Persecution begins

 The persecution of the Muslims was a terrible phase in early Islam. There were numerous heart-rending incidents in which Muslims were tortured and often killed by the Quraysh. The collective memories of the early Muslim community catalogued the injuries and casualties suffered by its members, and in this biography of the Prophet(ﷺ )  of Islam it is fitting that we mention the lives and deaths of his most ardent followers, those who recognised the truth of his message and died believing in Allah and His Messenger .

Bilal bin Rabah was the slave of Umayya bin Khalaf. Incensed at his slave’s assertion of spiritual independence, Umayya would hand him over to the street urchins after tying a rope around his neck. As they would drag him, Bilal (رضی اللہ عنہ )would reiterate “One! One!” in reference to the Oneness of God. Umayya would also bring Bilal (رضی اللہ عنہ )out at noon and throw him on his back on the burning sand or stone with a heavy rock on his chest. Then he would say to Bilal(رضی اللہ عنہ ), “Now, by God, you will lie here till you either die or deny Muhammad and worship Lat and Uzza.” Bilal (رضی اللہ عنہ )endured the affliction, reaffirming his faith in Allah by calling out “One! One!”

Finally, the torture ended when Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ )saw Bilal (رضی اللہ عنہ )as he was passing by. His wealth was now a tool with which to earn Allah’s pleasure, and he purchased Bilal and freed him.

Amir bin Fuhayrah , was another early believer who endured beatings so merciless that he lost his senses and did not know what he was saying.

 Aflah, also known as Abu Faqih, was the slave of Banu Abdul Dar. He was usually taken out in the scorching heat at noon in fetters and forced to lie naked, with a heavy stone on his chest. Often the agony rendered him insensible. On one occasion, the pagans tied a rope around his feet and neck and dragged him about until he nearly died. He was finally rescued by Abu Bakr(رضی اللہ عنہ ) , who, unable to see a fellow Muslim suffer so, bought him out of bondage. Aflah was among the early Muslims who later migrated to Abyssinia.

 Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt , a well known Companion of the Prophet(ﷺ ) , was bought by a woman of Banu Khuzaa named Umm Anmar bint Sabaa’. He was a blacksmith, and to make Khabbab renounce his belief in the Prophet(ﷺ ) , Umm Anmar would brand him on the back with his own tools. Others would also join in the torture. They would twist his neck, pull out his hair, and even throw him on the burning coals. A rock would be placed on him so that he could not move. Miraculously, Khabbab’s faith grew stronger with each attempt to drive him back to disbelief.

Zinira (may Allah have mercy upon her), was a Roman slave girl who embraced Islam. When the pagans found out that she had become Muslim, they tortured her until she went blind, and gloated that the wrath of their gods Lat and Uzza had caused her to go blind. It was Allah Who had blinded her, she told them; and if He so willed, He could restore her eyesight. The next morning she awoke to find her vision completely restored. Her tormentors, however, were not convinced of the miracle and claimed this was nothing more than Muhammad’s sorcery.

Umm Abis (may Allah have mercy upon her), was a slave of Banu Zahra. She suffered at the hands of her master, Malik Aswad bin Abd Yaghuth, who began to torture her when she accepted Islam. Malik was a sworn enemy of the Prophet(ﷺ ) and used to ridicule him relentlessly.

A slave of Amr bin Mu’mil from Banu Adiy embraced Islam. Her torturer was none other than Umar bin Khattab(رضی اللہ عنہ ), who at that point was still an unbeliever. Umar(رضی اللہ عنہ ), famous for his strength, would beat her until she was exhausted. Then he would stop, informing her that he was stopping not out of mercy, but out of fatigue. “Your Lord will also treat you accordingly,” retorted the slave girl.

