CHAPTER 17: HEIGHTENED PERSECUTION OF WEAK MUSLIMS
HEIGHTENED PERSECUTION OF WEAK MUSLIMS
Ibn Ishaq said: Then the Quraish became poised to persecute those belonging to their own clans from the Companions of Allah’s Messenger. They pounced upon them, torturing and extremely trying them with a view to making them recant their religion. Allah, however, prevented them from doing any harm to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, with the presence of his uncle, Abu Talib. Abu Talib had stood his ground when he saw what the Quraish had done regarding Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul-Muttalib. So he invited them (Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul-Muttalib) to join him in defending Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. All of them responded positively to his call with the exception of Abu Lahab, the enemy of Allah (SWT).
From the objections of the polytheists against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and their harshness to him is their questioning and requests for different signs and extraordinary occurrences emanating from their obstinacy rather than genuine quest for guidance and right consciousness. Consequently, many of their requests and desires were not acceded to owing to the knowledge of Allah that if they had witnessed what they wanted still they would have persisted in their blind inordinateness. And that they would have continued to wallow in their vain gloriousness and waver in their misguidance.
Allah (SWT) says: “And they swear their strongest oaths by Allah, that if there came to them a sign, they would surely believe therein. Say: ‘Signs are but with Allah and what will make you (Muslims) perceive that (even) if it (the sign) came, they will not believe?’ And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly. And even if We had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together all things before their very eyes, they would
not have believed, unless Allah willed, but most of them behave ignorantly.” (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:109-111)
Allah, Most High, also says: “Truly! Those, against whom the Word (Wrath) of your Lord has been justified, will not believe. Even if every sign should come to them,- until they see the painful torment.” (Surah Yoonus 10:96,97)
Allah, the Almighty, says: “And nothing stops Us from sending the Ayat (proofs, evidences and Signs) but that the people of old denied them. And We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction).” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:59)
Allah (SWT) says: “And they say: ‘We shall not believe in you (O, Muhammad), until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us; Or you have a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst abundantly; Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended, or you bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face; Or you have a house of adorable materials (like silver and pure gold, etc.), or you ascend up into the sky, and even then we will put no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book that we would read.’ Say (O, Muhammad): ‘Glorified (and Exalted) be my Lord (Allah) above all that evil they (polytheists) associate with Him! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger’?” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:90-93)
Imam Ahmad related from Ibn ‘Abbas who narrated that the people of Makkah asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to turn Mount Safa into gold and to obliterate a mountain so that they might cultivate in its place. It was said to him: “if you wish, be patient with them and if you wish you bring them what they request but if they disbelieve thereafter, they will be destroyed as nations before them were destroyed.” Allah’s Messenger responded: “Rather, I will be patient with them.”
Thus, Allah, Most High, revealed: “And nothing stops Us from sending the Ayat but that the people of old denied them. And We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction).” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:59)
Imam Ahmad also related from Ibn ‘Abbas who said: “The Quraish once said to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: ‘pray to your Lord, on our behalf, to turn Mount Safa into gold so that we may believe in you.’ Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked, ‘Will you really do that?!’. ‘Yes, ‘ they responded. The Prophet supplicated and Jibraeel came to him and said: ‘Your Lord is sending His greetings and He is saying to you: If you wish, Mount Safa will be turned into gold for them overnight but whoever amongst them disbelieves thereafter I will punish him with a punishment the severity of which I have not meted out to anyone else before. Or if you wish I open for them the door of mercy and repentance.’ Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, responded, ‘rather, I prefer mercy and repentance,.”
Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi also related from Abu Umamah from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he said: “My Lord offered to turn the valley of Makkah into gold for me and I declined saying: ‘No! My Lord, rather, let me be satisfied one day and go hungry the other (or something similar to that) such that when I go hungry, I supplicate (to You) and remember You and when I am filled, I thank You and demonstrate gratitude to You’.”
Muhammad Ibn Ishaq related from Ibn Abbas that: “The Quraish sent An-Nadr Ibn Al-Harith and ‘Uqbah Ibn Abu Mu’ait to the high priests of the Jews in Madinah charging them both with the following instruction: ‘Ask them about Muhammad, describe to them his attributes and narrate to them some of what he says, for they are the people who first received revelation and they also possess knowledge that is not found with us regarding the prophets.’
Both of them set out until they arrived at Madinah and they asked the high priests of the Jews about Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, describing to them his affair and some of what he says. They said: “You are the custodian of the
Tawrah, we have come to you to inform us regarding one of us (who claims propethood).” The Jewish priests responded to their request saying: “Ask him about issues we will recommend shortly, if he answers them correctly, then he is truly a Prophet that has been sent, otherwise he is a man deserving to be killed. Ask him regarding the affairs of the youths of the earlier generation for there is a strange story about them.
