﷽
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 39*
*POLICY OF PERSECUTION BY THE UNBELIEVERS*
Polytheists implemented all the previous mentioned methods to foil and abort the calling after it has appeared in the fourth year of Prophethood. They limited themselves to these methods for many months. But when they failed to frustrate the calling of Islam, they decided to persecute and exert pressures on Muslims to force them to renounce their religion. Each chieftain began to torture very brutally and ruthless his tribesmen who followed Islam. Each master tortured atrociously his slave who selected the path of belief.
It was natural for the rabble and unimportant people to hasten to placate their masters and leaders and satisfy their desires, the act which could cause much harm to Muslims, especially, the weak ones. Here are some examples of the persecutions and agonies Muslims suffered at the hands of polytheists:
1. Whenever Abu Jahl heard of a notable conversion to Islam, he forsook and threatened him with big financial and social losses. As for a weak person, he used to hit and persecute him. The uncle of 'Uthmān Ibn Affān was wrapping him in a mat made of palm leaves then set fire beneath him.
2. When the mother of Mus'ab Ibn 'Umayr knew of his conversion to Islam, she made him starve and expelled him out of his house till his skin got scabrous. Yet he was one of the richest people who lived in ease.
3. Bilāl suffered at the hands of Umayya Ibn Khalaf. He was fastening a rope around his neck and handing him to boys to wander with him through the mountains of Mecca. They were pulling him through his neck to the point that the rope could suffocate him white he was saying: "One! One!" Also, whenever it got hotter at noon, Umayya was getting bilāl (his slave) out and throwing him in the desert of Mecca. Then he brought a huge rock and put it on his chest saying to him: "No, by Allāh! You will continue to be tortured in such a manner till you have died or disbelieved in Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and worshipped Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzā. But bilāl kept saying: "One! One! If I know a word that could infuriate you more, I will say it." Luckily, once Abu Bakr passed him while polytheists were torturing him. So he bought him for seven or five okes or silver and manumitted him.
4. Suhaib Ibn Sinān Ar-Rumy suffered from severe torture to the degree that he lost his consciousness.
'Ammār Ibn Yāsir was a freed slave for Banu Makhzūm. His parents and he embraced Islam, which enraged and prompted polytheists, in particular, Abu Jahl to drive them out to the desert whenever swelter was unbearable to torture them by its scorching heat. Passing them while being persecuted, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said to them: "Be patient, family of Yāsir. For you are promised to enter paradise." As a result, Yāsir died from torture. Whereas Abu Jahl stabbed Sumayya, 'Ammār's mother, to death with a lance in her front private parts. So she was the first female Martyr in Islam. As for 'Ammār, they escalated his persecution either by heat, putting hot rocks on his breast or immersing in water. They said to him: "We will leave you if you offend Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) or speak highly of Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzā." To save himself, he agreed to do so by coercion. Then he came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) shedding tears and apologising to him. In this respect Allāh said:
Surah An-Nahl, Verse 106:
مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment.
5. These was a freed slave pertaining to Banu 'Abdud-Dār whose name was Aflah. His tribe used to get him out at noon when it was hotter, with iron fetters put around his feet. Then they stripped him off and forced him to lie down in the desert and put a rock on his chest to prevent him from moving. This continued till he immigrated to Abyssinia. One polytheists tied a rope to his leg, pulled, threw him in the desert and suffocated him till they thought that he died. Abu Bakr, when he passed him, bought and manumitted him.
6. Khabāb Ibn Al-Aratt was a freed slave to Umm Anmār bint Sibā'a Al-khuzā'iyya. He worked as a blacksmith. Embracing Islam, his mistress tortured him by fire. She was bringing a heated piece of iron to put it on his back so that he would disbelieve in Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him). But this increased and strengthened his faith. Polytheists also tormented him so severely; they made him lie down on very hot flammable rocks and then placed a big stone upon him to prevent him from rising. So the rocks caused him gaping and serious wounds in his back.
7. Zinnira, who was a Roman bondmaid, embraced Islam and thus she was tortured and lost her sight. When people said to her: "Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzā harmed you." She replied: "No, by Allāh they could never do harm to me. This came from Allāh, and if He wills, He will remove this harm." Next morning, she regained her sight. Thereupon Quraishites said: "This is a sorcerous act of Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him)."
8. Umm 'Ubais, a bondmaid belonging to Banu Zahrah, embraced Islam and suffered at the hands of polytheists, particularly, her master Al-Aswad Ibn 'Abd Yaghus, who was one of the bitterest enemies of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him).
