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

Chapter7 - The First Muslim

 

Chapter 6

The First Muslim.

“And the foremost is the foremost: these are they who are drawn nigh in Allah”

(Al Quran 56:10-11)

In the chapter entitled “The Divine Call” I have mentioned how the word of Allah SWT was first revealed to Rasulullah ﷺ. After the revelation, in the cave of Hira, he was sure of his mission but he did not yet preach it openly. Rasulullah ﷺ taught first among the intimate circle of family and friends. The one who embraced first was his wife, Saidatuna Khadijah (رضي الله عنه). She was the first woman to embrace Islam and there is some controversy as to who was the first man to do so. Imam Abu Hanifa writes:

“Among men Sayidina Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), among children ‘Ali and among women is Saidatuna Khadijah(رضي الله عنه)  was the first to embrace Islam. This is not a satisfactory statement for it differentiates between men, women, and children. The question is who the first man was to embraced Islam. The author of Seerah Halabi writes: “There were three in the history of all religions who do not believe in any other god, but the real God, the first was Hizqiel, who accepted the faith and religion of Moses; the second “Habib Najjar”, an inhabitant of Antakya, was the first to embrace the religion of Jesus. When he went to preach.  The third person was Ali, who was at the age of ten.” Imam Termizi writes, “Muhammad was made Prophet on Monday, and on Tuesday Ali said his prayers with him” Some of the prejudiced, who was unwilling that Ali should have this distinction of being the first to embrace Islam, object that as he was a mere child his conversion could hardly be considered complete and valid. This argument is very weak for the validity of an action does not require the maturity of the person acting, as the Quran says, “So they (Moses and his companion) went on until they met a boy; the companion slew him and Moses said;

“Have you slain an innocent person otherwise than for manslaughter? Certainly, you have done an evil thing”

(Quran: 18:74)

Jesus Christ was made Prophet in his early childhood in his early childhood and said; “Surely I am a servant of Allah SWT; He Has given me the Book and made me a Prophet; and dutiful to my mother, and He has made me blessed wherever I may be and He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and poor-rate so long and poor-rate so long as I live

(The Quran: 19, 30-32)

Here we are that people who are placed with people of rank and dignity, even if they are mere children. This is clearly evident in the case of Jesus Christ, and it must be accepted that “Ali was the first Muslim, in spite of his having embraced Islam when in his early teens. Mr. Dermenghem in his life of Mahomet  (London 1930), shows the unflinching nature of the belief of his wife Khadijah.

“Muhammad had given up men’s companionship more and more. In the solitudes of Mount Hira, he found greater and greater satisfaction. Spending a whole week at a time there with a few scanty provisions, his spirit gloried in fasting, in vigils, and in search for a defined idea. He hardly knew whether it was day or night, whether he dreamed or watched. For hours at a time, he remained to kneel in the darkness or lying in the sun, or he strode with long steps on the stony tracks. When he walked, it seemed as if voices came out of the rocks; when he struck a stone, it answered him. And the stones everywhere under that fiery sun seemed to greet him as ‘God’s Apostle’.

 “On his return the good Khadijah was troubled to see him so silently elated. Sometimes he appeared to lose all consciousness of what was going on around him and lay inert on the ground, his breathing hardly perceptible. Then he would sleep, his breast rising and falling regularly with peaceful slumber. But his respiration would grow more rapid; he would pant; dream; enormous human being as huge as the heaven over the earth and covering the horizon would then approach, rush towards him with extended arms ready to seize him…. Muhammad would wake with a start, his body covered with sweat; Khadijah would wipe his forehead and question him gently but anxiously in a voice she tried to calm. He would remain silent or evade her questions, or he would answer in words she did not understand.

“At the end of six months Muhammad’s body suffered; he grew thin, his step became jerky, his hair and beard unkempt, his eye strange. He felt hopeless. Had he become one of those madmen such as he had often met – a pathetic demoniac, a hideous plaything of the power of darkness? Was he one of those poets inspired by jinn?- for measured phrases often burst unconsciously from his tongue? He felt hopeless; for he had a horror of poets, playthings of every wind, who said what they did not do.

“ I am afraid of becoming mad,” he decided to say one day to the gentle Khadijah when he could no longer bear the weight. “I see all the signs of madness in myself. Who would have believed that I would become a poet, or possessed by a jinn? I by no chance speak of it to anyone.”

