King Najashi was the ruler of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) when a group of Muslims migrated there to escape persecution in Mecca. According to Islamic tradition, King Najashi welcomed the Muslim refugees and allowed them to practice their religion freely in his kingdom. He even refused to hand them over to the Meccan authorities who came to Abyssinia to demand their extradition. This policy of protecting the Muslim refugees is seen as an important example of religious tolerance and humanitarianism in Islamic history.