CHAPTER 18: THE POLYTHEISTS’ DISPUTATION OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH
THE POLYTHEISTS’ DISPUTATION OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH AND HIS ESTABLISHING AN IRREFUTABLE PROOF ON THEM AND THEIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRUTH
Ishaq Ibn Rahuyah reported from Ibn ‘Abbas that Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mugheerah once came to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who recited the Qur’an to him. What he heard had a visible effect on him, and he went away with softened heart. When the news of this incident got to Abu Jahl, he came to him and said:
“O my uncle! Your people wish to gather wealth for you.” “why?” Al-Waleed asked. Abu Jahl said: “Because you approached Muhammad so as to benefit from what comes from him.” Al-Waleed said: “The entire Quraish well know that I am one of the wealthiest of them.” Then Abu Jahl said: “Then say something (against Muhammad) so
that the people will know that you are against him and hate (his message).” Al-Waleed replied, “and what can I say? For I swear by Allah, there is none amongst you who knows poetry as well as I do, nor can anyone compete with me in composition or rhetoric – not even in the poetry of Jinns! And yet, I swear by Allah, Muhammad’s speech (meaning the Qur’an) does not bear any similarity to anything I know, and I swear by Allah, the speech that he says is very sweet, and is adorned with beauty and charm. Its first part is fruitful and its last part is abundant (meaning that it is full of deep meanings), and it conquers (all other speech), and remains unconquered! It shatters and destroys all that has come before it (of poetry, because of its eloquence)!”
Abu Jahl insisted, “Your people will not be satisfied until you speak against him!” Al-Waleed therefore requested Abu Jahl, “Leave me so that I may think about it.” Then he said: “This (the Qur’an) is a type of magic that has an effect on its listeners.”
In response to this, Allah revealed: “Leave Me Alone (to deal) with whom I created Alone (without any means, i.e. Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mugheerah Al-Makhzumi)! And then granted him resources in abundance. And children to be by his side!” (Surah Al-Muddaththir 74:11-13) This is how Al-Baihaqi related it from Al-Hakim from
‘Abdullah Ibn Muhammad As-Sana’ni in Makkah from Ishaq.
Hammad Ibn Zaid has also reported from Ayyub from ‘Ikrimah in a mursal form which includes that he recited to him the following Verse: “Verily, Allah enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allah Alone – Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them, e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, etc.): and forbids Al-Fahsha’ (i.e all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right, etc.), and Al- Munkar (i.e all that is prohibited by Islamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds, etc.), and Al-Baghy’ (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He admonishes you, that you may take heed.” (Soorah An-Nahl 16: 90)
I say: Regarding that, Allah says, by way of informing (us) of their ignorance and paucity of their intellect. “Nay, they say: ‘These (revelations of the Qur’an which are inspired to Muhammad) are mixed up false dreams! Nay, he has invented it! Nay, he is a poet! Let him then bring us an Ayah (sign as a proof) like the ones (Prophets) that were sent before (with signs)’!” (Soorah Al-Anbiya’ 21:5)
Consider what they say. Everything they say is false for whatever the one who is far removed from the truth says will always be faulty.
Allah, Most High, says: “See what examples they have put forward for you. So they have gone astray, and never can they find a way.” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:48)
Imam Ahmad related from ‘Abd Ibn Humayd in his Musnad: From Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah who said: “The Quraish assembled one day and said ‘check who is the most knowledgeable of you in magic, soothsaying and poetry so that he may approach this man who has divided our ranks, shattered our affairs and criticized our religion so that he may speak with and respond to him.’ They all said: ‘we know no one better than ‘Utbah Ibn Rabee‘ah.’ So they unanimously said: ‘We appoint you, O Abul-Waleed.’
‘Utbah went to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said: ‘O Muhammad! Who is better between you and ‘Abdullah (your father)? Who is better between you and Abdul-Muttalib (your grandfather)?’ Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, remained silent. ‘Utbah continued: ‘If you think
that these individuals are better than you are, then be aware that they worshipped the god that you reject. If you think that you are better than them, then speak so that we may hear your speech. By Allah, we have seen no other son who has brought so great a calamity to his people as you have done. You have created strife among us, shattered our affairs, rejected our religion and caused us disgrace among the Arabs in such a way that it has become widespread among them that there is a magician among the Quraish and that a soothsayer exists among the Quraish. If you have a need for wealth, we will join together to give you greater riches than any man of Quraish. If you are impelled by a desire for women, choose any woman of your liking and we shall marry ten of them to you.
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Have you said all you have to say?’ and ‘Utbah said ‘yes.’ Then Allah’s Messenger began: ‘In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Ha-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]; a revelation from Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful; a Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; a Qur’an in Arabic for people who know’ up to the statement of Allah: ‘But if they turn away, then say (O Muhammad): I have warned you of a Sa’iqah (a destructive awful cry, torment, hit, a thunderbolt) like the Sa’iqah which overtook ‘Ad and Thamud (people).’ (Soorah Al-Fussilat 41:1-13)
‘Do you have other than this?’ Utbah asked and the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘No.’ Then he returned to the Quraish and they asked him: ‘What transpired?’ and he said: ‘I have never heard words similar to those ones he recited.’ Then they enquired: ‘Did he respond to you?’ He said ‘Yes, ‘ and then said ‘No.
By Him Who built the Ka‘bah, I did not understand anything from what he said except that I warn you of a thunderbolt similar to that of the Ad and Thamud.’ Indignantly, they said, ‘Woe betide you, someone spoke to you in Arabic and you did not understand anything from what he said?’ and he responded: ‘By Allah, I did not
understand anything other than the mentioning of thunderbolt’.”
Al-Baihaqi related that Mugheerah Ibn Shu‘bah said: “The first day I knew Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was when I was walking along with Abu Jahl in an alleyway of Makkah and we met Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and he said to Abu Jahl, ‘O Abul-Hakam, come on to Allah and His Messenger, I am inviting you to Allah.’ Abu Jahl said, ‘O Muhammad, won’t you desist from slandering our gods? Do you desire anything other than that we witness that you delivered (the message) and we have witnessed to that? By Allah, if I knew that what you are saying is true I would have followed you.’ Then Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went away and Abu Jahl turned to me and said:
‘By Allah, I know that what he says is the truth but something is hindering me. Banu Qusayy would boast: ‘among us is Al-Hijabah (enrobing the Ka‘bah)’ and we would concur; then they would say ‘among us is As-Siqayah’ (providing water for pilgrims) and still we would concur; then they would say, ‘among us is An-Nadwah (the meeting place of the Quraish) and we would say yes; they would say, ‘among us is Al-Liwa’ (the flag of the Arabs) and we would say yes. And then they score and we also score until when I am about to take the rein and they would say again, among us is a Prophet. By Allah, I shall not accede to that.”
Imam Ahmad related that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The following Verses were revealed while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was still in Makkah: “And offer your salat (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice.” He said, “Whenever Allah’s Messenger led his Companions in salat, he would raise his voice in reciting the Qur’an, so when the polytheists heard it they would abuse the Qur’an and abuse Who revealed it and abuse who brought it.” Ibn ‘Abbas said further, “then Allah says to His Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him): “And offer your salat (prayer) neither aloud,” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:110) That is, with your recitation of the Qur’an and the polytheists would hear and therefore abuse the Qur’an. “… nor in a low voice.” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:110) i.e. do not make too low for your Companions to hear you recite the Qur’an so that they might learn from you, “but follow a way between.” (Soorah Al-Isra 17:110)
By Ibn Katheer
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