“Khadijah wished for his confidence. She hoped and she doubted; but when she was so worried herself, how could she reassure him?  But she was a woman made to give consolation and comfort; she possessed the tender firmness of a virtuous wife and a devoted mother and gave this man, younger than herself, the fullest love. In her devotion she was almost subconsciously pleased to find this strong man, she admired her husband, weak and ill. How could she help to reassure him?

“O Abul Qassim. Are you not the ‘Al Amin – for so you are called –the sincere, the trustworthy, the truthful man? How can Allah allow you to be deceived when you do not deceive? Are you not a pious, sober, charitable, hospitable man? Have you not respected your parents, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, helped the traveler, and protected the weak? It is not possible that you are the plaything of lying demons and malicious jinns?

“What, then, is this being who seeks me out again and again? What is this being who has not told me his name and from whom I cannot escape? Muhammad was again seized with anguish. He trembled, his face grew red and then pale; his ears hummed, his eyes dilated. A strange presence had intruded itself.

“There he is!! It is he!! He is coming.

“And yet he was awake and neither asleep nor dreaming and the strange being was approaching.

He was there;

“Khadijah had an inspiration;

“Come to me,” she said to her husband. \Get under my cloak. Muhammad did so. He was like a child on his mother’s breast, hunting protection from all the world’s dangers. Khadijah covered him with her veal, let down her hair; she seated him on her knees, embraced him closely, and hid him against her flesh under her dark hair.

“Well? She asked. ‘Is he still there?

“I did see nor feel him anymore. He is gone.”

“Then he is not a lewd jinn, nor yet a demon; for he respects women’s chastity. It can only be an angel of God.”

“Ramadan came. Muhammad increased his solitary watches in the passes of Mount Hira. Days passed; the crescent moon grew round, resplendent, then Muhammad was as sleep in a cave. Suddenly the mysterious being that had visited him before appeared, holding a piece of silk in his hand covered with writing.

“Iqra’, he said to Muhammad: “Read”

“I do not know how to read”

“The being again threw himself upon Muhammad to stifle him.

“Read” he repeated for the third time.

“What shall I read?”

“Read, said the being, letting him go.

“Read, in the name of thy Lord,, Who hath created all things:

Who hath created man of congealed blood?

Read, by thy most beneficent Lord Who taught the use of the pen;

Who teacheth man that which he knoweth not?’

 (The Quran 96:1-5)

  Waraqah, a cousin of Khadijah was the next to believe in the Holy Prophet. He was a very old man, bedridden and blind. Khadijah had often heard him speak of the “Promised Prophet” of whose advent Jesus Christ had spoken. When Waraqah heard of Khadijah of the revelation received by Muhammad in the cave of Hira, he at once proclaimed him the “Promised Prophet”. Unfortunately, he died shortly afterward, during the Cessation period, without having had the opportunity of formally declaring his faith.

 Abu Bakr, a Makkan, was the next to embrace Islam. The Holy Prophet and he were intimate friends long before the Holy Prophet received the Divine Call, but no sooner was he made aware of Muhammad’s claims to the prophet hood than he publicly declared that he believed him to be the Prophet of God, and embraced Islam, thus being among the first men to do so.

Sayidina Zaid bin Harithah ra, a liberated slave of the Holy Prophet, was the next. He was deeply attached to the holy Prophet, and when he was the first given his freedom, and had been told Muhammad to go back with his father to his own home, and he refuses to do so.

Thus we see that the Holy Prophet’s wife Khadijah, his friend Abu Bakr, his cousin ‘Ali

