page_title: Islam in Ethiopia
section_title: The First Hijrah
hierarchical_section_title: Islam in Ethiopia / History / The First Hijrah
caption_attribution_description: English: Anwar Mosque in Mekele, Ethiopia Русский: Мечеть в городе Мэкэле, Эфиопия
context_page_description: Islam was in 2007 the second largest religion in Ethiopia with over 33.9% of the population. The faith arrived in Ethiopia at an early date, shortly before the hijira. Ethiopia was the first foreign country to accept Islam when it was unknown in most parts of the world. Ethiopia also favored its expansion and making Islam present in the country since the times of Muhammad. Islam and Christianity are the two major religions and have co-existed for hundreds of years. This is in part by Islam in Ethiopia is interrelated with international religious institutions, associations, and networks, resulting in the decline of Islam in the country.
context_section_description: When Mohammed saw the persecution to which his followers were subjected to in Mecca, he told them to find safe haven in northern Ethiopia, Abyssinia, where they would "find a king there who does not wrong anyone." It was the first hijra (migration) in Islam history.
  The persecution his followers suffered was due to polytheists who harmed the weaker Muslims and blackmailed richer Muslims, causing a severe decline in business. The abuse the Muslims endured eventually led people to convert while others held their Islamic beliefs. Abdullah ibn Masud was a new convert and participated in a Muslim group where a member suggested to recite the Qur’an in Masjid al-Haram because the people of the Quraysh never heard it before. Abdullah agreed to do so and the polytheists were amazed they pounded on him until he bled to prevent the verses from affecting them.
  Subsequently, because of the threats early Muslims suffered the verses from An-Nahl were revealed. According to historians, these verses were specifically sent as instructions for the migration to Abyssinia. The threats by the polytheists were so harsh it prompted the Prophet to save his people and have them migrate to Abyssinia to escape the harassment making it the first migration in Islam.
caption: A mosque in Mekelle.
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