Allah grants you a way out of the hardship you are facing.” We reached his court and felt secure in his land … end of the report.

Al-Baghawī says in the ninth section of al-Mukhlisiyyāt: Ibn ʿAwn transmitted, from ʿUmayr ibn Isḥāq, from ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ, a part of this narration.

Al-Bakkāʾī reports that Ibn Isḥāq said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw the affliction befalling his Companions—while he himself enjoyed well-being by Allah’s favor and the protection of his uncle, yet was unable to shield them—he told them, “If only you would go to the land of Abyssinia. There is a king there under whom no one is wronged; it is a land of truth. Stay there until Allah grants you relief from the trial you are in.” At that, the Muslims departed, afraid of persecution and fleeing with their religion to Allah.

Thus ʿUthmān left with his wife; Abū Ḥudhayfah ibn ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah ibn ʿAbd Shams left with his wife Sahlah bint Suhayl ibn ʿAmr—she later bore him Muḥammad in Abyssinia; al-Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām; Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr al-ʿAbdarī; ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf; Abū Salamah ibn ʿAbd al-Asad al-Makhzūmī together with his wife, Umm Salamah, Mother of the Believers; ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn al-Jumaḥī; ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah, ally of the clan of al-Khaṭṭāb, with his wife Laylā bint Abī Ḥathmah al-ʿAdawiyyah; Abū Sabrah ibn Abī Ruhm ibn ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā al-ʿĀmirī; and Suhayl ibn Bayḍāʾ—namely, Suhayl ibn Wahb of the Banū al-Ḥārith. These were the first to emigrate to Abyssinia.

He continued: After them Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib set out, and the Muslims kept departing for Abyssinia. Ibn Isḥāq then listed their number and said: The total of those who reached Abyssinia—or were born there—was 83 men. They worshipped Allah there and praised the protection of the Negus, whereupon ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥārith ibn Qays al-Sahmī recited: