'Uthman and Ja'far were among the companions who migrated to Abyssinia. Write an account of this migration and the events in it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 5(a) 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); ‘Uthman and Ruqayya went in the first delegation 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; some came back from Abyssinia when they falsely heard that the Quraysh had accepted Islam; 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; 'Amr ibn al-'As and 'Abdullah bin Abi Rabi'a followed them and asked the king to return the Muslims; 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; 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.
2. 5(b) Candidates can present their own answers, but should give details about their reasoning. They could say that it can be easily compared to the migration of Muslims from Palestine/Myanmar/Syria, where people are being tortured and oppressed and are trying to find hope in new places.
3. 5(b) Or they could say that the migrations now are similar but not quite the same because Muslims are fleeing other Muslims, or they are going to countries that do not always welcome them and try to send them back.
4. 5(b) Or they could say that the migrations are not the same because often Muslims migrate now for economic reasons, and so they are not facing the same hardships as those early Muslims.