It is natural for
sensible and mild-tempered people to meditate deeply on the factors that inspired those
early Muslims that miraculous constancy and perseverance. It is normal to wonder how those
people managed to tolerate unspeakable persecutions, and stand fast in the face of
tyrannical tortures. With respect to these questions, we deem it wise just to touch on
those underlying reasons:
- Unshakable Belief in Allâh.
The first
and foremost factor is no doubt, unshakable Belief in Allâh Alone coupled with a
wonderful degree of perception of His Attributes. A man with this Belief deeply averred in
his heart will look at those foreseen difficulties as triflings and can under no
circumstance compare with the sweetness of Belief:
"Then, as for the
foam, it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the good of mankind
remains in the earth." [13:17]
Other sub-factors that
branch out from that Belief and assist in strengthening it and promoting long amity are:
- Wholeheartedly-loved leadership
.
Muhammad (PBUH), the great leader of the Muslim community, and mankind at large, was an
exemplary man in his perfect manners and noble attributes; no one could measure up to his
endowments of nobility, honesty, trustworthiness and abstinence; unanimously and
uncontestedly acknowledged even by his enemies. Abu Jahl himself, the great enemy of
Islam, used repeatedly to say: "O Muhammad (PBUH), we are in no position to believe
you, we rather disbelieve what you have brought us (Islam)." It is narrated that
three people of Quraish each separately and secretly listened to some verses of the Noble
Qurân. Later, this secret was uncovered and one of them asked Abu Jahl (one of the
three) what he thought of what he heard from Muhammad (PBUH). He answered: We contested
the honour of leadership and generosity with Banu Abd Munaf and shared equal
privileges competitively. They then began to boast saying that a Prophet rose among them
whom Revelation came down upon from heavens. I swear we will never believe in him.
So Allâh said:
"
It is not you
that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Qurân) of Allâh that the Zâlimûn
(polytheists and wrong-doers) deny." [6:33]
One day, the disbelievers
of Quraish leveled to him a cynical remark three times. He remained silent but for the
third one he remarked, "O Quraish! Slaughter is in store for you." They were
taken aback and ulterior fear filled their hearts to such an extent that the most hostile
among them began to make up for their insult by the best friendly terms they could afford.
When they slung the entrails of a camel on him while prostrating himself in prayer, he
invoked Allâhs wrath on them, and they immediately were caught in an inexpressible
state of worry and were almost convinced that they would be destroyed. Ubai bin Khalaf
used always to threaten he would kill Muhammad (PBUH). One day the Prophet (PBUH) retorted
that he would kill him by Allâhs Will. When Ubai received a scratch in his neck, on
the day of Uhud, he, under the sense of horror, remembered the Prophets words and
remarked, "I am convinced he would be able to kill me even if he spat on me."
Sad bin Muadh said to Omaiyah bin Khalaf in Makkah, "I heard the
Messenger of Allâh (PBUH) one day say that the Muslims would surely kill you."
Omaiyah was extremely panicked and swore he would never step out of Makkah. Even when Abu
Jahl obliged him to march with them to fight the Prophet (PBUH) on the day of Badr, he
bought the best and swift camels in Makkah in order that they hasten his escape. Even his
wife warned him against going out reminding him of Sads words, his reply was
"By Allâh, I have no intention of going out with Quraish, I will disengage from them
after a short distance."
That was the clear
sense of horror and terror haunting his enemies wherever they were. His friends and
companions, on the other hand, held him dearest to them, and he occupied the innermost
cells of their hearts. They were always ready to defend him and secure his well-being even
at the risk of their lives. One day, Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafa was severely beaten by
Utbah bin Rabia, a terrible polytheist. His whole body was almost bleeding and
he was on the verge of death, yet when his people took him back home extremely indignant
at his misfortune, he swore he would never eat or drink anything until they had told him
about the well-being of his noble Companion, Muhammad (PBUH). That was the spirit of
selflessness and sacrifice that characterized the behaviour of those early Companions.
- The sense of responsibility
. The early
Companions were fully aware of the daunting responsibility they were expected to shoulder.
They were also convinced that those charges were inescapable even though they were being
persecuted for fear of the far-reaching ramifications, and the horrible impact that
humanity would suffer in case they shirked their obligations.
