The persecution

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 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.
Independence, 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 would reiterate “One! One!” in reference to the Oneness of God. Umayya would also bring Bilal 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, “Now, by God, you will lie here till you either die or deny Muhammad and worship Lat and Uzza.” Bilal endured the affliction, reaffirming his faith in Allah by calling out “One! One!”
Finally, the torture ended when Abu Bakr saw Bilal 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.

Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt , a well known Companion of the Prophet , 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 , 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.

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 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 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.
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 and Talha bin Ubaydullah were also harrassed. Naufal bin Khuwaylid, and it is said, Uthman bin Ubaydullah, trussed both of them with the same rope so that they could not pray and practice their new faith. However, both Abu Bakr and Talha 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.

BUT POLYTHEISTS AVOID OPENLY ABUSING THE PROPHET SAW WHY THAT HAPPENED 
WE WILL KNOW NEXT TIME IN SHAA ALLAH

TO BE CONTINUED IN SHA ALLAH