10- An-Nahdeyya and her daughter were among the female slave who embraced Islam and were exposed to sever persecution.
11- Amer Ibn Fuharia was also among the slaves who were being brutally tortured to the degree that he would lose his consciousness.
Abu Bakr bought all these slaves and manumitted them all. This very act motivated his father, Abu Quhafa, to blame him saying: “I see that you emancipate only weak slaves. if you set free strong men, they will help and protect you. “He replied: “I just do that for the sake of Allah. “Lauding his behavior, Allah sent down some Quranic verse that praise Abu Bakr and censure his adversaries:
So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing. None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one. Who had denied and turned away. Al-Lail: (14-16)
These verses refer to Umayya Ibn Khalaff and the likes.
But the righteous one will avoid it. [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself. And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded. But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High. And he is going to be satisfied. (Al-Lail: 17-21).
These verses mean Abu Bakr and those who followed his example.
Abu Bakr and Talhah Ibn ‘Ubaydullah were harmed and disserved by Nawfal Ibn Khuwailed Al-Adawy who tied them to a rope and dragged them to prevent them from prayer and religions. But he failed. He was very upset when they were released and performed prayer. That’s why they were called Al-Qarinayan (the two close mates.)
In a few words, polytheists used to torture and harass anyone who was reported to have converted to Islam. It was absolutely easy that powerless Muslims, particularly, helpless male slaves and bondwomen were exposed to exposed to torture and humiliation. On the other hand, masters and leaders got themselves involves in attacking and molesting the weak people. As for notables and dignitaries who embraced Islam, they were under the protection of their tribes and clans. So the leading fighters of their people seldom dared to do harm to or upset them in any way.
Polytheist’s attitude towards the Prophet (PBUH)
The Prophet PBUH was a noble and widely respectable man who was of a unique character. Both opponents and proponents held him in high regard. Only villainous people dared to offend or upset him, though he was under the protection of Abu Talib who was a great figure in Mecca by linage and social status. So it was difficult for anyone to encroach on the Prophet, the thing which perturbed and disorientated Quraish very much. This led them to think of adopting the policy of negotiations with the major protector, Abu Talib. This attitude was seemingly serious and wise but implicitly threatening and defiant.
The deputation of Quraish goes to Abu Talib:
Ibn Ishaq said: “Some prominent people of Quraish went to Abu Talib and said: “Abu Talib, your nephew abused our gods, criticized our religion, stultified our minds and regarded our forefathers as aberrant. We want you to either stop or deliver him to us so that we would get rib of him, for you disagree with him as we do”. But Abu Talib gave them a gentle reply and they left him. But the Prophet (PBUH) continued spreading the religion of Islam and inviting others to belief Quraish got very weary and impatient when they saw the Prophet (PBUH) going ahead with the calling peacefully and smoothly. They did not stop expressing their displeasure with him and opposing his vocation till they decided to resume their negotiations with Abu Talib but in a tougher and crueler way.
Quraish threaten Abu Talib:
The leading figures of Quraish went to Abu Talib and said: “O Abu Talib! We know that you are aged, prestigious and venerable among us. We asked you before to prevent you nephew from opposing us, but you did not stop him. But we can not stand someone abusing our forefathers, stultifying our minds and censuring our gods. Keep him from that else we will come into conflict with both of you until either of the two parties has perished.”
This strongly-worded threat was oppressive and hard for Abu Talib. So he summoned the Prophet (PBUH) and said to him: “My nephew, your people came to me and said such as such. So save your life and mine and don’t make me bear what I can’t endure.” Sensing the tone of helplessness, the Prophet (PBUH) thought that his uncle had abandoned him and stopped supporting him. He said: “My uncle, By Allah, if they put the sun in my right and the moon in my left one (as a compromise) to renounce such a matter, I would never waive it till Allah had made it predominate or caused me to perish in its cause.” Then he wept and rose up. When he went away, Abu Talib called him and said: “Go ahead with your mission, my nephew, and say what you like. By Allah, I will never forsake you no matter what happens. ”At this moment Abu Talib said: “By Allah, they will never reach you with their rallies even if this should cost me my life. Proclaim your calling as widely as you like and be pleased with our support for you.”
Quraish negotiate with Abu Talib again:
As Quraish saw the Prophet (PBUH) proceeding with his mission, they realized that Abu Talib refused to abandon his nephew and that he insisted on disagreeing with them. So they took Imara Ibnul Walid Ibnul-Mughira with them and went to Abu Talib saying: “This young man is the youngest and most handsome one in Quraish. Take him as a son and benefit from his sensibility and strength. As regards Muhammad, you should leave him to us, for he contravened your religion and that of your forefathers, stirred up discord among your tribesmen and derided their minds. We want to kill him. And now we exchange a man for a young man offer to you.” He replied “How unreasonable your compromise is! Should I take your young son to nourish him and hand over mine to you to kill? By Allah, this can never happen.” Thereupon Al-Mut’am Ibn Adeyy Ibn Nawfal Ibn Abd Manaf said: “Abu Talib, your people were just with you and they tried hard to eliminate what you hate. But I see that you don’t wish to accept any proposal from them.” Abu Talib said: “By Allah, you have never done justice to me. Conversely, you decided but to forsake me and rally your people against me. Do your worst”.
As Quraish filed in these negotiations and could not persuade Abu Talib to keep the Prophet (PBUH) from the calling, they used violence against the Prophet (PBUH).
Attacks on the Prophet (PBUH)
Quraish violated the respectability and holiness of the Prophet (PBUH) whom they were holding in high regard in the beginning of the calling. Thanks to their arrogance and conceit, it was so hard for them to have patience for a long time. They used all forms of persecution, aggression and defamation against the Prophet. At the forefront of those who attacked and derided the Prophet (PBUH) was Abu Jahl who was one on the prominent figures of the clan of Hashim. He was rudely fearless and defiant. He was a mortal enemy to Islam and Muslims because he adopted a hostile line against the Prophet (PBUH) since the beginning of the calling of Islam. He was the first one to attack the Prophet (PBUH) before Quraish themselves thought of that. We talked previously about what he did with the mountain of As-Saffa. Here are some examples of his aggression against the Prophet (PBUH):
1- Before the Prophet’s mission, Abu Lahab married his two sons ‘Utba and ‘Atiba to Ruqayya and Umm Kulthum, the Prophet’s two daughters. As soon as the Prophet (PBUH) received the divine Message, Abu Lahab forced his two sons to divorce their wives.
2- When ‘Abdullah, the second baby of the Prophet, died, Abu Lahab rejoiced at the news and went to his fellow polytheists to inform them that Muhammad became sonless.
3- We also pointed out previously that Abu; Lahab was pursuing the Prophet (PBUH) during the season of pilgrimage and in markets to discredit him and coax listeners into disbelieving him too. Tariq Ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Muhareby repotted that Abu Lahab did not restrict himself to belying the Prophet, but he also was in the habit of hurling stones at the Prophet (PBUH) till his heels bled. Abu Lahab used to do all that thought he was one o f the Prophet’s uncles and his next-door neighbor.
To be continued
