Part 'C' 611-622 AD (11yrs.) in Mecca after Risalat (age 40 to 51 yrs)
Polytheism and slavery
Worship of several gods and Slavery was deeply rooted among the people of Mecca. The Quraish had personal material interests in the old worship, and their prestige was dependent upon its maintenance. Most of the Quraish were slave owners. The slaves were being exploited and treated in an inhuman way by their masters. unobtrusively.P
Worship of several gods and Slavery was deeply rooted among the people of Mecca. The Quraish had personal material interests in the old worship, and their prestige was dependent upon its maintenance. Most of the Quraish were slave owners. The slaves were being exploited and treated in an inhuman way by their masters. unobtrusively.P
Efforts in first three years
For three weary long years, the Prophet labored very quietly to deliver his people from the worship of idols and to oppose the ruling oligarchy which governed its destine and only thirty followers were secured in this period. Many of the slaves were attracted by Islam as it lays a charter of freedom for the distressed humanity and equality. It stipulated that no person could be the slave of another person. When many slaves accepted Islam, the slave owners felt much concerned considering it as a threat to their economic interests. They resorted to a campaign of persecution and torture against the slaves who professed to be Muslims.
Change in outlook of Meccans
An important change now occurred in the relations of the Prophet with the citizens of Mecca. His compatriots had begun to doubt his sanity, thinking him crazy or possessed by an evil spirit. Hitherto he had preached quietly and
An important change now occurred in the relations of the Prophet with the citizens of Mecca. His compatriots had begun to doubt his sanity, thinking him crazy or possessed by an evil spirit. Hitherto he had preached quietly and
613 AD Reaction of Hz.Abu Talib RA.
Once, Abu Talib saw the Muslims praying behind the Holy Prophet with Ali in a glen out side Makkah. He asked Ali as to whom they were praying, and what was the religion they had adopted? He replied that they were praying to Allah, the Lord of the world and the universe. There was no god but Allah and Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was His prophet. Abu Talib pondered for a while and said, "If Muhammad has become the prophet, hold fast to him for he cannot but be right. I know that his elevation to prophet hood was expected many years ago".
When the Holy Prophet and Ali visited the house of Abu Talib, they had a more detailed discussion about the new faith.
He enquired as to what was the religion he was following. The Prophet replied that it is the religion of Allah of His Angels, of His Messengers and of our ancestor Abraham, that Allah has sent me to His servants, to direct them towards the truth, and that you, my uncle, are the most worthy of all that I should call upon you to accept the truth and help in spreading it.
Abu Talib was sympathetic, but he could not abandon the faith of his forefathers being one of the tribal chiefs but promised that none shall dare to injure the Prophet till Abu Talib was alive. He also warned of the opposition of the Quraish, though the family will extend full support. Jafar, a brother of Ali, wanted some more time to consider over the matter.
613 AD. Open proclamation
The command of God to proclaim the message of Islam publicly and to start with Banu Hashim came after three years of prophet hood in 613 C.E. to make an open declaration of faith.
Thus began an extra ordinary battle between truth and falsehood in history.
First public announcement
The first public meeting held for this purpose was addressed by Abu Bakr inviting the people to offer allegiance to the Holy Prophet.
The Quraish were exasperated at this daring of the Muslims. In a fit of fury the Quraish young men rushed at Abu Bakr, and beat him mercilessly till he lost consciousness. Abu Bakr was carried to his home.
The feast
The Holy Prophet invited about forty Hashimites to a feast. After the feast the Holy Prophet gave details about the orders of Allah commissioning him as His prophet and said that there was no god but Allah, and that he was His Messenger commissioned to call the people to the faith. Waxing eloquent the Holy Prophet said that in the task of promoting the new faith he needed their support. He posed the question, "Who out of you would support me in this task? No one uttered a word but Young Ali rose to say, "Holy Prophet, I will be your support"? The Holy Prophet looked approvingly at young Ali, and thanked him. The Holy Prophet posed the same question for the second and third time but, no one responded. Each time the young Ali rose to offer his support in unequivocal terms. Abu Talib did not consider it advisable to make a public declaration of his support, but was happy at the courage shown by the young Ali.
After the feast
After the feast, some members of the family like Jafar a brother of Ali with his wife Asma, and Hamza, an uncle of the Holy Prophet and Ali were attracted to the new faith.
During the first three years, the message of Islam was conveyed to the friends privately, amongst them Abu Bakr was the first to be converted to Islam. In spite of the refusal at the time of call from Mt.Safa, some persons were attracted and offered allegiance to the Holy Prophet and despite the unfavorable conditions about one hundred persons, men and women accepted Islam.
The roll of HZ.Abu Bakr رضى الله عنه
Hz. Abu Bakr, was a leading member of the Quraish tribe and an honest, wealthy merchant who enjoyed great consideration among his compatriots.
He was but two years younger than the Prophet. His adoption of the new faith was of great moral effect.
He presented Islam in such a way that his friends of status and high social standing like those listed below, opted for Islam.
1. Uthman bin Affan 2. Zubair bin Awam 3. Talhah bin Ubaidullah 4. Sa'ad b AbiWaqas 5. Abdur Rahman b 'Auf, 6. Umar b Masoan 7. Abu Ubaidah b. Al-Jarrah, 8. Abu Salma. 9..Abdullah b. AbdulAsad 10. Khalid b Saeed 11. Abu Hudhaifah.
