Chapter 10 - The Years of Sorrow - Social Boycott and Life in Shi'ab Abi Talib.

 Chapter 9 

THE YEARS OF SORROW.

SOCIAL BOYCOTT AND LIFE IN SHA'IB ABI TALIB

Social Life and Economy Boycott in Sha'ib Abi Talib.

(617-619 A.C)

“It is not fitting, For the Prophet and those, Who believe, that they should Pray for forgiveness. For Pagans, even though, They are of kin, after it is, Clear to them that they Are companions of the Fire.

(Surah Taubah; V-113)

SOCIAL BOYCOTT AND LIFE IN SHI' AB  ABI TALIB

Waraqah bin Nawfal had once told Rasulullahﷺ, "That I wish I was alive to help you when your tribesmen would oppose and compel you to migrate". His prediction was made in the year 610 AD. It became true in 616 AD and as he had feared he was not alive to extend his help to Rasulullahﷺ.

Throughout history people who presented something for the betterment and righteousness of society, were exiled, imprisoned, murdered, or burnt alive. Such people negate and contradict centuries-old customs and exploitation of those who thrive on such traditions. People take it as a threat to their survival, therefore, resolve to oppose these reformists.

The Quraish observed that the king of Abyssinia was not willing to return the Muslims who had taken refuge in his land. Also back home the popularity of Rasulullahﷺ was increasing steadily. They decided, to banish Rasulullahﷺ and his followers to eradicate Islam forever. In this connection, they formulated a scheme for their complete social and economic boycott by implementing special restrictions for Muslims.

It was not tolerable to SayidinaUmar Ibn Al Khattab RA,  that Quraish should worship their gods, openly at the Holy Kaabah, while the believers worshipped Allah in secret. Quraish were determined not to allow Rasulullahﷺ to imagine that he had defeated them. Under pressure from Abu Jahl, they decided that the best solution would be to place an interdiction on the whole clan of Hashim. With the exception of Abu Lahab, all others were resolved to protect their kinsman whether they believed him to be a Prophet or not. In order to nullify this support, a document was drawn up. No less than forty leaders of Quraish set their seal to this agreement.

Quraish Musyrikin hung this notice or "Saheefah" as the Arabs called it on the walls of the Holy Kaaba and directed the people to make a complete boycott of the Muslims. "Saheefah" is a statement of an order, decree, or announcement. The orders were, "No citizen of Makkah is allowed to talk to any Muslim (whether male or female). The Makkans are forbidden to touch a Muslim or to shake hands with him. If they do so they would become unclean. The Makkans have no right to transact any business with the Muslims. The Makkans will neither accept nor give any girl or woman in marriage to the Muslims. If one owes money to a Muslim, one should not repay his debt. These orders will remain active until Rasulullahﷺ revokes his religion or Banu Hashim suspends their support to Rasulullahﷺ)".

In 616 AD, Muhammad (Rasulullahﷺ) along with other Muslims was expelled from Makkah. They were still patronized by Banu Hashim who also left Makkah with them even though some of them, including Rasulullahﷺ uncle, were not Muslims. The gallantry of Abu Talib could not permit him to abandon his nephew. Only "Abu Lahab" of Banu Hashim was not on their side. Rasulullahﷺ shifted to a "Sha’ib" owned by Abu Talib.

Literally "Sha’ib" means a crag in a rock. However, figuratively it is a pass or a valley carved naturally in a mountain.

Each of the ten tribes of Quraish owned a separate "Sha’ib". Whenever a person or a tribe sought refuge from any of the Quraishite tribes, it was provided for in one of the particular "Sha’ib". The Arabs did not consider any refugee tribe or person as one of their own. Hence a stranger was never accommodated as being one of them, and such a person could not live among them.

In tribal life, the tents were fixed in such a way that one could know at a glance which tent belonged to the chief. The chieftain was always in the middle. On his right and left were his sons. Next to them were the tents of the chieftain’s brothers, daughters, and sons-in-law. The more distant the relation, the farther the tent from the center.

Shi'ab  Abu Talib was used only to provide shelter to strangers and the needy, and not for Abu Talib himself or his tribesmen. It was a small place that could not accommodate so many people as there was no place in the surroundings for shelter. All around this "Shi'ab" were either sand dunes or passes.

