The Hijra to Abyssinia

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1. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and his two brothers heard the news of the Prophet's ﷺ migration to Madinah. Where were they at that time?

   1. Yemen
   2. Syria
   3. Najd
   4. Bahrain
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   Answer: Yemen

   Abu Musa said the news reached them while they were in Yemen, and they set out as emigrants to the Prophet ﷺ.

   بلغنا مخرج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ونحن باليمن فخرجنا مهاجرين إليه أنا وأخوان لي أنا أصغرهم أحدهما أبو بردة والآخر أبو رهم إما

   Narrated Abu Musa:The news of the migration of the Prophet (from Mecca to Medina) reached us while we were in Yemen. So we set out as emigrants towards him.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

2. Asma bint Umais, who had emigrated to the Negus in Abyssinia, came as a visitor to one of the Prophet's ﷺ wives. Umar entered while she was there. Which wife was she visiting?

   1. Aisha
   2. Hafsa
   3. Umm Salamah
   4. Zaynab
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   Answer: Hafsa

   Asma came as a visitor to Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, and Umar came in to Hafsa while Asma was with her.

   السفينة سبقناكم بالهجرة ودخلت أسماء بنت عميس وهي ممن قدم معنا على حفصة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم زائرة وقد كانت هاجرت إلى النجاشي فيمن هاجر فدخل عمر على حفصة وأسماء عندها فقال عمر حين رأى أسماء من هذه

   Asma' bint 'Umais who was one of those who had come with us, came as a visitor to Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ). She had migrated along with those other Muslims who migrated to Negus. `Umar came to Hafsa while Asma' bint 'Umais was with her. `Umar, on seeing Asma,' said, "Who is this?"Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

3. In Hafsa's house, Umar told Asma bint Umais, who had come back from Abyssinia, that he and his companions had more right to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ than the people of the ship. What reason did he give?

   1. They had fought at Badr
   2. They were older in age
   3. They had migrated before the ship's people
   4. They belonged to Quraysh
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   Answer: They had migrated before the ship's people

   Umar said they had migrated before the people of the boat, so they had more right to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

   آلبحرية هذه قالت أسماء نعم قال سبقناكم بالهجرة فنحن أحق برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم منكم فغضبت وقالت كلا والله كنتم مع رسول

   `Umar said, "We have migrated before you (people of the boat), so we have got more right than you over Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) " On that Asma' became angry and said, "No, by Allah, while you were with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who was feeding the hungry ones amongst you, and advised the ignorant ones amongst you, we were in the far-off hated land of Ethiopia, and all that was for the sake of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) .Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

4. Asma bint Umais was angered by what Umar said in Hafsa's house. By Allah, she said, she would not do what until she had told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ what Umar had said?

   1. Speak to Umar again
   2. Leave Hafsa's house
   3. Sleep that night
   4. Eat or drink anything
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   Answer: Eat or drink anything

   Asma swore she would neither eat food nor drink anything until she had told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ what Umar had said.

   الله عليه وسلم وايم الله لا أطعم طعاما ولا أشرب شرابا حتى أذكر ما قلت لرسول

   By Allah, I will neither eat any food nor drink anything till I inform Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) of all that you have said.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

5. Asma bint Umais answered Umar in Hafsa's house by speaking of her group's time in Abyssinia. What two things did she say they suffered there?

   1. Harm and fear
   2. Hunger and thirst
   3. Sickness and poverty
   4. Exile and loneliness
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   Answer: Harm and fear

   Asma said that in Abyssinia they were harmed and frightened.

   الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ونحن كنا نؤذى ونخاف وسأذكر ذلك للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأسأله والله لا أكذب ولا أزيغ ولا أزيد

   There we were harmed and frightened.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

6. Abu Musa's party reached the Negus of Abyssinia, where Ja'far ibn Abi Talib and his companions were. What did Ja'far tell the newcomers to do?

   1. Go back to Yemen
   2. Sail on to Madinah at once
   3. Wait for the Negus's permission
   4. Stay with them in Abyssinia
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   Answer: Stay with them in Abyssinia

   Ja'far told them to stay with him, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had sent them there and commanded them to stay.

   فركبنا سفينة، فألقتنا سفينتنا إلى النجاشي بالحبشة، فوافقنا جعفر بن أبي طالب وأصحابه عنده، فقال جعفر: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعثنا هاهنا، وأمرنا بالإقامة فأقيموا معنا، فأقمنا معه حتى

   We embarked upon a boat, and the boat sailed away to the Negus of Abyssinia. There we met Ja'far b. Abu Talib and his companions. Ja'far said: Allall's Messenger (ﷺ) has sent us here and has commanded us to stay here and you should also stay with us.Translation: Abdul Hamid Siddiqui, Sahih Muslim, as published on sunnah.com.

7. In Abyssinia, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib told Abu Musa's party that he and his companions had been sent there. According to Ja'far, who had sent them?

   1. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ
   2. His father, Abu Talib
   3. Abu Bakr
   4. His brother Ali
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   Answer: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ

   Ja'far said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had sent them to Abyssinia and commanded them to stay.

   جعفر بن أبي طالب وأصحابه عنده، فقال جعفر: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعثنا هاهنا، وأمرنا بالإقامة فأقيموا معنا، فأقمنا معه حتى

   Ja'far said: Allall's Messenger (ﷺ) has sent us here and has commanded us to stay here and you should also stay with us.Translation: Abdul Hamid Siddiqui, Sahih Muslim, as published on sunnah.com.

8. Abu Huraira described how he stayed close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ even when hungry. Which Companion did he say was the best of people to the poor?

