LECTURE SEVENHardships Prophet and Companions faced

We will discuss the interval from the year 3 till the year 6 after the revelation

Quraysh continues their plans to stop the spread of Islam—they want to stamp it out. They cause a lot of harm to the Prophet (saw) and the companions.

Used cheap manners . . . Scoffing, degrading, ridiculing, belying and

laughter-instigating cheap manners, all with the aim of dragging the spirit of despair into their morale, and slackening their ardent zealotry.

TODAY WE CALL THIS—WHEN APPLIED TO MUSLIMS ONLY—FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

They called him a man possessed . . .

They used to denounce the Prophet [saw] as a man possessed by a jinn, or an insane person:

"And they say: O you (Muhammad [saw]) to whom the Dhikr (the Qur’an) has been sent down! Verily, you are a mad man." [15:6]

Called him a liar practicing witchcraft

"And they (Arab pagans) wonder that a warner (Prophet Muhammad [saw]) has come to them from among themselves! And the disbelievers say: "This (Prophet Muhammad [saw]) is a sorcerer, a liar." [38:4].

Distorted the message of Islam . . . Distorting Muhammad’s teachings, evoking

ambiguities, circulating false propaganda; forging groundless allegations concerning his doctrines, person and character, and going to excess in such a manner in order to screen off any scope of sound contemplation from the public. Isn’t this what the media does today?

Quraysh sent Al-Nader Ibn-Al-Harith to Persia to listen to the stories told by the Persian kings

When he came back, they told him to interrupt Muhammad (saws) by retelling what he heard, thus Muhammad (saws) was not able to talk to the people nor recite the Qur'an. After he would tell his stories he would say, “Aren’t my stories better than those of Muhammad?”

This man was An -NadrHe headed for Heerah where he got conversant with the

traditions of the kings of Persia and the accounts of people like Rustum and Asphandiar, and then returned to Makkah. Here he would always shadow the Messenger’s steps in whatever audiences. An-Nadr would directly follow the Prophet [saw] and narrate to the same audience long tales about those people of Persia. He would then always append his talk with a question cunningly inquiring if he did not outdo Muhammad [saw]

Ibn Abbas relates . . . Ibn ‘Abbas [raa] related that An-Nadr used to

purchase songstresses who would through their bodily charms and songs entice away from Islam anyone developing the least attachment to the Prophet [saw]; in this regard, Allah says: "And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah." [31:6]

Propagated that Qur’an was not a true revelation . . .

They ceaselessly inculcated in people’s ears that the Qur’an was not a true Revelation:

"This (the Qur’an ) is nothing but a lie that he (Muhammad [saw]) has invented, and others have helped him at it." [25:4]

Abu Lahab is shadowing him: His uncle Abu-Lahab sought to distort the

message, he walked behind Muhammad (saws) and told the people to stay away from him. He got more persistent, neither fought them back nor replied. The Qur'an gives him the support. "O you enwrapped (in your raiment). Rise up …" (73:1-2)—he was focused.

How did he deal with these difficulties?

He used to pray at night—to get stronger. To make his skin thicker. Khadijah (raa), the prophet's wife, used to ask him to take some rest as he prayed all night and called for Islam during the day.

He used to say to her, “Gone are the days of sleep O Khadijah.”

They hurt his pride to break his spirit

Quraysh decided that whenever anyone would spot Muhammad they would say "madman" aloud and run away. "And they said, “O you upon whom the Remembrance is being sent down, surely you are indeed a madman …" (15:6)

Rumors of him being a madman spread

Such rumor spread to the extent that travelers coming from Yemen far away were warned to beware of the crazy Quraysh "lad“ [they call a 43 year old man—always known among them as the trustworthy—the pure—they call him “lad”]

Om Jameel Abu Lahab’s wife . . . She would gather garbage and thorns and put

them on the doorstep of the prophet's house. She relentlessly tried to hurt him. She kept on provoking Quraysh and instigating disruptions. "And his wife, the constant bearer of firewood, Upon her (long) neck she will have a rope of palm-fibers." (111:4-5)

Her reaction to the verses . . . When she heard about the Qur'an verses talking

about her she went to the prophet (saws) to throw stones at him. However, Allah (SWT) allowed such suffering but only to a limit. He blinded Om-Jameel from seeing the Prophet (saws) when she asked Abu-Bakr about him though he was just in front of her.