During the Rasulullahﷺ period, the land of Makkah was surrounded by dunes and huge rocks that heated like a great oven. During summer, there were no trees, grass, or birds. Although the situation is quite different now, at some distance from the city are still present the same barren rocks and dunes found during the Rasulullahﷺ period.

When Rasulullahﷺ and his followers left Makkah, they could not bring enough eatables with them. They had been abandoned socially and economically. Their shelter was also far from any caravan’s route.

They faced the worst of hardships for sustenance. They fed themselves by boiling pieces of hides and leather of the sacrificed animals. It was only during the four months of "Harem" that they could come into the city for buying food. They collected skins as well as food to feed them through the rest of the year.

During this exile, the nephew of Khadijah R.A sneaked out of Makkah one day to deliver some eatables to his aunt. The Quraish, who were on the guard, followed him. They confiscated all the eatables and beat him severely.

Some Islamic historians, in respect and honor of Rasulullahﷺ, have left his period of exile un-mentioned, or at least have not described it in detail. They opine that if this period is discussed in detail, it would be a sort of disrespect to Rasulullahﷺ glory.

Having said this one must also realize that these three years were to have a great impact on Rasulullahﷺ later life. Rasulullahﷺ dealt with all the misery and hardship of this exile with immense resolve and determination. Where the Makkans had been anticipating the death of this new religion there came a new vigor in the spirits of those stranded in the "Sha’ib Abi Talib.”

The Year of Grieve.

Undoubtedly this exile also brought much pain to Rasulullahﷺ as the loss of two of his most beloved family members, Khadijah R.A and Abu Talib occurred during this period.

He was sure of his prophethood and therefore did not give way to the demands of the Quraish and spent three years destitute and hungry.

It was during this time that Khadijah R.A Rasulullahﷺ wife of twenty-five years died. He himself was fifty at the time. Khadijah R.A. had been not only his wife but also an adviser. She always counseled him and gave the best possible advice which Rasulullahﷺ took seriously. She was the first woman to believe in his prophethood hood and unlike the business class which usually had nothing to do with religion; she spent all her wealth on the cause of Islam.

Khadijah R.A fell ill during exile as there was no means to provide for her treatment and diet. She expired in the year 619 AD. - the year of "A’am-al-Hazn" (the year of sorrow and grief). She was 65 years old at that time.

Rasulullahﷺmourned her death with tears for two consecutive days. Whenever he recalled her memories, his eyes filled with tears. Though there was a marked difference in ages, there occurred no disparity between them from the start to the end of their marital life. They complimented each other with true adoration.

There was no shroud, in the camp for "Kafin", therefore she was wrapped in "Saooqah", a type of coverlet or veil used by the Arab women to cover their heads.

She was a devoted and sincere Muslim whose material support played a very important role in the propagation of Islam. It was she who always stood by the side of Rasulullahﷺ and shared all his burdens.

Two days after her death, the Muslims were struck by another grief. Rasulullahﷺ uncle "Abu Talib" breathed his last. He was eighty-sixed years old then.

When Abu Lahab received news of his brother’s approaching death, he went to his place and standing at the head of the bed addressed him, "O brother! Swear that you have not attested Muhammad’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) religion and that you are departing the world in the footsteps of your ancestral religion".

In his last gasps, Abu Talib swore that he had not accepted Muhammad’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) religion and that he was leaving the world as his ancestors did.

The devotion and sacrifice of Khadijah R.A is not surprising as Rasulullahﷺ was her husband and Rasulullahﷺ as well. It is his Uncle’s sacrifices and hardships that are commendable and surprising. He neither believed in Islam nor accepted his nephew as Rasulullahﷺ, yet he offered his life for him to fulfill his obligation towards "Assiyah" (tribal loyalty).

"Assiyah" - was a form of tribal conceit. It was so predominant in Arabs that a person like Abu Talib, a chieftain, forsook his peaceful life, in spite of his old age, and accepted refuge in a fissure, for a person he did not believe in. He had to make sure that none of his subjects remained helpless and shelterless. After his death, the Banu Hashim had no choice but to choose a new chieftain and according to the custom, Abu Talib’s brother Abu Lahab was offered this position. Ironically he was the worst enemy of Islam in Makkah.

