Beginning Of Persecution

The Prophet of God peace be upon him preached Islam openly in the streets of Mecca, yet the Quraysh remained cool and indifferent to him; neither did they turn against him nor did they ever feel that their Religion was at stake. They did not even care to refute the Prophet peace be upon him but when he started talking critically of their gods, they felt offended and decided to rebuke him. Muhammad peace be upon him would have been at the mercy from the radicals of the merchants republic of Mecca, but Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, continued to treat him kindly and stood up in his defense. And, the Prophet peace be upon him, equally determined to actively propagate his new faith, continued to call the people to Islam. Nothing could stop the Prophet peace be upon him from preaching the commands of his God, in the same way that nothing could also dissuade Abu Talib to waive his protection from the nephew he so loved more than his sons.

 

ABU TALIBS ANXIETY

 

The Prophet peace be upon him was now the much-talked about problem among the Quraysh. They conferred and consulted one another how to face the danger that the Prophet peace be upon him with his sweet tongue portended before them. At last, the leading men of the Quraysh approached Abu Talib and said to him, O Abu Talib, you are old and we hold you in high esteem. We had asked you to restrain your nephew but you did nothing. By God, we cannot tolerate any longer that our fathers should be denounced, that we should be labeled ignoramuses and frivolous and our gods insulted. Either you must stop him or we will fight both of you, until one of us perishes. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 256-66)

 

The old leader of Mecca remained deep in thought, distressed at the rift with his people and their hostility but he was neither willing to desert his nephew surrender give him to his enemies. He went for the Prophet peace be upon him and said, Son of my brother, your people came to me and threatened me with dire consequences if you continue to preach your religion. Spare my life and yours and do not impose on me a burden greater than I can bear. The Prophet peace be upon him thought that his uncle was no longer willing to shield him, that he intended to give him up. He answered, O my uncle, by God, if they were to place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, and ask me to abandon this course, I would not turn from it until God makes it victorious or I perish therein.

 

Tears flowed from the eyes of the Prophet peace be upon him. With a heavy heart, he got up to depart. But, Abu Talib could not bear to look at his nephews sorrow. Before he had reached the threshold, Abu Talib cried out, Come back, my nephew. And when he returned, Abu Talib said, Go where you please and say what you will. By God, I will never deliver you to your enemies. (Ibn Hisham Vol. I. pp. 265-66)

 

PERSECUTION BEGINS

 

The Prophet peace be upon him continued to preach the message of God as vigorously as before. The Meccans were now desperate of forcing Abu Talib to give up Muhammad peace be upon him and there was nothing that they could do to stop him. Their anger swelled to such an extent that they started inciting the tribes against those who had accepted Islam but had nobody to protect them. Every tribe asserted itself on the Muslims amongst it; beating and putting them under chains, denying them food and water and forcing them to lie on the burning sand and under the scorching heat of Arabia's sun.

 

Bilal Ibn Rabah (May Allah be pleased with him) was a slave who had embraced Islam. Umaya Ibn Khalaf, his master, used to bring him out at noontime and throw him on his back into the hot sand. He ordered to place a great rock on the chest of Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) and then he would say to him, No, by God, you will lie here till you die or deny Muhammad and worship Al-Lat and Al-Uzza. Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) endured the affliction, crying, One, One.

 

Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) once saw Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) being tortured by his master. Sensing the servants conviction, he brought a tougher and stronger black slave in lieu of Bilals freedom. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 317-18)

 

Ammar Ibn Yasir and his parents had accepted Islam (May Allah be pleased with them). Bani Makhzum used to take them out in the full glare of the sun at the hottest part of the day and then take them to task for their faith. If the Prophet peace be upon him passed by them, he used to advise them: Patience, O family of Yasir, patience. Your destination is Paradise. They endured all persecutions until Bani Makhzum killed Ammars mother for she refused to renounce Islam. (Ibn Hisham Vol. Pp. 317-18)

 

Musab Ibn Umyr (May Allah be pleased with him) was the most well dressed young man of Mecca. Musabs mother, who possessed a handsome fortune, had brought him up in the life of luxury. He used to