9. The bondmaid of 'Umar Ibn muammil embraced Islam. 'Umar Ibnul-Khattāb (when he was a polytheists) was torturing her till tiredom stopped him. He said to her: "I left you only because of my tiredness."
10. An-Nahdiyya and her daughter were among the female slaves who embraced Islam and were exposed to severe persecution.
11. 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira was also among the slaves who were being brutally tortured to the degree that he would lose his consciousness.
Abu Bakr bought all these slaves and manumitted them all. This very act motivated his father, Abu Quhāfa, to blame him saying: "I see that you emancipate only weak slaves. If you set free strong men, they will help and protect you." He replied: "I just do that for the sake of Allāh." Lauding his behaviour, Allāh sent down some Qur-ānic verses that praise Abu Bakr and censure his adversaries:
Surah Al-Lail, Verse 14-16:
فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًا تَلَظَّىٰ
Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell);
لَا يَصْلَاهَا إِلَّا الْأَشْقَى
None shall enter it except the most wretched one,
الَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
Who denies and turns away.
These verses refer to Umayya Ibn Khalaff and the likes.
Surah Al-Lail, Verse 17-21:
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى
And Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous - see V. 2:2) will be far removed from it (Hell).
الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ
He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification,
وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ
And have in his mind no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,
إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High;
وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ
He surely will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise).
These verses mean Abu Bakr and those who followed his example.
Abu Bakr and Talha Ibn Ubaydullāh were harmed and disserved by Nawfal Ibn Khuwailid Al-Adawy who tied them to a rope and dragged them to prevent them from prayer and religion. But he failed. He was very upset when they were released and performed prayer. That's why they were called Al-Qarinayan (the two close mates).
In a few words, polytheists used to torture and harass anyone who was reported to have converted to Islam. It was absolutely easy that powerless Muslims, particularly, helpless male slaves and bondwomen were exposed to torture and humiliation. On the other hand, masters and leaders got themselves involved in attacking and molesting the weak people. As for notables and dignitaries who embraced Islam, they were under the protection of their tribes and clans. So the leading figures of their people seldom dared to do harm to or upset them in any way.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur'an 51:55)
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 39*
*POLICY OF PERSECUTION BY THE UNBELIEVERS*
Polytheists implemented all the previous mentioned methods to foil and abort the calling after it has appeared in the fourth year of Prophethood. They limited themselves to these methods for many months. But when they failed to frustrate the calling of Islam, they decided to persecute and exert pressures on Muslims to force them to renounce their religion. Each chieftain began to torture very brutally and ruthless his tribesmen who followed Islam. Each master tortured atrociously his slave who selected the path of belief.
It was natural for the rabble and unimportant people to hasten to placate their masters and leaders and satisfy their desires, the act which could cause much harm to Muslims, especially, the weak ones. Here are some examples of the persecutions and agonies Muslims suffered at the hands of polytheists:
1. Whenever Abu Jahl heard of a notable conversion to Islam, he forsook and threatened him with big financial and social losses. As for a weak person, he used to hit and persecute him. The uncle of 'Uthmān Ibn Affān was wrapping him in a mat made of palm leaves then set fire beneath him.
2. When the mother of Mus'ab Ibn 'Umayr knew of his conversion to Islam, she made him starve and expelled him out of his house till his skin got scabrous. Yet he was one of the richest people who lived in ease.
3. Bilāl suffered at the hands of Umayya Ibn Khalaf. He was fastening a rope around his neck and handing him to boys to wander with him through the mountains of Mecca. They were pulling him through his neck to the point that the rope could suffocate him white he was saying: "One! One!" Also, whenever it got hotter at noon, Umayya was getting bilāl (his slave) out and throwing him in the desert of Mecca. Then he brought a huge rock and put it on his chest saying to him: "No, by Allāh! You will continue to be tortured in such a manner till you have died or disbelieved in Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and worshipped Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzā. But bilāl kept saying: "One! One! If I know a word that could infuriate you more, I will say it." Luckily, once Abu Bakr passed him while polytheists were torturing him. So he bought him for seven or five okes or silver and manumitted him.