Called him Mudhammam

She ridiculed his name in a made-up poem about how they were going to defy his religion. She called him "Mudhammam". Quraysh disbelievers liked Om-Jameel's poem and sang it and spread it allover Makkah.

How did the Prophet (saw) deal with this situation when the companions were inflamed?

Took advantage of him during tawaf

Others waited when he made tawaf, made fun of him and laughed aloud. He ignored them until the third round of tawaf. Then, he went to them and threatened them harshly. They knew him for a patient man so they got afraid and stopped what they did.

Allah talks about this . . . Allah (SWT) says, " Surely the ones who are (guilty of) crimes

used to laugh at the ones who believed, And when they passed by them (they used) to wink one to another. And when they turned over (to their families), they turned over jesting, And when they saw them, they said, ‘Surely these (people) are indeed erring.’ And in no way were they sent preservers over them. So, today the ones who believed are laughing at the steadfast disbelievers, On couches, looking (down upon them). Have the steadfast disbelievers been requited for what they were performing? "(83:29-36). 

Qur’an kept him strong . . .

This came as a strong support to raise the spirits of the prophet (saws) and his companions. "And indeed We already know that, for you, your breast constricts by what they say. So extol with the praise of your Lord and be of the prostrating. "(15:97-98)

Another Ayah . . . In another ayah, Allah (SWT) says, "In no way is

anything said to you except what already was said to the Messengers before you. Surely your Lord is indeed The Owner of forgiveness and The Owner of painful punishment..."(41: 43). Companions and believers increased in number. "You have been the most charitable nation brought out to mankind: you command beneficence, and forbid maleficence, and believe in Allah ..."(3: 110) 

They started to attack his dignity . . .Imagine if it was ALL OVER the media in Makkah—

newspapers, TV, internet etc. Quraysh even tried to hurt his family. Al-'Asi Ibn-Wael, the

father of Amr Ibnul-Aas spread a saying that Muhammad (saws) was incapable of having boys, a shameful matter back then, his two boys being dead. Thus, they can get rid of him after his death as he has no one to carry his legacy. This hurt Khadijah (raa). She was 55 years old and too old to bear more children.

But Allah (SWT) defends them . . . To relieve them from their pains Allah

(SWT) revealed these ayahs as, "Surely We have given you the Abundance; So pray to your Lord and slaughter (the sacrifice). Surely your antagonist is he who is without offspring (Literally: curtailed). "(108: 1-3)

Also, "Have We not expanded your breast for you, And laid aside from you your encumbrance. Which weighed down your back, And did We not raise for you your remembrance? So surely with difficulty comes ease, Surely with difficulty comes ease. So when you are at leisure, (i.e., not o) then labor, And to your Lord then be desirous (i.e., of His Grace).” (94: 1-8)

More pain for the family . . . After the companions exceeded 200 in number

Abu-Lahab divorced his two sons from the prophet's two daughters. One of the girls later on married Othman Ibn-Affan, one of the prophet's companion and the other one, Om-Kulthoum, didn't get married until she went to Madinah as all the companions were younger than her.

Hurt him physically . . .

Okba Ibn-Abu-Ma'eet took off his gown, twirled it in a rope-like shape and put it around the neck of our beloved Prophet (saws) while praying in front of the Ka'ba until he fell from suffocation.

Okba hurts him even more . . . Not only this, Okba further went and slaughtered a

camel, took out its guts and put it on the prophet's back while he was prostrating in prayer. The prophet remained still until his daughter came [Fatima (raa)]. She cleaned him while crying from the sight itself but her father told her not to cry, “Do not cry ya bunayatee, Allah (SWT) shall support her father.”

Do you know why Okba Ibn-Abu-Ma'eet defied prophet Muhammad (saws)?

He was a close friend to Ubai ibn Khalaf and started to listen to Muhammad (saws) and to believe in what he was saying. He was about to embrace Islam. At that time, Ubai was away on a trip and when he returned back, he threatened Okba that he shall not look at him nor talk to him again until he would go to spit on the prophet’s (saws) face. And he did.

Sand was thrown in his face . . . Another disbeliever hid in the desert of

Makkah and filled his hand with sand and threw it in our beloved's face. He went home with his clothes full of sand and dust and his little girl Fatima (raa) saw this and tried to rub the dust away crying. He soothed her and told her not to cry because Allah (SWT) shall support him.