Several converts also came from lower classes of the Arabs to adopt the new religion.
They all proved to be great assets for Islam.
In this way the chain came to be extended quite satisfactorily. The early Muslims prayed in secluded glens, or other solitary places.
Abu Lahab
Abu Lahab a step uncle of the Holy Prophet ridiculed the new faith, and felt sorry that his nephew had lost his sense, and was suffering from some hallucination. He wanted the guests to disperse.
Great struggle ahead
Though disappointed with the attitude of Hashimites, the Holy Prophet was not daunted as he knew that in order to accomplishing his assignment, he should prepare himself to face difficulties.
After this, the Holy Prophet decided to make a public declaration of his faith.
Though disappointed with the attitude of Hashimites, the Holy Prophet was not daunted as he knew that in order to accomplishing his assignment, he should prepare himself to face difficulties.
After this, the Holy Prophet decided to make a public declaration of his faith.
613 AD Massage to the people of Mecca
The Prophet continued preaching to the Arabs in a most gentle and reasonable manner. He called the people, so accustomed to iniquity and wrong doings, to abandon their abominations. In burning words which excited the hearts of his hearers, he warned them of the punishment which Allah had inflicted upon the ancient tribes of 'Ad and Thamud who had obstinately disobeyed the teachings of Allah's messengers to them. He spoke to them of the Day of Reckoning, when their deeds in this world will be weighed before the Eternal Judge, when the children who had been buried alive will be asked for what crime they were put to death.
Hz. Hamza رضى الله عنه adopts Islam
At this time Hamza, the youngest son of Abdul Muttalib, adopted Islam. Hamza was a man of distinguished bravery, an intrepid
warrior, generous and true, whose heroism earned for him the title of the "Lion of Allah." He became a devoted adherent of Islam and
eventually lost his life in the cause.
Quraish alarmed
As the number of believers increased and the cause of the Prophet was strengthened by the conversions of many powerful citizens, the Prophet's preaching alarmed the Quraish. Their power and prestige were at stake
Persecution begins
When all the tactics of the Quraish proved abortive, they started to persecute the Muslims physically and subjected them to great hardships. The hostile Quraish prevented the Prophet from offering his prayers at the Sacred House of the Kaba; they pursued him wherever he went; they covered him and his disciples with dirt and filth when engaged in their devotions; they scattered thorns in the places which he frequented for devotion and meditation.
Method of torture
The Quraish organized a system of persecution in order to suppress the movement before it became firmly established. They decided that each family should take upon itself the task of stamping out the new faith on the spot. Each household tortured its own members or adherents or slaves who were supposed to have connected themselves with the new religion.
Victims of torture
With the exception of the Prophet, and Abu Bakr and a few others who were either distinguished by their rank or possessed some influence among the Quraish, all other converts were subjected to different sorts of torture.
1.Usman b Affan was bound and beaten by his uncle Hakam b Al'Aas. 2.His uncle wrapped Zubair b Awam in a mat and passed smoke through his nose. 3. Abdullah bin Masud was mercilessly beaten by the Quraish when he recited Qur’an in Ka’ba. 4. A lady Umm Shareek was made to stand under the hot sun for three days, and was not allowed to drink water. 5.Khabbab was forced to lie on live cinders. 6.Ammar was thrown on burning sand and severely beaten till he lost consciousness. 7.His mother Sumaiyya was stabbed to death by Abu Jahl. 8. His father Yasir was tortured to death. 9.Suhaib was beaten so mercilessly that he lost his mental balance.
Some of them were thrown into prison, starved, and then flogged. The hill of Ramada and the place called Bata thus became scenes of cruel torture.
Muslims not allowed to retaliate
The persecutions of the Quraish were not confined to the Holy Prophet or Abu Bakr. Almost every Muslim convert became a victim of the persecutions of the Quraish.
When the Quraish subjected the poorer sections of the Muslims to hardship, Ali and some other young men asked the permission of the Holy Prophet to let them retaliate, and die fighting against the Quraish.
Amidst all these trials the Prophet did not waver. He was full of confidence in his mission, even when on several occasions he was put in imminent danger of losing his life.
Training of endurance
In fact the Muslims were undergoing rigorous training of endurance to accustom themselves to bear with the utmost hardships that they would be facing in the times to come for the cause of establishing the rule of Almighty Allah without fear of a loss what so ever of a possession, a limb or even that of life because the most precious of all things, the Imaan, the love of Allah and the Holy Prophet was fully protected deeply in their heart of hearts.
613 AD. Inducement
One day the Quraish tried to induce the Prophet to discontinue his teachings of the new religion which had sown discord among their people. Utba Ibn Rabi'a, was delegated to see the Prophet and to make a proposition that if this affair is for the sake to acquire riches, honors, and dignity, the Quraish are willing to collect for you a fortune larger than is possessed by any one of us; we shall make you our chief and will do nothing without you. If you desire dominion, we shall make you our king; and if the demon which possesses you cannot be subdued, we will bring you doctors and give them riches until they cure you.
When 'Utba had finished his discourse, the Prophet recited to him the first thirteen verses of Surah Fussilat 41: 1-13 and replied turning down the proposition; to take what course they find best.
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