Al Nejashi Mosque in Ethiopia - 1st in Africa & 2nd in World
Located 790 Km from the capital Addis Ababa, Negash is a small town found in the northern part of Ethiopia and one of the historically rich places in the country. It is synonymous with Islam as it is the place where the first Muslim settlement took place in the world.
It all began in the 7th century. AD when the first followers of Prophet Mohamed ( صلى الله عليه وسلم ) were persecuted and oppressed in their own land by the Quraysh tribe of Mecca for their belief in Islam. Prophet Mohamed – صلى الله عليه وسلم – thus searched for a safe place and a compassionate person who could grant a safe hideout with protection for his followers. According to the earliest extant account given in Ibnu Ishaqa Sira: “The Prophet Mohamed – صلى الله عليه وسلم – realized that he could not protect his followers from the attacks, and said ‘go to the Habasha where there is a Christian king because there is justice in his kingdom. Habasha is the land of truth. Therefore, go there until we achieve victory with the help of Allah”.
So, the prophet – الله صلى وسلم عليه – sought refuge in the Christian Kingdom of Aksum, the land of Abyssinia — in present-day Ethiopia. The then Abyssinian king — Negashi (which means ‘king’ or ‘Nejashi’ in Arabic) warmly received the exiles out of good gesture and granted them refuge in the town of Negash, the present-day Tigray Region.
Fifteen companions of Prophet Mohamed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had their first migration (hijira) and arrived in the Axumite Empire territory in 615 AD followed by a second migration with a bigger group of around 101 people. The Quraysh tried every possible way including gift offers as bribes to persuade the king to hand over the Muslims and expel them back to Mecca. However, the king refused saying, “If you have given a mountain of gold, I would not give up these people who have taken asylum with me”. The king rather assured the Muslims full protection saying to them ‘Go and live in peace, if anybody ill-treats you, he will pay heavily for it’.
Inspired by the Ethiopian hospitality, Prophet Mohamed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself instructed his followers who came to Ethiopia, to respect and protect Ethiopia as well as live in peace with Ethiopian Christians. Many of these Muslims stayed in the country until they died and were buried at the sacred town of Negash. Al Nejashi mosque (Negash Amedin Mesgid) which is named after the king Negash is said to be the first mosque in Africa and one of the oldest mosques in the world. It is one of the top must-see places in Ethiopia, especially for tourists who are interested in history and religion. It holds an important place in Islamic history and serves as an enduring reminder of the warm welcome extended to the first Muslims by the Ethiopian king of the time.
It is also a sign that Ethiopia endorsed Islam first from the rest of Africa and before the most of Arab countries, even before the majority of the people in Mecca. Al Nejashi mosque is a place worth exploring for. Anyone who comes to visit the place will be able to walk along the path leading to the tombs ‘derih’ in the backyard of the mosque which is called ‘companions street’ and will be rewarded by the glorious history it offers. For these reasons, Al Nejashi mosque is considered by many as the second most sacred place of Islamic worship and rightly dubbed by Ethiopian Muslims as ‘the second Mecca’.
Following content is from the book known as “Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (THE SEALED NECTAR) Memoirs of the Noble Prophet [صلى الله عليه وسلم] by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
Negus, king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), his name was Ashama bin Al-Abjar, received the Prophet’s message, despatched by Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damari, which At-Tabari referred to, either late in the sixth year or early in the seventh year A.H
Dr. Hameedullah exerted painstaking effort and used all means of modern technology to verify the text of the letter, which reads as follows:
“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad the Messenger of Allâh to Negus, king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Peace be upon him who follows true guidance. Salutations, I entertain Allâh’s praise, there is no god but He, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Source of peace, the Giver of peace, the Guardian of faith, the Preserver of safety. I bear witness that Jesus, the son of Mary, is the spirit of Allâh and His Word which He cast into Mary, the virgin, the good, the pure, so that she conceived Jesus. Allâh created him from His spirit and His breathing as He created Adam by His Hand. I call you to Allâh Alone with no associate and to His obedience and to follow me and to believe in that which came to me, for I am the Messenger of Allâh. I invite you and your men to Allâh, the Glorious, the All-Mighty. I hereby bear witness that I have communicated my message and advice. I invite you to listen and accept my advice. Peace be upon him who follows true guidance.” [Za’d Al-Ma’ad 3/60]
The text of this letter is doubtlessly authentic, but to maintain that it was written after Al-Hudaibiyah event is still a question lacking in definite evidence. When ‘Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damari communicated the Apostolic letter to Negus, the latter took the parchment and placed it on his eye, descended to the floor, confessed his faith in Islam and wrote the following reply to the Prophet [صلى الله عليه وسلم]
“In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.From Negus Ashama to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allâh. Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allâh! and mercy and blessing from Allâh beside Whom there is no god. I have received your letter in which you have mentioned about Jesus and by the Lord of heaven and earth, Jesus is not more than what you say. We fully acknowledge that with which you have been sent to us and we have entertained your cousin and his companions. I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allâh, true and confirming (those who have gone before you), I pledge to you through your cousin and surrender myself through him to the Lord of the worlds.”[Za’d Al-Ma’ad 3/61]
The Prophet [pbuh] had asked Negus to send Ja‘far and his companions, the emigrants to Abyssinia (Ethiopia), back home. They came back to see the Prophet [صلى الله عليه وسلم] in Khaibar. Negus later died in Rajab 9 A.H. shortly after Tabuk Ghazwa. The Prophet [صلى الله عليه وسلم] announced his death and observed prayer in absentia for him. Another king succeeded Negus to the throne and another letter was sent to him by the Prophet [pbuh] but whether or not he embraced Islam is still a question not answered yet. [Sahih Muslim 2/99]