   1. Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib
   2. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib
   3. Ali ibn Abi Talib
   4. Zayd ibn Haritha
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   Answer: Ja'far ibn Abi Talib

   Abu Huraira said the best of people to the poor was Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, who would take them to his home and give them what was in it.

   هي معي كي ينقلب بي فيطعمني وكان أخير الناس للمسكين جعفر بن أبي طالب كان ينقلب بنا فيطعمنا ما كان في بيته حتى إن

   And the most generous of all the people to the poor was Ja`far bin Abi Talib. He used to take us to his home and offer us what was available therein.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

9. Abu Huraira said Ja'far ibn Abi Talib would take the poor to his home and give them whatever was there. He said Ja'far would even bring out what for them?

   1. A jar of honey
   2. A bowl of milk
   3. An empty butter skin
   4. A bag of dates
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   Answer: An empty butter skin

   Abu Huraira said Ja'far would even bring out an empty folded leather container, which they would split open and lick for what was left in it.

   بنا فيطعمنا ما كان في بيته حتى إن كان ليخرج إلينا العكة التي ليس فيها شيء فنشقها فنلعق ما فيها

   He used to take us to his home and offer us what was available therein. He would even offer us an empty folded leather container (of butter) which we would split and lick whatever was in itTranslation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

10. Some clothes, including a garment called a khamisa, were given as a gift to the Prophet ﷺ. He asked his companions whom they would give the khamisa to. How did the people respond?

    1. They named one of his wives
    2. They stayed silent
    3. Each asked for it
    4. They asked him to keep it
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    Answer: They stayed silent

    Umm Khalid reported that the people kept quiet when the Prophet ﷺ asked whom to give the khamisa to.

    حدثتني أم خالد بنت خالد قالت أتى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بثياب فيها خميصة سوداء قال من ترون نكسوها هذه الخميصة فأسكت

    Narrated Um Khalid bint Khalid:Some clothes were presented to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as a gift and there was a black Khamisa with it. The Prophet asked (his companions), "To whom do you suggest we give this Khamisa?" The people kept quiet.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

11. Umm Khalid was a small girl when the Prophet ﷺ was given some clothes, asked whom to give the khamisa to, and sent for her. How was she brought to him?

    1. She walked
    2. She came riding a camel
    3. She was carried
    4. She was led by the hand
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    Answer: She was carried

    She said she was brought carried, because she was a small girl at that time.

    أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بثياب فيها خميصة سوداء صغيرة فقال من ترون أن نكسو هذه فسكت القوم فقال ائتوني بأم خالد فأتي بها تحمل فأخذ الخميصة بيده فألبسها وقال أبلي

    Narrated Um Khalid bint Khalid:The Prophet (ﷺ) was given some clothes including a black Khamisa. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "To whom shall we give this to wear?" The people kept silent whereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Fetch Um Khalid for me." I (Um Khalid) was brought carried (as I was small girl at that time).Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

12. The Prophet ﷺ put a khamisa on Umm Khalid with his own hands. What did he wish for her?

    1. Many children
    2. Protection from all harm
    3. Great wealth
    4. A long life, wearing out many garments
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    Answer: A long life, wearing out many garments

    He said twice, "May you live so long that you will wear out many garments."

    القوم قال ائتوني بأم خالد فأتي بي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فألبسنيها بيده وقال أبلي واخلقي مرتين فجعل ينظر إلى علم الخميصة ويشير

    Then he said, "Bring me Um Khalid," So I was brought to him and he dressed me with it with his own hands and said twice, "May you live so long that you will wear out many garments."Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

13. Umm Khalid bint Khalid came to the Prophet ﷺ with her father and started playing with something of his. What was it?

    1. The seal of Prophethood
    2. His cloak
    3. His staff
    4. His turban
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    Answer: The seal of Prophethood

    She said she started playing with the seal of Prophethood.

    أتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مع أبي وعلي قميص أصفر قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سنه سنه قال عبد الله وهي بالحبشية حسنة قالت فذهبت ألعب بخاتم النبوة

    Narrated Sa`id:Um Khalid bint Khalid bin Sa`id said, "I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) along with my father and I was wearing a yellow shirt. … Um Khalid added, "Then I started playing with the seal of Prophethood.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

14. Umm Khalid bint Khalid went to the Prophet ﷺ with her father. What colour was the shirt she was wearing?

    1. Green
    2. Yellow
    3. White
    4. Red
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    Answer: Yellow

    She said she was wearing a yellow shirt.

    أتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مع أبي وعلي قميص أصفر قال رسول الله صلى

    Narrated Sa`id:Um Khalid bint Khalid bin Sa`id said, "I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) along with my father and I was wearing a yellow shirt.Translation: Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Sahih al-Bukhari (Darussalam), as published on sunnah.com.

The questions and explanations are written by Seerah Streak from the cited hadith; words in quotation marks are the source's own. The Arabic is the book's text, checked word for word.

Lessons on this topic

In the app, each lesson reads the full passage, then asks about it.

1. The migrationSahih al-Bukhari 4230
2. Ja'far and the shipSahih Muslim 2503 · Sahih al-Bukhari 3708
3. Umm Khalid's dressSahih al-Bukhari 5845 · Sahih al-Bukhari 5823 · Sahih al-Bukhari 5993

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In this part of the Seerah: Makkah: birth to the Hijra

• The lineage, birth and childhood of the Prophet ﷺ16 questions · 4 lessons
• His youth, marriage to Khadijah and the Ka'bah20 questions · 6 lessons
• The first revelation, the Cave of Hira and the first Muslims20 questions · 10 lessons
• The open call, persecution and the boycott in Makkah20 questions · 7 lessons
• The Year of Sorrow and the day of Ta'if9 questions · 2 lessons
• Al-Isra' and al-Mi'raj: the Night Journey20 questions · 5 lessons

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