If you are among those whom circumstances have forced into expatriation, you have likely received many calls from friends and relatives complaining about the difficulties of life at home and asking you to find them similar opportunities. From their perspective, you live in luxury and do not experience any troubles or pains. It might be useless to explain to them the challenges and hardships you face, as only those who have experienced them can truly understand.
But you can imagine that this exact situation occurred with the Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia, to the point that it angered Lady Asma bint Umais, the wife of the venerable companion Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. She said to Umar ibn al-Khattab: "We were in a distant and hostile land in Abyssinia, for the sake of God and His Messenger, and we were harmed and fearful..." This is part of a long conversation we will mention later to understand the extent of the suffering and hardship the Muslims faced in Abyssinia, and to learn how the emigrants dealt with it.
The first challenge the Muslims faced in Abyssinia - which is faced by everyone living abroad - was the feeling of estrangement and loneliness. Everything was entirely different from what the Muslims were used to in their homeland; the differences in language, culture, and religion were the main obstacles they faced. But what made the situation more difficult was their feeling of insecurity and sometimes being subjected to harm. This was clearly reflected in the Muslims' first conversation with Najashi when he asked them: "Does anyone harm you?" They said: "Yes." He then ordered a crier to announce: "Whoever harms any of these people will be fined four dirhams." He asked: "Is that sufficient?" We said: "No," so he doubled it.
One can infer from the migrants' return to Mecca shortly after the first migration that they were not comfortable in Abyssinia. Perhaps the news of Hamza and Umar embracing Islam helped with this decision. Despite confirming that the news of Quraysh embracing Islam was false, they preferred to return and endure harm rather than continue their suffering abroad. Among them was a saying: "Our tribes are dearer to us," indicating how unbearable their feelings of estrangement were.
The most challenging aspect of the expatriation experience is how to maintain values and adhere to religion, especially if the majority of the population in the host country follows a different faith. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib used to hold sessions with the Muslims to teach them their religion, as narrated by Amr ibn al-As himself: "When I saw Ja'far safe in Abyssinia with his companions, I envied him. I went to Najashi and said: 'There is a man in your land whose cousin is in our land, claiming there is only one God.' Najashi said: 'Go to him and invite him.' I said: 'He will not come with me.' So he sent a messenger with me. We went to him, and he was among his companions teaching them."
This contains an important message for everyone starting their life abroad: seek good company that will help you in matters of your religion and worldly life, and make sure to create a proper environment for your children. The challenges and temptations are greater than we all imagine, especially with the significant openness through social media.
Speaking of social media, which has currently helped bridge distances and ease difficulties, we can imagine the situation of Muslims in Abyssinia, who were thousands of miles away and completely cut off from news of their homeland. They did not even receive the legislation revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, after their migration, such as fasting and prayer.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah wrote about them, acknowledging the excuse of ignorance: "When the prayer for travelers was increased after the Prophet, peace be upon him, migrated to Medina, those who were far away, like those in Abyssinia, continued to pray two rak'ahs, and the Prophet did not command them to repeat the prayer. When Ramadan fasting was made obligatory in the second year of the Hijra, and the news did not reach those in Abyssinia until after that month, he did not command them to make up the fasting."
No one will feel the bitterness of expatriation except those who have lived it and been burned by its fire. Those who have only heard about it without experiencing it will continue to think of expatriation as just a pleasant journey that passes quickly. This is evident in the conversation between Umar ibn al-Khattab and Asma bint Umais after her return from Abyssinia, when he said to her: "We preceded you in migration, so we are more entitled to the Prophet, peace be upon him, than you." She was angered and said: "No, by God, you were with the Prophet, peace be upon him, feeding your hungry and teaching your ignorant. We were in a distant and hostile land in Abyssinia, for the sake of God and His Messenger, and we were harmed and fearful. I will mention this to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and ask him. By God, I will not lie, distort, or add to it." When the Prophet, peace be upon him, came, she told him what happened. He said, "He is not more entitled to me than you. He and his companions have one migration, but you, the people of the ship, have two migrations."
Do not despair, my expatriate brother, for you will continue to receive calls from your friends and relatives asking for opportunities with you. It is a law of life that does not change. But whenever you face more pain and challenges, always remember the migration to Abyssinia and the virtues of its people. Remember how the Muslims faced and coped with it for over 15 years, how they preserved their religion and beliefs, created a suitable environment, and even influenced the society. This is the model you should always keep in mind.
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