Five years had passed since the disclosure of Islam and the first revelation… The despotic pressure and tumult of the Meccans had gotten out of control. Our Master commanded the Muslims, who were no longer able to bear the torture, to migrate:

“O Muslims, disperse yourselves on Earth! Allah will surely bring you back together some day…”

The Muslims asked, “And where shall we go O Rasul of Allah?”

Our Master pointed his finger and said, “There! You will be wise to go to Abbysinia… Nobody will be mistreated by the Abbysinian King. It is the land of righteousness… Allah may enable you to reach contentment and ease there…”

After this, a group of fifteen people comprising Hadhrat Uthman and his wife Ruqiyya, Hadhrat Abu Huzaifa and his wife Sahla, Hadhrat Zubair bin Awwam, Hadhrat Abudrrahman bir Awf, Hadhrat Mus’ab bin Umair, Hadhrat Uthman bin Maz’un, Hadhrat Abu Salama and his wife Ummu Salama, Hadhrat Amin bin Rabia and his wife Laila, Hadhrat Abu Sabra and his wife Ummu Gulsum, and Hadhrat Suhayl bin Bayza migrated to Abbysinnia.

This was the first group to do hijrah (migrate) with the command of our Master due to the immense torture they endured for accepting the religion of Islam… 

On the morning of their departure, while Amir was busy loading the camels, Omar happened to be walking towards them. Omar was one of those who had tormented them the most… 

Amir’s wife felt a little apprehensive when she saw Omar, nevertheless she sat tall on her camel and kept calm. 

Omar asked Laila, “O Ummu Abdullah, where are you going, are you migrating?”

With a sudden rush of courage Laila answered, “Indeed! We shall go to another region of Allah, a place where we can breathe with ease and no longer be tormented and tortured by people like you!” 

Despite everything, these words had drilled through Omar’s heart. A sense of sadness had set in… With a soft and gentle tone, one which Laila had never heard from Omar before, he said:

“May Allah be your helper and guide…”

Then he silently walked away…

A little later Amir came. When Laila told him about what had happened, seeing the light of hope in his wife’s eyes, Amir said:

“Only if you hear Omar’s donkey has become a Muslim then expect Omar to become a Muslim!”

Omar’s extremely rigid and harsh approach to Islam and the Muslims, had unfortunately ceased all hopes on him…