Despite the fact, he was supportive of justice . . .

  The Prophet (saw) was not only supportive of Islam, but of all forms of justice. Once a man came to Makkah claiming that Abu-Jahl owed him money. To have a good laugh, some disbelievers advised him to go to Muhammad and ask for his help. Despite the conflict with Abu-Jahl, the Prophet took the man to Abu-Jahl and told Abu-Jahl to pay the due money. In effect, Abu-Jahl paid the due money.

What about the companions? Abdullah Ibn-Masood, a companion who was

very weakly built, decided to make Quraysh listen to the Qur’an. He went to the K’aba and started to recite ayahs from Surat Ar-Rahman as loud as he could. Day after day the disbelievers gathered and beat him up, yet he did not stop, until the Messenger of Allah (saw) advised him to.

Ganged up on him . . . One day ten men from Quraysh gathered around the prophet

(saw) and assaulted him. Abu-Bakr, who is "the bravest of all men", according to Ali (raa), defended the Prophet (saw). Consequently, the gathered disbelievers left the Prophet (saws) alone and started to attack Abu-Bakr. He was brutally beaten on his face until he fainted and they thought he was dead. After being taken to his house, he awoke at night asking about the Messenger of Allah (saw). Exhausted as he was, he asked his mother and Fatima bintul-Khattab to take him to the Prophet (saws), so as to be re-assured.

Who can forget Bilal being tortured?Bilal, the slave of Omaiyah bin Khalaf, was severely beaten

when the latter came to know of his conversion to Islam. 1. Sometimes a rope was put around his neck and street boys

were made to drag him through the streets and even across the hillocks of Makkah.

2. At times he was subjected to prolonged deprivation of food and drink;

3. at others he was bound up, made to lie down on the burning sand and under the crushing burden of heavy stones.

Bilal remained firm . . .

He persisted in his belief in the Oneness of Allah and in the midst of being tortured he would say, “Ahadun Ahad. Ahadun Ahad.”

On one such occasion, Abu Bakr was passing by and he was moved by pity, he purchased and emancipated him from slavery.

Abu Fakeeh dragged in the streets …

Quraysh would fasten the feet of Abu Fakeeh, Aflah, a freed slave of Bani ‘Abd Ad-Dar with a rope and drag him in the streets of Makkah.

Khabbab bin Al-Aratt

The Makkan polytheists used to pull his hair and twist his neck, and made him lie on burning coal with a big rock on his chest to prevent him from escaping.

Saad Ibn Abu Waqas

Another example is given by Saad Ibn-Abu-Waqas, who used to be quite rightful to his mother. Nonetheless, when he embraced Islam, his mother threatened him to stop eating and drinking, so that he might change his belief. In effect, she starved herself and became very ill after three days.

However, he firmly told her that he is adamant on his belief. Ayahs were revealed to the Prophet (saws), telling Saad to be more merciful, “And We have enjoined upon man the fair (companionship) to his parents; and in case they strive with you to make you associate with Me that whereof you have no knowledge, then do not obey them" (29:8)

Complete families and household also suffered

Another victim of the highhandedness of Quraysh was ‘Ammar bin Yasir, a freed slave of Bani Makhzoum. He, along with his mother and father, embraced Islam in its earl phase. They were repeatedly made to lie on the burning sand and were beaten severely. ‘Ammar was at times tossed up on embers.

Prophet would visit them during their torture . . .

He always comforted them and raised his hand in prayer and said: "Be patient, you will verily find your abode in the Paradise."

What happened to them? Yasir, the father, died because of repeated tortures. Sumaiyah, ‘Ammar’s mother was bayoneted to death by

Abu Jahl himself, and thus merited the title of the first woman martyr in Islam. He stabbed her in her private parts.

What about their son Ammar?‘Ammar himself was subjected to various modes of torture and

was always threatened to sustain severe suffering unless he abused Muhammad [saw] and recanted to Al-Lat and ‘Uzza. In a weak moment, he uttered a word construed as recantation though his heart never wavered and he came back once to the Prophet [saw] , who consoled him for his pain and confirmed his faith. Immediately afterwards the following verse was revealed: "Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith —." [16:106]

The End