4. Suhaib Ibn Sinān Ar-Rumy suffered from severe torture to the degree that he lost his consciousness.
'Ammār Ibn Yāsir was a freed slave for Banu Makhzūm. His parents and he embraced Islam, which enraged and prompted polytheists, in particular, Abu Jahl to drive them out to the desert whenever swelter was unbearable to torture them by its scorching heat. Passing them while being persecuted, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said to them: "Be patient, family of Yāsir. For you are promised to enter paradise." As a result, Yāsir died from torture. Whereas Abu Jahl stabbed Sumayya, 'Ammār's mother, to death with a lance in her front private parts. So she was the first female Martyr in Islam. As for 'Ammār, they escalated his persecution either by heat, putting hot rocks on his breast or immersing in water. They said to him: "We will leave you if you offend Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) or speak highly of Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzā." To save himself, he agreed to do so by coercion. Then he came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) shedding tears and apologising to him. In this respect Allāh said:
Surah An-Nahl, Verse 106:
مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment.
5. These was a freed slave pertaining to Banu 'Abdud-Dār whose name was Aflah. His tribe used to get him out at noon when it was hotter, with iron fetters put around his feet. Then they stripped him off and forced him to lie down in the desert and put a rock on his chest to prevent him from moving. This continued till he immigrated to Abyssinia. One polytheists tied a rope to his leg, pulled, threw him in the desert and suffocated him till they thought that he died. Abu Bakr, when he passed him, bought and manumitted him.
6. Khabāb Ibn Al-Aratt was a freed slave to Umm Anmār bint Sibā'a Al-khuzā'iyya. He worked as a blacksmith. Embracing Islam, his mistress tortured him by fire. She was bringing a heated piece of iron to put it on his back so that he would disbelieve in Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him). But this increased and strengthened his faith. Polytheists also tormented him so severely; they made him lie down on very hot flammable rocks and then placed a big stone upon him to prevent him from rising. So the rocks caused him gaping and serious wounds in his back.
7. Zinnira, who was a Roman bondmaid, embraced Islam and thus she was tortured and lost her sight. When people said to her: "Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzā harmed you." She replied: "No, by Allāh they could never do harm to me. This came from Allāh, and if He wills, He will remove this harm." Next morning, she regained her sight. Thereupon Quraishites said: "This is a sorcerous act of Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him)."
8. Umm 'Ubais, a bondmaid belonging to Banu Zahrah, embraced Islam and suffered at the hands of polytheists, particularly, her master Al-Aswad Ibn 'Abd Yaghus, who was one of the bitterest enemies of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him).
9. The bondmaid of 'Umar Ibn muammil embraced Islam. 'Umar Ibnul-Khattāb (when he was a polytheists) was torturing her till tiredom stopped him. He said to her: "I left you only because of my tiredness."
10. An-Nahdiyya and her daughter were among the female slaves who embraced Islam and were exposed to severe persecution.
11. 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira was also among the slaves who were being brutally tortured to the degree that he would lose his consciousness.
Abu Bakr bought all these slaves and manumitted them all. This very act motivated his father, Abu Quhāfa, to blame him saying: "I see that you emancipate only weak slaves. If you set free strong men, they will help and protect you." He replied: "I just do that for the sake of Allāh." Lauding his behaviour, Allāh sent down some Qur-ānic verses that praise Abu Bakr and censure his adversaries:
Surah Al-Lail, Verse 14-16:
فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًا تَلَظَّىٰ
Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell);
لَا يَصْلَاهَا إِلَّا الْأَشْقَى
None shall enter it except the most wretched one,
الَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
Who denies and turns away.
These verses refer to Umayya Ibn Khalaff and the likes.
Surah Al-Lail, Verse 17-21:
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى
And Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous - see V. 2:2) will be far removed from it (Hell).
الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ
He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification,
وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ
And have in his mind no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,
إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High;
وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ
He surely will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise).
These verses mean Abu Bakr and those who followed his example.
Abu Bakr and Talha Ibn Ubaydullāh were harmed and disserved by Nawfal Ibn Khuwailid Al-Adawy who tied them to a rope and dragged them to prevent them from prayer and religion. But he failed. He was very upset when they were released and performed prayer. That's why they were called Al-Qarinayan (the two close mates).
In a few words, polytheists used to torture and harass anyone who was reported to have converted to Islam. It was absolutely easy that powerless Muslims, particularly, helpless male slaves and bondwomen were exposed to torture and humiliation. On the other hand, masters and leaders got themselves involved in attacking and molesting the weak people. As for notables and dignitaries who embraced Islam, they were under the protection of their tribes and clans. So the leading figures of their people seldom dared to do harm to or upset them in any way.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur'an 51:55)
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