How Christians helped the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Episode Four
The First Hijra. One of the most famous examples of Christians helping the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the case of the protection and patronage provided to Muslims by the ruler of Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) - a king named Negus. After the beginning of the preaching of Islam in Mecca, the first Muslims faced severe persecution from the pagans. In order to protect the faith and the lives of his followers, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a group of Muslims to the country where the Christian king Negus ruled. The Negus received the refugees with compassion and provided them with shelter. When the envoys of the Meccan pagans arrived in Abyssinia to demand the extradition of the Muslims, the Negus asked the refugees themselves for an explanation. One of them was Jafar ibn Abu Talib, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He explained the essence of their faith by reciting verses from the Holy Koran about the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. Upon hearing these words, the Negus said, “This is the same as what we say about Jesus.” He refused to extradite the refugees and even offered them financial assistance.
This episode became a symbol of interreligious peace and mutual assistance. The Negus demonstrated how faith should be based on love and justice and not on discord and enmity.
Monotheism: justice and diplomacy
The Christians who helped Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) were inspired by the same ideas that underlie all monotheistic religions: belief in one God, striving for justice and caring for others. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) always emphasised that Islam continues the tradition of Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa), Jesus (Isa) and other prophets of God and called on people to follow the commandments common to all these great prophets.
A modern lesson: mutual respect and cooperation
The history of the relationship between Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and Christians teaches us an important lesson: true faith should not be a source of conflict, but should promote mutual understanding and cooperation. Today, when the world faces many challenges such as terrorism, discrimination and mistrust, it is important to remember examples of the past when representatives of different religions found common ground for the common good.
The support given to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) by Christians became a shining example of how people of different faiths can work together to build peace and justice. These events remind us that faith should be based on love, compassion and mutual respect. They also show that dialogue and cooperation are possible if we focus on common values, not on differences.