Ask him about the story of the man who went round the East and the West of the Earth, and finally, ask him about the soul. If he informs you of all their answers correctly then he is a Prophet, so follow him. If he is unable to answer you correctly then he is a man deserving to be killed. So you may act in a manner you deem fit.
So, Nadr and ‘Uqbah returned to Makkah and met with the Quraish. They both said: “O Quraish, we have come to you with a criterion between you and Muhammad. The Jewish high priests have instructed us to ask him a couple of questions.” They mentioned the questions and gleefully they sent for Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him. When he arrived, they presented the questions of the Jewish priests to him. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: “I shall inform you of the answers to the questions tomorrow” forgetting to say insha’Allah (if Allah wishes).
They departed and Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, waited for fifteen nights without receiving revelation regarding the questions and Jibraeel did not come until the people of Makkah began to taunt him. They said: “Muhammad promised to respond to our queries tomorrow and we have witnessed the
fifteenth night without him telling us anything about what we asked him.” While it lasted, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, also was extremely grieved over the suspense and extremely disturbed by what the people of Makkah began to say. Thereafter, Jibraeel, peace be on him, came to him bearing from
Allah, the revelation of Surah Al-Kahf containing a subtle reproach, a dispelling of his worry and answers to the questions put to him regarding the affairs of the youths and the man who traversed (between the East and West). Allah, Most High, also says regarding the question of the nature of human soul:
“And they ask you (O, Muhammad) concerning the Rooh (the Spirit); Say: ‘The Rooh: it is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.” (Al-Isra 17: 85) We have spoken about all of that at length in the Tafseer. Whoever wishes may refer to it.
Allah also revealed: “Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription (the news or the names of the people of the Cave) were a wonder among Our Signs?” (Al-Kahf 18:9) Then Allah began to elaborate on their story and then He interrupted it with a lesson for the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, on the saying
of insha’Allah in His words: “And never say of anything, ‘I shall do such-and-such thing tomorrow. Except (with the saying), If Allah will!’ And remember your Lord when you forget and say: It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this’.” (Al-Kahf 18: 23, 24)
Then Allah (SWT) mentions the story of Moosa with an addendum of the story of Al-Khidr and then that of Dhul-Qarnain. Allah says: “And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnain. Say: ‘I shall recite to you something of his story’.” (Al-Kahf 18: 83) Then He elaborates on his issue and narrates his story.
Allah (SWT) says in the Soorah Subhan (Al-Isra): “And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the Rooh (the Spirit); Say: ‘The Rooh: it is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord’.” (Al-Isra 17: 85) that is, it is one of the most enigmatic creatures of Allah and one of His Signs. Allah merely said to it: “Be” and it was. Man does not have total comprehension of all that Allah has created and inquest into its reality (i.e. the soul) will be extremely difficult juxtaposed against the Power and Wisdom of Allah. Thus, Allah, Most High, says: “And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.” (Al-Isra’ 17: 85)
It is recorded in the Saheehain that the Jews asked these questions from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, of Allah at Madinah and he recited this Verse to them. It is either that the Verse was revealed twice or that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, merely recalled it as a fitting answer to their questions though it had been previously revealed.
The opinion that: It was revealed at Madinah and that the Verse of istithna’ (the saying of insha’Allah) belongs to the Soorah of Subhan is, however, debatable. And Allah (SWT) knows best.
Ibn Ishaq said: Then they turned in enmity to those who accepted Islam and followed the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, from among his Companions. Each clan pounced on the Muslims belonging to their clan. They would incarcerate and torture them with beatings, hunger and thirst as well as with the
burning sand of the hot Makkan desert. They tortured the weak ones amongst them so that that they may recant their faith. There were some who were broken by the severity of the torture and there were others who were hardened until eventually, Allah (SWT) saved them.
Bilal was a freed slave of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Some members of Banu Jumah had some slaves and Bilal Ibn Rabah was one of them. His mother’s name was Hamamah. Bilal was a sincere believer with a pure soul. Umayyah Ibn Khalaf used to bring him out in the excruciating heat and he would order that a heavy stone be placed on his chest and he would say: “we will not cease doing this until you either die or disbelieve in Muhammad and worship Al-Lat and Al-Uzza.” Inspite of the nerve-wrecking pain Bilal would repeat: “Ahad! Ahad!!” (One, One).
