(How unfortunate and wretched those idolaters are! For they were deprived from following the right path)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon:  Those incidents were behind the breakup of the idolaters in Mecca

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: for dissension arose between them; their hearts would not bear these maltreatments.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The wise men disapproved of the blockade "how could we eat and sleep peacefully when Bani Hashim and Bani Abdul-Muttalib are helplessly confined?" It was how Allah prepared to dispel the Muslims' grieves, for the formers agreed to abrogate the pact and declare all relevant clauses null and void.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The first among them to adopt abrogation of the pact was Hisham bin 'Amr, who found the siege a clear tyranny act against Bani Hashim.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: he urged those whom agreed with him to abrogate the pact. At last they responded positively to him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They agreed to set out to declare all the pact clauses null and void. Zuhair bin Umayya said that he would be the one to speak first.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: he approached the hosts of idolaters and rebuked them for indulging in the amenities of life whereas their kith and kin of Bani Hashim were perishing on account of starvation and economic boycott. People approved him one after the other.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Abu Jahl, standing nearby, furious and raging, he retorted that the parchment would never be torn and the pact shall never be void. Zam‘a was infuriated and accused Abu Jahl of telling lies, adding that the pact was established and the parchment was written without their consent. Al-Bukhtari intervened and backed Zam‘a, followed by Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi and Hisham bin ‘Amr. Hence Abu Jahl realized that those five had resolved to do so before they approached them.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: While they were arguing, Abu Talib approached them. He said: my nephew informs you

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: that Allah has sent ants upon the parchment in which it was all eaten except for those parts that beheld Allah's name.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Abu Talib then offered them a strange, unusual, imposing offer. He said

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: If you found what Muhammad informed you the truth

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: you would have to recant and repeal their boycott; and if his words proved untrue

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: I shall give him up to you and you're thus free to do whichever you want with him. They agreed to his sounded proposition "you're just and fair, Abu Talib in your proposition" they said.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: immediately they entered inside the Ka'bah where the parchment was and looked closely at it

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: they found that it was eaten away by ants and nothing was left save the part bearing (in the Name of Allah) that they wrote at the beginning of the pact.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The years of famine thus have ended for the prophet and those followed and guarded him.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: As the boycott was cancelled; the prophet's companions felt their hope afresh (may Allah be pleased with them)

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Glory be to the Lord for those are his preparations, wise and mercy upon his prophet and those who supported, honored and aided his messenger.