When the disbelievers observed that day-by-day, more and more people were entering the fold of Islam, and the reach of Islam was expanding, they unanimously resolved to increase their persecution of the Muslims. In this manner, they began to subject the Muslims to different forms of torture and persecution in order to force them to renounce Islam.

At that time, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) advised the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saying:

تفرقوا في الأرض فإن الله سيجمعكم قالوا إلى أين نذهب قال إلى هنا وأشار بيده إلى أرض الحبشة

“Spread out in the earth, for certainly Allah Ta‘ala will soon assemble all of you.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) enquired, “Where should we go to?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) indicated with his blessed hand towards the land of Abyssinia and said, “Go in this direction.”