Among the slaves who embraced Islam were also Nahdiya and her daughter . These two were the slaves of a woman of Banu Abdul Dar. Mother and daughter suffered punishment on account of their faith until Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ )bought them from their mistress and set them free, just as he had done with Bilal(رضی اللہ عنہ ), Amir bin Fuhayrah and Abu Faqih . His use of his wealth in this manner earned him reproof with his father, Abu Quhafa, who told him, “I notice that you are freeing weak heads. Had you freed strong men, they would stand you in good stead.” In reply, Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ ) said, “I seek but the pleasure of Allah.” Through the following verses that were revealed, Allah indicated that Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ )had succeeded in his undertaking:

“I warn you all of a fire blazing fiercely. None shall enter it except the most wretched, those who deny and turn away. However, the God-fearing will be saved from the fire, those who spend their wealth in order to purify themselves, who spend without seeking a reward in return. They seek only the counternance of their Lord, the Most High. Verily, soon they will be pleased.” (92: 14-21)

Not all the salves who became Muslim were ransomed. Some succumbed to their injuries, while others were forced to recant in public although they remained believers at heart. Ammar bin Yasir and his parents belonged to the Banu Makhzoom tribe, of which Abu Jahl was a chieftian. Led by Abu Jahl, various people from the tribe would take Ammar and his family to Abtah and leave them in the scorching sun. The Prophet (ﷺ ) saw their plight and exhorted them to stand fast in faith, saying, “Patience, O family of Yasir, patience. Your destination is Paradise. O Allah! Forgive my family of Yasir.” And stand fast they did. Yasir, Ammar’s father, bore the torture until his death.

Summayah bint Khayyat (may Allah have mercy upon her) the mother of Ammar, was a slave of Abu Hudhayfah Makhzoomi. This frail old woman died and attaied the honour of being the first martyr in Islam when Abu Jahl struck a lance at her genitals.

As for Ammar, the torture became unbarable for him. The polytheists would make him wear a coat of mail and put a heavy red stone on his chest. Overpowered by distress, he uttered whatever the polytheists bade him say. However, at heart he remained full of faith. Ammar was remorseful at his bodies betrayal of his heart and soul. With the revelation of the following verse, however, Ammar and all the believers were heartened, for Allah assured them that He looked at believing hearts, not at

tongues weakened by torture: “Those who renounce faith in Allah and open their hearts to disbelief – except for those believers who were forced to recant outwardly – will earn Allah’s wrath and a great punishment.” (16: 106)

While some form of hostility from the community at large was only to be expected, it was strange that even the immediate families of the new Muslims joined in the persecution. Love vanished in the face of allegience to their idols. When Mus’ab bin Umayr (رضی اللہ عنہ )accepted Islam, his privileged lifestyle ended. His mother refused to give him food and drink and turned him out of her house. Defenseless and shunned by the one who had given birth to him, he was brutally tortured, and his skin was peeled off like the slough of a snake by his tormentors.

Suhayb bin Sinin Rumi (رضی اللہ عنہ ) was another Muslim who was tortured to the extent that he lost control over what he said, and babbled anything his tormentors had him utter.

In the eyes of the Quraysh, slaves who became Muslim were rebels to be tortured to death. Their low social status left them vulnerable to all kinds of abuse. Nevertheless, not even wealth or social standing guaranteed complete immunity to anyone who became Muslim. Uthman bin Affan was a well-to-do person in the community, but he too was tortured in various ways. Once his uncle wrapped him up tightly in a mat and burned incense from below.

Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ )and Talha bin Ubaydullah (رضی اللہ عنہ )were also harrassed. Naufal bin Khuwaylid(رضی اللہ عنہ ), and it is said, Uthman bin Ubaydullah(رضی اللہ عنہ ), trussed both of them with the same rope so that they could not pray and practice their new faith. However, both Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ )and Talha (رضی اللہ عنہ )were found praying, the rope having been mysteriously untied. Since both of them had been fastened with the same rope, they came to be called Qarayn, which means “joined together.”

Abu Jahl, who is referred to several times in the Qur’an for his implacable hatred of Islam and his arrogance, was one of the prominent Makkans who had made it his mission to fight Islam and its followers. His hate and ire grew every time he heard of someone becoming Muslim. If the new Muslim held a high position in society, Abu Jahl would rebuke him and threaten him with the loss of his property and honour. If someone from a lower station accepted Islam, Abu Jahl would beat him severely and incite others to do the same. As a general policy, the polytheists persecuted any new Muslim, often to the point of death, especially if the new convert belonged to a weaker section of tribal society. If, however, they saw a prominent person accept Islam, the proceeded more cautiously, as only polytheists of the same social status could challenge the convert.

REFERENCE:

BOOK: WHEN THE MOON SPLIT FINAL.

Compiled by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri

Edited and Translated by Tabassum Siraj – Michael Richardson Badr Azimabadi