Some Muslims travelled to Abyssinia. Describe what happened to the groups that migrated.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] A comprehensive answer will provide an account of the reason the Muslims went to Abyssinia, their journey there and the events that unfolded when the Quraysh came to get them back.
2. Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
3. The Muslims in Makka, mainly those without tribal protection and slaves, were being persecuted by the Quraysh. An ayat was revealed about the earth being spacious for believers (39.10). The Prophet (pbuh) allowed some followers to go to Abyssinia to seek protection from its king, the Negus, in the 5th year of prophethood (614/615).
4. 'Uthman and Ruqayya went in the first migration of 12 men and 4 women, whereupon the Quraysh chased them but the migrants managed to board a boat before the Quraysh got to them.
5. Some came back from Abyssinia when they falsely heard that the Quraysh had accepted Islam.
6. The persecutions increased and later the second delegation, of 83 men and 19 women, was led by the Prophet's cousin, Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib.
7. 'Amr ibn al-'As and 'Abdullah bin Abi Rabi'a followed them and asked the king to return the Muslims.
8. The Negus called the Muslims to give their account; Ja'far told him of the way they lived before Islam, and also recited verses from Sura Maryam.
9. This moved the Negus to tears and he allowed the Muslims to stay in Abyssinia in peace and freedom. The Quraysh envoys were given their gifts back and sent away. The Muslims lived here in peace until they moved to Madina.
10. [4] Muslims around the world are facing persecution, such as in Syria and Myanmar, and are migrating to other countries like Jordan and Turkey, and Bangladesh.
11. It could be said that the migrations are similar as sometimes Muslims are welcomed in the country they are migrating to and they are given freedom to live and work as well as protection from persecution.
12. However, some may say it is not like the migration to Abyssinia as the current migrants usually live in refugee camps, where resources are limited. Sometimes not everyone welcomes them, and the experience is very distressing.
13. Also, many Muslims now are economic migrants who move for work and financial reasons, so it is not similar.
14. Other opinions can be given but candidates should give reasons.