The Banu on Hashim and Muttalib was for three years. It showed no signs of having any of the desired effects. The time had come for a change of mind to take place, and the first man to act was Hashim who had so often sent his camel with food and clothes for the Hashemites. He was joined by another man named Zuhayr.

Early one day they joined the gathering of the people in the Mosque and Zuhayr, clad in a long robe, went around the Holy Kaabah seven times. Then he turned to face the assembly and said:

 "O people of Makkah are we to eat food and wear clothes, while the sons of Hashim perish. They are unable to buy and unable to sell? By Allah, I will not be seated until this iniquitous ban is torn up". "Thou liest!" said his cousin Abu Jahl. "It shall not be torn up". "Thou art the better liar," said Zam’ah "We were not in favor of its being written when it was written. Zam’ah is right," said Abu l-Bakhtari. "We are not in favor of what is written in it, neither do we hold with it". "You are both right," said Mut 'im, "and he that saith no is a liar".

Mut 'im, cut him short by going into the Holy Kaabah to fetch the document. He came out in triumph with a small piece of vellum in his hand: the worms had eaten it all except the opening words "In Thy Name, O Allah". The ban was formally revoked, and a body of Quraish went to give the good news to the Bani Hashim and the Bani Al-Muttalib.

Walid and other chiefs proposed that they should all practice both religions. Rasulullah ﷺ was saved from the trouble of formulating his refusal by an immediate answer that came directly from Heaven in a Surah of six verses:

.

Say: O ye, That reject Faith!, I worship not that, Which ye worship, Nor will ye worship, That which I worship, And I will not worship, That which ye have been, Wont to worship, Nor will ye worship, That which I worship, To you be your Way, And to me mine.

(Quran 109: 1-6)

Except for Sayidina Jaafar Ibn Abi Talib RA, and Ubayd Ibn Jahsh, all Rasulullahﷺ cousins returned. With them came also Sayidina Uthman R.A and Ruqayyah R.A.

When the Makkans observed that the decree hung on the walls of Makkah for a social boycott of Rasulullahﷺ had been eaten away by termites, they became scared of the unknown. By chance, this incident took place when Abu Talib had died and Abu Lahab had just taken the oath. The Quraish were thus worried about these strings of events. They proposed to allow the Muslims to return to which Abu Lahab agreed. Thus the Muslims returned to their native city after three years. During this time the Muslims had undergone great losses financially. Most of their businesses were ruined and even people like Abu Bakr R.A, who was extremely rich, were left only with 5000 Dirhams.

When Abu Lahab was asked about his unlikely permission for the Muslims to return, he replied that being the chieftain he had to patronize his tribe. He hoped that Muhammad (Rasulullahﷺ) would abide by the tribal laws for he would expel him from the tribe if he did not. He was not like Abu Talib who would leave for Sha’ib Abi Talib for his tribe and suffer on the account of Muslims.

 Abu Lahab could not restrain himself from opposing Islam. One day he invited all the people of Banu Hashim to a feast; including Rasulullahﷺ. When all gathered, he addressed Rasulullahﷺ "I intend to ask you, in front of all these people of Banu Hashim, about Abu Talib. You say about pagans going to hell, is Abu Talib in hell or heaven?.”

In answer, Rasulullahﷺ recited a verse of Surah Tauba verse 113.

 

It is not fitting, For the Prophet and those, Who believe, that they should, Pray for forgiveness. For Pagans, even though, They are of kin, after it is, Clear to them that they Are companions of the Fire.

                                                 (Surah Taubah; V-113)

Then Abu Lahab asked whether his brother Abu Talib had been pardoned Rasulullah ﷺ replied that as Abu Talib had died a non-believer, his matter rested with Allah.

Abu Lahab again inquired about the fate of some other ancestors. Rasulullah ﷺ again recited a Holy Quranic verse and said that the final decision rests with Allah, who accommodates neither any change nor any concessions. Those in attendance were speechless.

Ancestors were thought of with great reverence among the Arabs. The criticism of one’s ancestors was an act of grave offense. Till then Rasulullah ﷺ had propagated Islam and invited the Makkans to it, but had not criticized his ancestors with such courage.