And his liberated slave Zaid bin Harithah. These four who knew his life most intimately were the earliest believers and the first to embrace Islam. Abu Bakr, whose faith in the Prophet was as true and sincere as Khadijah was so profoundly convinced that Muhammad was the promised Prophet that immediately on embracing Islam he started preaching the faith to others. Soon prominent men like Sayidina Usman ibn Affan ra, Sayidina Zubair bin Awam ra, Sayidina Abdul Rahman Auf ra, Saad ibn Waqqas ra, and  Sayidina Talha ibn Ubaidah ra, became Muslim also Yasir, his wife Saidatuna Summayyah binti Khayat ra, Sayidina Bilal ibn Rabbah ra, Sayidina Abdullah bin Mas’ud ra, Sayidina Ammar bin Yasir ra, and Sayidina Khabab bin Arat ra, who were of humbler position, and Arqam, who later gave his house to the holy Prophet for the purpose of his mission. One by one people began to follow him and within three years are some forty converts in all. These steady signs of progress of Islam angered and alarm the Makkan and they did their best to oppose it; but the Muslims, in spite of all opposition, grew rapidly in numbers. As the faith spread, men of position from among the Quraish became converts too, Hamzah, an uncle of the Prophet, among them. He was a man of great importance and proved a pillar of strength to Islam. He has always been fond of Muhammad and the story of his conversion is a remarkable one. It is said that one day Abu Jahl, an uncle of the Prophet, who was bitterly opposed to the teachings of Muhammad, had met him and was ill-treating the Prophet most cruelly. A maid belonging to the house of Hamzah, happening to pass by, was shocked to see this and at once reported the matter to her master. When Hamzah heard this, deeply attached as he was, he was both grieved and indignant and made up his mind there and then himself to join the new fate, and aid and defend the brave little army of Muslims to the utmost of his powers.

Another remarkable conversion of a great man of position was that of ‘Saiyidina Omar Ibni Al Khattab RA. He was a man of position, greatly esteemed among the Quraish, but also well-known and feared for his uncontrollable temper. From the very beginning, he was bitterly against Islam, and as he heard daily that more and more were embracing the new faith, he was so enraged that one day he decided to kill Rasulullah ﷺ, who, he said was the cause of all trouble. So taking his sword he made straight for the house of Rasulullah ﷺ. At this time he was unaware that his own sister Fatimah Binti Al Khattab and her husband had become Muslims.

On his way to Rasulullah ﷺ’s house he met a man (Naim Ibn Abdullah RA) who had recently embraced Islam. Seeing the sword in ‘Omar’s hand this man asked him where he was going. Omar replied; “To kill Muhammad.” Naim ibn Abdullah RA thereupon informed him that his own sister and brother-in-law had embraced Islam. On hearing this, ‘Omar’s anger knew no bounds, and he decided to deal with his own relations first before putting an end to Rasulullah ﷺ. On reaching the house he heard one of them reciting the Al Quran, and this to him was the last straw. He entered her house with rage .and seizing his brother in law thrashed him unmercifully

While his sister in her efforts to interpose was her-self injured. ‘Omar, then snatching the chapters of the Quran, began reading the verses, and soon the truth and beauty of their set him thinking. Seeing him thus pensive Naim Ibn Abdullah RA took the opportunity of reasoning with him and soon the proud ‘Omar Al Khattab joined the fold of Islam. He proceeded to the house of Al Arqam where Rasulullah ﷺ and his companions were taking shelter. Rasulullah ﷺ met him at the door and ‘Omar Ibn Al Khattab proclaimed his faith to Rasulullah ﷺ in these words; “O! Apostle of Allah, I declare faith in Allah and His Rasul”.

The House of Al Arqam (Darul Arqam)

  (Please read until the end of this chapter, The House of Al Arqam, the secret meeting place during early Islam. Have more insight about several events that took placed during the time of early Muslim persecution and oppression, so with the glory that took place then.)

All this time the Muslims were compelled to carry out their religious activities in secret in the House of Arqam; for they were as yet too few in number to face their numerous opponents. But after the conversion of two such important persons as “Sayidina Omar ibn Al Khattab ra, and Sayidina Hamzah ibn Abi Talib ra, they were able with their help to carry on their work publicly and say their prayers in the sacred house of Kaabah. Most of the early converts were from the poor class, except for the few men of wealth and positions whom we have just mentioned. These poor people were forced to undergo many hardships; for they had nobody to protect them and no money. The slaves who turned into Muslims were put to the most awful tortures. Abu Bakar was one of the rich ones who was a great help to Islam at that time, he spent much of his wealth in buying slaves from their cruel masters and setting them free.