- Unwavering Belief in the truth of the
Hereafter. This was the corner-stone that strengthened their sense of responsibility.
There was a deep certainty established through the light of their religion that one day
they would have to rise on the Day of Resurrection and account for all worldly deeds,
small or big. They were sure that their future in the other world would depend wholly on
their acts in their provisional life on earth, either to everlasting Garden (Paradise) or
perpetual chastisement in Hell. Their whole life was divided between hope for
Allâhs mercy and fear of His punishment.
"
Who give that
(their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of
fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are
sure to return to their Lord." [23:60]
They had already known that
life with all its amenities and pains was worthless when compared with the Hereafter. Such
deep convictions brought about in them a sense of indifference to all troubles and
hardships that attended their life.
- The Qurân
. The verses and
chapters of the Noble Qurân were attractively, forcefully and successively revealed
at that gloomy and critical stage, supporting and advancing arguments on the truth and
soundness of the principles of Islam, round whose axis the whole Call of Muhammad (PBUH)
was revolving. They constituted the immune basis upon which the best and most wonderful
Divinely decreed society was to be established. The Qurânic verses served also to
excite the feelings of the believers, strengthen their selves on their course of patience
and endurance and introduce them to the most purposeful examples and suggestive
instructions:
"Or think you that you
will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?
They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the
Messenger and those who believed along with him said, When (will come) the Help of
Allâh? Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allâh is near!" [2:214]
"Alif-Lam-Mim.
Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: We believe, and
will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allâh will
certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it)
known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allâh knows all that before
putting them to test)." [29: 1-3]
Mere lip profession of
Faith is not enough. It must be tried and tested in the real turmoil of life. The test
will be applied in all kinds of circumstances, in individual life and in relation to the
environment around us to see whether we can strive constantly and put the Lord above self.
Much pain, sorrow and self-sacrifice may be necessary, not because they are good in
themselves, but because they will purify us, like fire applied to a goldsmiths
crucible to burn out the dross.
These verses also
constituted an irrefutable answer to the false allegations of the disbelievers, and a
clear ultimatum that smacked of the horrible consequences that would ensue in case they
persisted in their disbelief. On the other hand, the Noble Qurân was leading the
Muslims to a new world and enlightening them as to its features, the beauty of Lordship,
the perfection of Godship, the impact of kindness and mercy and the manifestations of the
yearned for Allâhs pleasure. They implicitly connoted meaningful messages carrying
glad tidings of definitely approaching Divine Mercy leading to eternal bliss in a blissful
Garden (Paradise). They, at the same time, envisaged the end of the tyrants and
disbelievers who would be brought to Divine Justice and then dragged through the Fire
where they would taste the touch of Hell.
- Glad tidings of success
. Ever since the
time they experienced the adversities of life, the Muslims had been certain that entrance
into the fold of Islam did not entail involvement into hardships or digging ones own
grave. They had been aware that the Islamic Call had one goal, viz extermination of
pre-Islamic tradition and destroying its iniquitous system, to go on parallel lines with
extending its influence allover the earth and holding in firm control the political
situation worldwide to lead humanity along a course conducive to Allâhs Pleasure,
and perfect enough to rid people of worshipping Allâhs servant to worshipping
Allâh, Himself. Glad tidings of this sort were being revealed sometimes explicitly and at
other times implicitly, in a manner relevant to the situation. When the Muslims were
forced to undergo constraints, or when their life was kept under continual restraint,
there would be revealed verses telling identical stories of past Prophets with their
people and the sufferings and pains they had experienced. The verses would also include
suggestive clues to the final tragic end of the Makkan disbelievers envisaging their final
perdition, yet and at the same time, bearing glad tidings to the believers and promising
the true servants of vicegerency on earth to go with absolute success, and victory to
attend the Islamic Call and its proponents.