Abu Lahab asked the audience whether using his authority as the chieftain, he should expel Rasulullah ﷺ from the tribe. They all agreed unanimously. Abu Lahab instantly declared his verdict. The meeting was adjourned and the people returned to their homes. From that very moment, Rasulullah ﷺ was turned into a person to whom the right of protégé was denied.

In Makkah, shedding the blood of a person who had been expelled from his tribe was lawful. He could be killed, enslaved, sold, or even burned alive by anyone. There was no punishment for the killer as he would not be considered guilty of any crime. The expelled person had no right to appeal to the tribal jury. In short, such a person had no right to live.

Thus Abu Lahab had practically made Rasulullah ﷺ a social outcast. Rasulullah ﷺ was left completely alone and defenseless. There was neither Khadijah R.A nor Abu Talib to solaces him. He asked for Allah’s succor. Allah not only helped and comforted him but also invited Rasulullah ﷺ to His throne in the Heavens. This was Rasulullah ﷺ  - Ascension". We the Muslims term this event as "Mira’aj".

Chapter 9 Migration to Ethiopia (Abyssinia)

 

Migration to Ethiopia (Abyssinia)

 “And those who fly for Allah’s sake after they are oppressed, We will most certainly give them a good abode in the world”

                                (Al Quran 16:41)                                      

  About 615 A.D, Rasulullahﷺ had allowed his followers to migrate, he could not bear to witness the cruelly tortured companions without being able to protect them.

The destination for refuge was Abyssinia, Rasulullahﷺ knows the righteousness, tolerance, and hospitality of its king. The migration of Muslims to Abyssinia consisted of eleven men and four women who left Makkah in secrecy, with no hope of returning back to their beloved motherland. Disheartened with sadness to leave their native land was to them the greatest calamity. However, their faith in Allah kept them resolute. Most of them came from the well to do rich and influential families. This shows Makkah was not safe. As for the poor and the slaves, they had neither the means nor the opportunity to migrate. Leaving Makkah the emigrants traveled as far as Jeddah on foot, then by ship to Abyssinia. By then the Kafir Quraish had learned of this migration and immediately sent a strong detachment to capture them and bring them back, but to no avail, the exiles had sailed. Those who migrated to Abyssinia had a peaceful life. They are well treated by King Negus with a warm reception on foreign land. The good tidings from Abyssinian prompted more companions to wish to migrate from Makkah.

The Quraish of course could not tolerate this, for to them it foretold defeat. In mitigating the consequence sent a deputation to the King Negus demanding the fugitives back. Valuable presents were given to the couriers to facilitate the success of their objective, so with gifts who had ear of the king. The mission was headed by Abdullah ibn Rabia, in due course reached Abyssinia. By distributing the presents lavishly, found themselves in the presence of the Negus, to whom they also presented costly gifts, and begged that the offenders should be handed over to them. However, King Negus declined to do that until he had heard the case from both sides. The next day the Muslims in Abyssinia were summoned to the palace of King Negus and inquired from them the justification why they should or not be handed to the Quraish demand. Jaafar ibn Abu Talib who led the migration rose and addressed King Negus; “O, King! We were ignorant people given to idolatry. We used to eat corpses even of animals that died a natural death and to do all sorts of evil and unclean things. We never made good our obligations to our relations, we ill-treated our neighbors. The strong among us would grow fat on the blood of the weak until at last God raised  Rasulullah ﷺ from among us to reform us by showing us the path of righteousness.  Rasulullah ﷺ is well known to us. We know him to be most noble, truthful, and persuaded us to give up idolatry and stone worshipping.

 Rasulullah ﷺ enjoined on us, to tell the truth, to have a love for our kith and kin. Further to that to fulfill our promises and to do good to others.   Rasulullah ﷺ taught us to shun everything that is bad and cease bloodshed. Rasulullah ﷺ also forbade us from all indecent things such as telling lies, robbing and cheating orphans and widows so with bearing false witness.

 Rasulullah ﷺ taught us to keep the chastity of women sacred. So we believe in him and acted up to his teachings so far as we can. Thereupon these men began to torture us, thinking that we might be induced to give up our faith and go back to idolatry.

