Episode 8: ILL TREATMENT OF THE PROPHET BY HIS PEOPLE

    The efforts of the Quraysh to seduce the Prophetʹs companions from their religion failed miserably, nor did they succeed in stopping the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him from preaching his religion fearlessly. The Qurayshites were first annoyed and agitated, and then dismayed by the expanding community of Muslims, they stirred up against him, calling him a liar, a sorcerer, a segregator and a poet; they insulted and abused him and started harassing him in every respect. Once, when they were assembled at the Ka`bah, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him arrived. The Qurayshites assailed him in unison. While they mobbed him thus, one of them pulled the sheet of cloth hanging round his neck, which nearly choked his throat. Abu Bakr, who happened to be present at that time, separated them from the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him by thrusting himself in between them. And with tears in his eyes he cried, “Would you kill a man simply because he acknowledges that Allah is his Lord?” Hearing this, they shunned the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him but fell upon Abu Bakr dragging him by his hair and beard. At another time, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him even had to face a worse ordeal throughout the whole day. Whom so ever he met, whether freeman or slave, cursed or vilified, tried to hurt him in any way. He returned to his house and wrapped himself up because of the torments he had to endure that day. Then it was that God revealed to him the opening verse of the Chapter “The Enshrouded One” ‐ ‘O You wrapped up in Your cloak, Arise and warn.” (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 289‐91 and Al‐Bukhaari).



    SUFFERINGS OF ABU BAKR
    One morning Abu Bakr made a bold move to invite a gathering of the heathens to the true faith in God and His Prophet peace be and blessings upon him but they fell upon him furiously and beat him mercilessly. ‘Utba Ibn Rabia inflicted such severe injuries to his face with a pair of shoes that one could no longer distinguish the eyes from the nose of his swollen face. Abu Bakr fell unconscious and was brought to his house by Banu Taym, his kinsmen, in a precarious condition, his life hanging by a thread. He regained consciousness late in the afternoon, but even then, the first thing he asked was whether the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him was well and safe! His relations with the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him endangered him for his concern for the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him, on whose account he had to suffer so grievously. Then, hardly raising his voice, he repeated his question to Umm Jamil, who had also accepted Islam. Umm Jamil motioned towards his mother who was standing near her, but Abu Bakr insisted on knowing about the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him, saying that there was no harm on telling him in her presence. At last, Umm Jamil told him that the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him was fine, but Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) would not be satisfied until he had himself seen the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him. He said, “I have taken a vow that I would not take anything until I have seen the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him myself.” The two women waited until everybody had departed and then they brought Abu Bakr to the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him who was moved to see his pitiable condition. The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him prayed for his mother and invited her to accept Islam. It is reported that she readily pledged her trust in the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him of God. (Ibn Kathir, Vol. I, pp. 439‐41).

 

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