Freedom

Mus'ab was always worshipping Allah in prison. He was pleased with his faith. But, he felt that freedom was the most beautiful thing in life and that faith in Allah was the way to freedom. Mus'ab felt the sufferings of the slaves of Makkah.

Days and weeks passed. Mus'ab was still in prison. Allah wished to save him from those sufferings.

There was a just king in al-Habasha. The Prophet [s] told the Muslims to immigrate there.

A Muslim secretly came into Mus'ab's prison. He told him about the Muslims immigration.

Mus'ab became happy and was full of hope. The Muslim released him. He was pleased to go with them. They covered the desert towards the Red Sea.

To Habasha

The caravan reached Jeddah port. They were fifteen Muslims. They escaped from the polytheists to save their religion. A ship anchored at the port. The ship was heading for al-Habasha.

The immigrants went abroad. They were thanking Allah for faith and safety.

The wind was soft and seat was calm. The ship began heading for Habasha. After some days and nights, the ship reached Habasha.

Al-Najashy

Al-Najashy, the emperor of Habasha was a just man. He welcomed the Muslims to his country.

Among the immigrants were Abd al-Rahman bin Auf, al-Zubair bin al-Awam, Uthman bin Mazun, Abdullah bin Masoud, Uthman bin Affan and his wife Rukkayah (the Prophet's step-daughter), Um Ayman, Abu Salama and his wife Um Salama and Mus'ab bin Umair.

The immigrants worshipped Allah safely. They were looking forward to hearing news about the Prophet [s] and about those who believed in him. They asked Allah to grant them a victory over the polytheists.

The polytheists planned to bring back the Muslims by force. They went to Jeddah port. They did not find the ship, for it had left for al-Habasha. So, they thought of another way to bring back the Muslims.

The Return

The polytheists wanted to make peace with our Master Muhammad [s], for Islam spread quickly.

For example, Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib became Muslim because Abu Jahal mistreated the Prophet [s]. Then Umar bin al-Khattab, the bitter enemy of Islam, became Muslim, too. For this reason, the Muslims were certain of their big power.

During that time, the Emperor welcomed the Muslim immigrants to his country. So, his people revolted against him.

The Muslims thought of coming back to Makkah so as not to put al-Najashy in a critical situation. In the meantime, they heard about the truce between the Muslims and the polytheists.

After three months in Habasha, the Muslims decided to come back to Makkah. The Muslims were seen off by the Habashian people. They were pleased with the emperor. So, they wished him victory over his enemies. 

Before the Muslims reached Makkah, they had heard bad news. The news was that the Quraish were still unjust. They went on persecuting and torturing the Muslims.

Thus, the immigrants had two choices - either going back to al-Habasha or entering Makkah and suffering torture. Some immigrants preferred going to al-Habasha, and some preferred entering Makkah.

Mus'ab preferred entering Makkah and suffering torture.

Mus'ab went home to know his mother's opinion. His mother was still stubborn. She tried to imprison him again, but he left the house. His eyes were filled with tears.

Mus'ab wanted his mother to become a Muslim. He wanted her to open her eyes to see the light of faith.

But her final answer was:

I don't want the people to say that I've preferred my son's religion to my father's one.

A Meeting in Makkah

Our Master Muhammad [s] was waiting for the time of Hajj (pilgrimage) to invite the pilgrims to Islam.

Six persons from Yathrib came to Makkah. The Prophet [s] asked them:

Where are you from?

They answered:

We're from Yathrib. We belong to al-Khazraj tribe.

Our Master Muhammad [s] said to them:

Are you supporters of the Jew?

Yes.

The Prophet [s] sat down with them. He read them some verses of the Qur'an and invited them to Islam.

The people of Yathrib heard from the Jews that a prophet would appear very soon. For this reason, they said to each other:

By Allah, he's the Prophet whom the Jews have given good news about.

Immediately, they became Muslims and said:

The enmity between the tribe of al-Aws and the tribe of al-Khazraj is very intense - may Allah bring them together through you!

They went to Yathrib and began inviting its people to Muhammad's religion.

Al-Akaba First Homage

When the time of Hajj started, twelve persons from Yathrib came and met the Prophet [s] in a place called al-Akaba.

The twelve persons promised him that they would not be polytheists, not steal, not fornicate, not kill their daughters and not tell lies.