When their cruelties exceeded all bounds we came to seek peace and shelter in your country and where we trust we shall come to no harm.”

Thereupon King Negus wished to hear the Quran. Then Sayidina Jaafar IbnAbu Talib ra, recited the chapter entitled “Surah Maryam.” Upon completion of reading Surah Maryam by Sayidina Jaafar Ibn Abu Talib ra, King Negus refuses to hand over the exiles to the Makkan Kafir. Failed in their attempt to convince King Negus they decided to play a mean trick on the Muslims. First, they obtain an audience with King Negus, telling the King that the Muslim held views about Jesus, repugnant to the King.  They had thought of a plan to prejudice the King against the Muslims. Then King Negus sent for them again, and this time they were genuinely afraid that the deputation would be achieved in effecting their extradition.

For they thought that the replies might have would offend the King. The Negus asked them point-blank what they thought about Jesus and these truthful people not caring for the consequences’ boldly replied that they believed in Jesus to be the Prophet of God but not the son of God. The Negus admired this courage of theirs and again refuses to hand over the Muslims thus putting the Makkan Kafir to shame. They were asked to leave Abyssinia immediately, who now returned in confusion to Makkah.

Numbers of Muslims were seeking safety in far-off lands,  Rasulullah ﷺ stuck to his post amidst every insult and outrage. The Quraish came to him again, offering him the richest of the land, to which the Prophet replied:

“I am neither desirous of riches nor am I fond of power and kingship. I am sent by Allah to give you glad tiding. I give you His message and if you accept it, He will reward you both in this world and the hereafter. But, if you refuse, I leave to Allah to judge between you and me.”  They then mocked at him, scoffed at him, and went away. They demanded of him impossible things to prove his Prophet Hood. It was in fact the old story. The followers of Jesus had insisted upon him to perform miracles. As someone has remarked: “The immediate disciples of Jesus have always misunderstood him and his work. Wanting him to call down fire from heaven; wanting him to declare himself the king of the Jews. The other like of many peoples of destroyed nations wanting him to show them their father and to make God visible.

This was how they treated him until the end.  When that came they all forsook him and fled. Jesus (Isa As.) always replied to them that it was evil to seek for a sign that therefore no sign should be given to them. Similarly, the Makkan Kafir want signs of God existent from him.  Rasulullah ﷺ was asked to prove his mission.

Why could he not perform miracles like Moses and Jesus?

Why could he not change the hill of Safa into gold?

Why not make the book itself? Of which he talks so much? Make it fall down from heaven?

Why not show them this so-called angel? Who comes to speak to him?

Why not make the dead speak?

Why not moves a mountain?

“You (Prophet Muhammad) would do well to ask Allah with whom you are on such good terms, to loosen the grip of these mountains stifling our town so disastrously.”  The Quraish sniggered:

“or it would be enough to make a beautiful spring, purer than Zamzam, gush forth; for we really lack water. And as prophets can foretell the future you might as well advise about the approaching price of goods. Cannot your God disclose which articles will rise in price? We should like to know these things in order to regulate our trade and speculate with certainty.”

To such as would ask for miracles the holy Prophet Muhammad would reply:

 “I am able neither to procure advantage unto me, nor to avert harm from me, but as God pleas Seth. If I knew the secret of God, I should enjoy an abundance of good, neither should evil befall me. I am nothing but a warner and the giver of good news to a people who believe”

Quran 7:188

 “I am no more than a man like you”

Quran: 18:110

 The followers of  Rasulullah ﷺ differed from those of Jesus in this that they contented themselves with the moral evidence of  Rasulullah ﷺ’s Mission. They gathered around this friendless preacher and sacrificed their all for him.

I have just said that  Rasulullah ﷺ was left with those who were not able to migrate behind in Makkah, while the Quraish intensified their campaign of torture. Many and various were the ways they adapted to stem the rising tide of the new faith. It was at this time that by Divine revelation (Quran 15:94), Rasulullah ﷺ was ordered by Allah SWT  to proclaim Allah’s message to the world, and he had to begin preaching in public.