Here we could adduce some
of the verses of this category pregnant with glad tidings referring to the final victory
that would crown the perseverance and patience of the Muslims:
"And, verily, Our Word
has gone forth of old for Our slaves, the Messengers, that they verily would be
made triumphant. And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. So turn away (O
Muhammad (PBUH)) from them for a while, and watch them and they shall see (the
punishment)! Do they seek to hasten on Our torment? Then, when it descends into their
courtyard (i.e. near to them), evil will be the morning for those who had been
warned." [37:171-177]
In the same context, Allâh
told His Prophet (PBUH):
"Their multitude will
be put to flight, and they will show their backs." [54:45]
He also said:
"They will be a
defeated host like the confederates of the old times." [38:11]
The Muslims who migrated to
Abyssinia (Ethiopia) had the following:
"And as for those who
emigrated for the cause of Allâh, after suffering oppression, We will certainly give them
goodly residence in this world, but indeed the reward of the Hereafter will be greater, if
they but knew." [16:41]
In the context of the story
of Joseph, there was:
"Verily, in Joseph and
his brethren there were Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.) for those who ask." [12:7]
i.e., the Makkans will
receive the same fate that befell Josephs brothers, viz, failure and surrender. In
another instance, Allâh speaks about the Messengers:
"And those who
disbelieved, said to their Messengers: Surely, we shall drive you out of our land,
or you shall return to our religion! So their Lord inspired them: Truly, We
shall destroy the Zâlimûn (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doers). And
indeed, We shall make you dwell in the land after them. This is for him who fears standing
before Me (on the Day of Resurrection or fears My punishment) and also fears My
threat." [14:13,14]
During the war between the
Persians and the Romans, the disbelievers had a sincere wish that victory be the
formers lot, because both parties professed polytheism, whereas the Muslims prayed
for a Roman victory because both groups believed in Allâh, His Messengers, Books, the
Revelation and the Hereafter.
The war resulted in the
overthrow of Rome by Persia. They were pro-Persian, as we have said, and in their hearts
they hoped that the nascent movement of Islam, which at that time was, from a worldly
point of view, very weak and helpless, would collapse under their persecution. But they
misread the true signs of the times. They were told that they would soon be disillusioned
in both their calculations, and it actually so happened when Heraclius carried his
campaign into the heart of Persia and the Makkan Quraish were beaten off at Badr:
"And on that Day, the
believers (i.e. Muslims) will rejoice (at the victory given by Allâh to the Romans
against the Persians) with the help of Allâh." [30:4,5]
During the season of
Ukaz forum, and other such occasions, the Messenger of Allâh (PBUH) himself would
communicate not only glad tidings pertinent to the Garden (Paradise) but also news of
promising prospects for the true believers in the Call of Islam. He would openly tell them
that they would surely prosper, rule the whole of Arabia and subdue Persia if they
professed the most serious pillar of Islam, i.e. the Oneness of Allâh.
Khabbab bin Al-Aratt
once urged the Messenger to call upon Allâh to shield him against the adversities he was
suffering at the hand of the polytheists. The Prophets face reddened and he remarked
that the true believer must not precipitate things, it was incumbent upon a believer to
undergo all the odds of life as much as he could, fearing nobody except Allâh until the
religion was established, which would surely happen. The Prophet (PBUH) in this regard,
referred to the perseverance that the Muslims had to show and the hardships they had to
undergo in order to establish the land of Islam where peace and security would prevail all
over it.
Glad tidings of better
prospects for Islam and the Muslims were not confined to Muhammads followers, in
fact they were being disclosed time and again to both believers and disbelievers. Whenever
the two parties met, the latter would jeer at the former and mockingly say "Here are
the sovereigns of earth who will defeat Chosroes and Caesar." But the believers, in
anticipation of that shining and Godly-orientated future, would always persevere and
tolerate all sorts of persecution and humiliation regarding them as summer clouds that
would soon clear away.
The Prophet (PBUH),
on his part, would always maintain and sustain his followers souls with the light of
belief, sanctify them through inculcating the Qurânic wisdom in their hearts and
cultivate their minds deeply with the spirit of Islam that would elevate them to a state
of noble spirituality, pure heartedness and an absolute degree of freedom from the yoke of
materialism, a high morale powerful enough to resist worldly lusts and consequently lead
them from darkness to light. He would constantly teach them to be tolerant, forgiving and
overpowering over their selves in order to get well established in their religion, disdain
lust, and devote themselves to attaining the Pleasure of Allâh, yearning for the Garden
(Paradise), enthusiasm in sciences relating to their faith, calling themselves to account,
subordinating fleeing whims, holding under firm control all rage-provoking incidents and
finally observing sobriety, patience and gravity.
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