History
From the first refuge to Timbuktu
Before Madinah, Africa sheltered the first Muslim refugees.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
Around 615, persecuted in Makkah, a group of early Muslims fled to the Christian king of Abyssinia, the Najashi. He heard the Qur'an's verses on Maryam, wept, and refused to hand them over.
Qur'an 19:16
وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مَرۡيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتۡ مِنۡ أَهۡلِهَا مَكَانࣱا شَرۡقِيࣱّا ١٦
16 And mention in the Book [the story of] Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place towards the east.
Lesson
Islam's first refuge was a Christian African king, the Najashi of Abyssinia.
Part 2 of 3
Over the centuries, Islam spread south of the Sahara mostly through traders and scholars, not armies. Camel caravans crossed the desert carrying gold, salt, books and faith. On the east coast, the Swahili cities grew Muslim through Indian Ocean trade.
Lesson
South of the Sahara, traders and teachers, not armies, carried Islam.
Part 3 of 3
Mansa Musa of Mali made the Hajj in 1324 with so much gold that its price fell in Cairo. He brought back scholars and architects. Timbuktu became a city of scholars. Hundreds of thousands of its manuscripts survive.
Lesson
In 2012, Timbuktu's librarians smuggled many of its manuscripts to safety from armed militants.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Before Madinah, Africa sheltered the first Muslim refugees.