 Rasulullah ﷺ climbed Mount Safa one day and called out to all the Quraish gathered there, “Have you ever heard me tell a lie?”  With one voice they replied that they had not. Upon which  Rasulullah ﷺ said: “If I tell you that there is hidden behind this mountain a large army ready to attack you, would you believe me?” “Certainly,” they all replied, “ for we have never heard you tell a lie.” Then  Rasulullah ﷺ gave them the message of Allah and exhorted them to give up idolatry, shun all kinds of evil, and follow the path of righteousness.

 Rasulullah ﷺ continued to say: “Well! I now tell you important news: O! Banu Abdul Manaf, O! Banu Taym, O! Banu Makhzum, O! Banu Asad…O! Assembled Qurayshite, redeem your own souls, for I can do nothing for you in God’s presence…Listen to what He commanded me to tell you..”

Abu Lahab,  Rasulullah ﷺ’s uncle, then rose and cried: “May you are cursed for the rest of your life! Why gather us together for trifles like this?”

 Rasulullah ﷺ, disconnected, looked at his uncle without speaking, His face grew red and then pale; his eyes twitched; he could not breathe. Holding out his hand towards his assailant, he spoke, but it was really the angel of wrath speaking for him;

“The hands of Abu Lahab shall perish, and he shall perish: His riches shall not profit him, neither that which he hath gained, He shall go down to be burned into a flaming fire.”

Quran: 110.

This meeting made them offensive and insulting, but  Rasulullah ﷺ was undeterred and went on delivering his message. Thus more hearts warmed to his teaching and embraced Islam. This further infuriated the Quraish when the news of failures of the deputation to Negus of Abyssinia. This added fuel to the fire; they decided to kill  Rasulullah ﷺ. So they went again to Abu Talib, this time with a handsome youth whom they wanted Abu Talib to adopt and bring up, and give them, in return,  Rasulullah ﷺ to be put to death. Abu Talib declined to listen to such a ludicrous proposal, whereupon the Quraish decided to extend a system of persecution to the whole of the Bani Hashim family.  

The first they promulgated was a kind of social ban that stopped inter-marriage and commercial relations. An agreement to that effect was drawn up and hung in the Kaabah. On learning of this, the Bani Hashim moved to a place known as Shi’b, but the Quraish saw to it that the blockade was enforced. When someone only remotely related wanted to supply provisions the Quraish offered obstruction, in which Abu Jahl, himself a Bani Hashim, played the cruelest part. The whole family cheerfully suffered this ostracism for the sake of  Rasulullah ﷺ, which they would never have done had they had no respect for him. During the ban, the preaching was confined to the banned, and  Rasulullah ﷺ took full advantage of this. Only during the days of pilgrimage, when bloodshed was sacrilegious,  Rasulullah ﷺ would come out and preach to the people assembled from all sides.

After some time the gentle-hearted Quraish began to object to the prolonged ban, and five of them decided to remove it, which they did, first by tearing into shreds the scroll hung in the Kaabah. They then went to Shi’b and brought the Hashemites out, and sent them to their homes, nobody having the courage to stop them. The ban had lasted for three years. Immediately after this Abu Talib, who had been such a good uncle of over eighty years of age, and brave supporter, passed away, and shortly afterward Rasulullah ﷺ’s faithful wives and greatest help, Khadijah passed away too.  In Islamic history, this year is known as “The Years of Grief”.

The loss of his beloved wife and his uncle is the continuous test of a Prophet. Those two people in his life who were the greatest supporter in his life. As we shall see, the events following will show that  Rasulullah ﷺ had still greater difficulties to face. In fact, these two deaths ushered in a new era of troubles. The following chapter will more than ever prove our claim that it was only through his conviction in the truth of his mission and his absolute faith in Allah Rabbul Jalalluh, that  Rasulullah ﷺ was able to braves all obstacles. An exemplary undertaking of a man's hard struggle for a nobler destiny towards the liberation of his people from the bondage of idolatry”.

Chapter 8 - The Atrocities of the Quraish

 

The Atrocities of the Quraish.