Ibn Ishaq then mentioned the passing by of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, while Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, was being tortured and he offered to buy him from Umayyah with another black slave of his. Then Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, freed Bilal and gave him succor from the punishment. Ibn Ishaq
also mentioned others whom he purchased among male and female slaves who had accepted Islam. Among them were Bilal, Amir Ibn Fuhairah, Umm Ubais and Zinneerah, the one who lost her sight but Allah restored it for her. May Allah be pleased with them all. The list also includes Nahdiyyah and her daughter who were purchased from the Banu Abdud-Dar. Her mistress sent them to grind flour for her. He once overheard her saying: “By Allah, I will never free you both.” Then Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said “withdraw your oath, O Umm Fulan.” She said: “Withdraw it? You spoiled them so you free them.” “How much is their freedom worth?” Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, asked and she answered: “such-and-such amount of money.” Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I have bought and freed them both. Return her flour to her.” They both said: “Shouldn’t we finish with the grinding first and then return it to her?” “That is your choice.” Abu Bakr replied. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, also bought a slave girl of Banu Mu’ammal from Banu Adiyy’ whom ‘Umar used to beat for her acceptance of Islam.
Ibn Ishaq also related: Abu Quhafah once said to his son, Abu Bakr: ‘‘I see that you prefer to buy the freedom of weak slaves but wouldn’t it be better if you bought strong men instead, who would assist and defend you?” Abu Bakr responded: “My father, this is what I prefer.” He related that the following Verses were revealed about him and what his father told him:
“As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and
fears Him, And believes in Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the
path of ease (goodness).” (Soorah Al-Lail 92: 5-7) till the end of the
chapter.
Ibn Ishaq said: Banu Makhzoom used to bring ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir along with his father and mother in the scorching heat and theirs was an entire household of Islam. They would be tortured with the searing sand of Makkan desert. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, would pass by and he would say to them: “Be patient, O family of Yasir, your rendezvous is in Paradise.”
Imam Ahmad said that Wakee’ informed me from Sufyan from Mansoor from Mujahid who said: “The first martyr ever recorded in Islam was the martyrdom of Umm ‘Ammar, Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with her. Abu Jahl stabbed her with a spear in her private parts.” This report is mursal.
Ibn Ishaq said that Hakeem Ibn Jubair related to me from Sa‘eed Ibn Jubair who said: “I once asked Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘Were the polytheists so much severe in their torture of the Companions of Allah’s Messenger to such an extent that they would be excused if they recanted from their faith?’ He responded: ‘Yes, by Allah! One of them would be tortured with deprivation of food and water to an extent that he would not be able to sit up due to the severity of the torment meted to him until he acceded to their demand. They would say to him: Do you accept Al-Lat and Al-Uzza instead of Allah?’ and he would reply in affirmation as a ransom from their severe torture’.”
It is regarding something like this that Allah revealed: “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.” (Soorah An-Nahl 16:106)
This sort of people is excused because of what they have experienced of indignity and extreme suffering. Allah (SWT) informed us of that with His Wisdom and Power.
Imam Ahmad also related that Khabbab Ibn Al-Aratt said: “During the pre-Islamic period, I was a blacksmith and Al-‘Aas Ibn Wa’il owed me a debt.” So Khabbab went to him to demand the debt. He said, “I will not give you (your due) till you disbelieve in Muhammad.” Khabbab said, “By Allah, I shall not disbelieve in Muhammad till Allah
makes you die and then resurrects you.” Al-‘Aas said, “So leave me till I die and then be resurrected, for I will be given wealth and children whereupon I will pay you your debt.” Then Allah revealed this Verse: “Have you seen him who disbelieved in Our Ayat (this Qur’an and Muhammad) and (yet) says: ‘I shall certainly be given wealth and children [if I will be alive (again)], ‘ (Soorah Maryam 19:77) till the statement of Allah: “And We shall inherit from him (at his death) all that he talks of (i.e. wealth and children which We have bestowed upon him in this world), and he shall come to Us alone.” (Surah Maryam 19:80)
It is also related in the Saheehain and other than both through ‘A’mash. In the wordings of Al-Bukhari, Al-Khabbab said: “I was a blacksmith in Makkah. I did a job for Al-‘Aas Ibn Wa’il and then came for the payment” and then he mentioned the remainder of the Hadith.
Imam Al-Bukhari also related that Al-Khabbab said: “I came to complain to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, (about the severity of our suffering at the hands of the polytheists) while he was leaning against his sheet cloak in the shade of the Ka‘bah. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, shouldn’t you supplicate to Allah on our behalf?” He sat down while his face turned red and he said, “Among those who were before you, a (believer) used to be seized and his flesh might be combed with iron combs and removed from his bones and that did not cause him to revert from his religion. Then a saw used to be brought and put on his head which would be split into two halves. Still that did not cause him to recant his religion. Allah will complete this matter (Islam) till a rider (traveler) goes from San‘a (the capital of Yemen) to Hadramawt fearing nobody except Allah.” Bayan added: “..and the wolf lest it should trouble his sheep.”
By Ibn Katheer
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