The hatred of the Quraish against the holy Prophet (Rasulullah ﷺ) and his followers leaped up to its highest point when it was learned that Saiyidina Hamzah Ibn Abdul Mutalib and Saiyidina Umar Ibn Al Khattab had embraced Islam, for Saiyidina Umar was the chief of the Bani ‘Adi tribe. Soon afterward, a wealthy merchant belonging to the important family of Taim ibn Murra embraced Islam. He was a man of clear judgment as well as energetic, honest, and amenable, and a great favorite among the people. After his conversion, five others belonging to important families followed in their footsteps. Rasulullah ﷺ and his followers would preach to strangers coming to the city on pilgrimage and on business.  But even this Quraish sought to prevent. When people began to arrive in the city they would post themselves at strategic points, and tell the strangers to have nothing to do with Muhammad (Rasulullah ﷺ) as he was a magician and not to be trusted. This, in a way, helped the Rasulullah ﷺ for the strangers returning to their homes spread the tales that were told about him, and many came to see and hear the man who risked his life in telling the whole of Arabia to give up the worship of their forefathers and follow the new religion that he preached.

The Story of Darul Al Arqam during early Islam in Makkah.

This area, at the foot of Mount Safa is the approximate area where Daarul Arqam (The house of Arqam (رضي الله عنه)) was located. It was here in the initial period of Islam that the Prophet (ﷺ) secretly preached Islam.

Arqam (رضي الله عنه)

• The house belonged to a Sahabi named Arqam bin Abil Arqam (رضي الله عنه). He had several houses on his property, and he donated this one as a secret center for propagation. It was situated at the northern base of Mount Safa, with at least one door hidden from the view of its neighbors.
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• Arqam (رضي الله عنه) was only 12-16 years old when he embraced Islam which he kept secret. The house was an inheritance from his father. He was from Bani Makhzum, the same tribe headed by Abu Jahal

The first ‘Madressa’ in Islam

• For some time after the Prophet (ﷺ) proclaimed his Prophethood, the Muslims gathered here to perform salah and to learn about Islam without fear of torture or persecution. As it was a short walk away from the Kaaba and its bustling crowds, the pagans who lived nearby did not take notice of the many people who used to gather here. It effectively became the first Madressa (Islamic school) in Islam.

Quran revelations

• Many verses of the Quran were revealed here and it was also here that many verses of the Quran were first taught by the Prophet (ﷺ).
• It was here that the following verse from Surah al-Anfal was revealed: 
• “O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you, and for those who follow you among the believers.” [8:64]

The conversion of Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه)

• Many people embraced Islam at Daarul Arqam including Ammar bin Yasir and Suhayb bin Sinan (رضي الله عنهم) who embraced Islam together. Hamza (رضي الله عنه) also embraced Islam here, followed a few days later by Umar (رضي الله عنه).
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• When Umar (رضي الله عنه) wanted to take his Shahadah (declaration of the faith of Islam) he asked Khabbab (رضي الله عنه) where he would find the Prophet (ﷺ). Upon hearing of his desire to accept Islam, Khabbab (رضي الله عنه) exclaimed: “Umar, I have hope that Allah hath chosen thee through the prayers of His Prophet, whom yesterday I heard pray: ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with Abu Hakam (Abu Jahal) the son of Hisham or with Umar the son of Khattab!”. “O Khabbab,” said Umar, “where will Muhammad now be, that I may go to him and enter Islam?” 
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• Khabbab (رضي الله عنه) told him that he was at the house of Arqam near the Safa Gate with many of his companions.
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• Umar went to Safa, knocked at the door of the house, and said who he was. The Sahabah had been warned that he was coming but they were struck by the subdued tone of his voice. One of the companions went to the door and looked through a chink and came back in some dismay. 
• “O Messenger of Allah,” he said, “it is indeed Umar and he is girt with his sword”. “Let him come in,” said Hamza (رضي الله عنه). “if he has come with good intent, we will give him a wealth of good; and if his intent be evil, we will slay him with his own sword.” 
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• The Prophet (ﷺ) agreed that he should be admitted and, advancing to meet him, he seized him by the belt and pulled him into the middle of the room saying, 
• “What has brought thee here, O son of Khattab? I cannot see thee desisting until Allah sent down some calamities upon thee”. “O Messenger of Allah,” said Umar, “I have come to thee that I may declare my faith in Allah, and in His Messenger and in what he has brought from Allah”. “Allahu-Akbar!,” said the Prophet,
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• In such a way that every man and woman in the house knew that Umar had entered Islam, and they all rejoiced.
• Because the valor and courage of Umar (رضي الله عنه) were acknowledged by all, it was after his conversion to Islam that the Muslims started performing salah in the open and Islam was propagated in public.