(Quran: Al Ankabut 29: 10)

“And among men is he who says: We believe in God, but when, he is presented in the way of God, he thinks of the persecution of men as the chastisement of God”

(Quran 29:10)

 

When Rasulullahﷺ began actively to preach Islam, he decided to establish a missionary headquarters, where those who wanted to embrace the faith could be instructed. Where this new abode, all Muslims could gather together for prayer. Rasulullahﷺ could not preach publicly during the atrocities.

Saiyidina Arqam RA, one of the early converts gave his house called the “Abode of Islam” or Darul Islam which was situated at the foot of Safa’s hill and is the center of the mission. This house is especially famous in Islam and is known to this day as the Abode of Islam. In it, Rasulullahﷺ preached for over three years and many people embraced Islam there.

After five years, Islam was well known and the subject of much discussion in all parts of Makkah. The Quraish tried many ways to check it from spreading, and at last, decided to resort to using force. They were determined to crush the movement at any cost for many reasons. The first and the most natural one was the fear of what usually happens at the advent of a Prophet; how the people rise against Rasulullahﷺ and Allah Rabbul Jalalluh proves that in spite of the power and strength of the people one single solitary and friendless man will succeed in establishing Truth and the Word of God. Secondly, the Quraish thought it would be derogatory to men so proud to change their religion and depart from the ways of their forefathers.

Thirdly, Makkah was the greatest temple location in Arabia where the offerings to idols therein were a source of immense wealth. They feared lest those with the influence and power it bought would be lost.  Fourthly, the chiefs of the Quraish were apprehensive that the new religion would put an end to their prestige and a stop to their luxuries and generally make impossible their easy and dissipated lives. 

So Rasulullahﷺ was subjected to every sort of torture and atrocities, Thorns were strewn in his path, stones were thrown at his house, and dirt and rubbish at his body. He was laughed at and hooted, and once when he was at prayer, ‘Uqba bin Abd Mu’it threw his sheet around his neck and pulled it with such a force that the body of Rasulullahﷺ fell on his face. The story of these outrages is a long and sad one. The people of Quraish had decided to extinguish this new religion from the face of the earth, and to stop its preachers from carrying on their work. 

Once the opposition started it gradually developed, and hatred of the people became fierce. It was only because of the ancient and peculiar custom of the Arabs that if a man is murdered it would lead to war between the clans of the murdered and murderer, that they stopped from killing holy Rasulullahﷺ outright, and also perhaps because they were already tired of war, but all this did not stop them from doing all they could to torture the holy Rasulullah ﷺ and his followers.

When the Quraish discovered that all they did was of no avail, they sent a deputation to Abu Talib, the chief of the tribe which also the uncle of Holy Rasulullahﷺ to beg him to stop holy from preaching. Abu Talib sent them out with pacifying words, but they returned again after some time to put their case before him with greater force.

The second deputation decided on Abu Talib, and he sent for Rasulullahﷺ to refrain him from preaching, pointing out that he could not fight the whole tribe single-handedly. At this time on account of the persistent persecution, the followers of Islam were few and weak, yet holy Rasulullahﷺ spoke to his uncle in these words, “I would not care even if I had to lay down my life for God (Allah), but if you are afraid of your own weakness then leave me alone; my God is enough to help me, Even if these people were to give me the moon in one hand and the sun in the other, it would not stop me from doing my duty”. This answer impressed and moved Abu Talib so much that, marveled at the courage, perseverance, and patience of Rasulullahﷺ. Abu Talib told him, to go and do his duty and promised that he, Abu Talib, would help him as much as he was able.

When the Quraish found that this also had failed, they sent Utbah, an orator to Rasulullahﷺ who said: “O son of my brother, thou art distinguished by the qualities and the descent. Now thou hast sown division among our people and cast dissension in our families, thou denounce our gods and goddesses, thou dost tax our ancestors with impiety. We have a proposition to make to thee, think well it will not suit thee to accept it.”

“Speak O Utbah,” said Rasulullah ﷺt. “I will listen, O son of my brother.” Commenced Utbah, “ If thou wishes to acquire riches by this affair, we will collect a fortune larger than is possessed by any of us if thou desires honor and dignity, we shall make thee our chief, and shall not do a thing without thee, if thou desires dominion, we shall make thee our king, and if the spirit which possesses thee cannot be overpowered, we will bring the doctors and give them riches till they cure thee.”  And when he had done;

“Has thou finished, O father of Walid?” asked Rasulullahﷺ. “Yes” replied Utbah. “Then listen to me,” Rasulullahﷺ said. “In the name of the most Merciful Allah,” commenced Rasulullahﷺ, “this is a revelation from the most Merciful; a book the verses whereof are distinctly explained, an Arabic Quran, for the instruction of people who understand, bearing good tidings and denouncing threats, but the greater part of them turn aside and hearken not thereto.

And there say, ‘Our hearts are veiled from the doctrine to which thou invite us, and there is a deafness in our ears and a curtain between us and thee; wherefore act thou as thou shall think fit, for we shall act according to our sentiments. Say, Verily I am only a man like you. It is revealed unto me that your God is one God: wherefore direct your way straight unto Him, and ask pardon of him for what is past.  

“And woe is to idolaters, who give not the appointed alms, and believe not in the life to come. But as to those who believe and work righteousness, they shall receive an everlasting reward”

 (The Quran 41:1 – 8)

When Rasulullahﷺ finished this recitation, he said to Utbah, “Thou have heard, now take the course which seemeth best to thee”

Utbah returned and told the Quraishi that it would be best to leave him to his devices, pointing out that it would be an occasion of pride if Rasulullahﷺ was to succeed in his mission, “for,” he said, “he belongs to our tribe, and if he fails we attain our object.” But they refused to listen to his advice.

When they found that every attempt of theirs had failed they decided that each tribe should persecute in every way the Muslim of its clan, and hence starts a tale that is too painful to be told in full. Although ‘Usman was a grown-up and quite an independent person because he was a follower of Islam, his uncle tortured him by tying him with ropes and beating him. ‘Abdullah was unmercifully beaten on the premises of the Kaabah itself. Other followers were beaten and tortured whenever possible.

Even more cruel and ghastly were tortures meted out to the poor slaves who were the followers of Rasulullahﷺ. Bilal, the slave of Umayya bin Khalaf was forced to lie down on the hot sands of the desert on his back with his face to the scorching sun and a heavy stone on top of his back. Sayidina Bilal Ibn Rabbah ra was also bound and dragged through the streets of Makkah. “You remain in the scorching sun till you are dead or you abjure Islam,” his master would say. As Bilal lay, half-stifled under the heavy weight of the stone, he would only say, “Ahad..Ahad..Ahad..(One God..One God..One God). This lasted for days until he was ransomed by Abu Bakr and set free.

Zunnira, the slave girl of Abu Jahl, was blinded, and many others were similarly treated. Abu Jahl was responsible; it is said, for the death of Summayyah the mother of Ammar bin Yasser, whom he caused to be killed in a manner unspeakable awfulness.

Thus comparatively these most heinous, obnoxious, and ultimately cruelty acts with that of the courage and patience of Rasulullahﷺ and his followers, and you will realize the powerful force that was inflicted upon the Ummah of  Islam. These gave them the strength, sacrifice, and purity of Jihad in their heart.  The early Ummah in Islam with embedded truth in faith culminates in the courage to fight all the forces of evils on earth.

These atrocities never caused one Muslim so much as even to waiver.

“His life and his companions are the noblest records of a work nobly and faithfully performed.  Rasulullahﷺ  infused vitality into a dormant people; he consolidated a congeries of warring tribes into a nation inspired into action with the hope of everlasting life; Rasulullahﷺ  concentrated into a focus all the fragmentation and broken lights which had ever fallen on the heart of man.”

As the truth prevails forever until eternity, the preaching, diplomacy, and character of the Holy Rasulullahﷺimbibed that religiousness that was not found in the early followers of the heavenly religion. Prophet Isa Alaihisallam (Jesus) was led to the cross, and his followers fled and left him to die all alone (though no truth of this with regards to Prophet Isa AS mentioned in Al Quran – Islam).  Thus, on the contrary, Rasulullahﷺ his companion will gather around him whenever he was threatened and willingly defend their lives for him.

The number of people who eagerly embrace Islam, increase significantly. This further causes alarm and anger in the Kafir of Quraish; they intensify systematically the oppression of Muslims. Rasulullahﷺ thus advise the Muslim to migrate