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اِقۡتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَۃُ وَ انۡشَقَّ الۡقَمَرُ ﴿۱﴾
The hour (of judgement) has drawn close and the moon has split asunder (Surah Qamar v. 1)
On one occasion, approximately five years before the hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah, the disbelievers of Makkah approached Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Among them were Waleed bin Mugheerah, Abu Jahal, ‘Aas bin Waa’il, ‘Aas bin Hishaam, Aswad bin ‘Abd-e-Yaghooth, Aswad bin Muttalib, Zam‘ah bin Aswad, Nadhr bin Haarith and others.
They said to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “If you are the true Nabi of Allah, then show us a special sign that will prove your prophethood.” According to one narration, they demanded that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) split the moon into two parts.
It was night and the fourteenth moon was shining in the sky. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to them, “Very well, if I display this miracle before you, will you all embrace Islam?” They replied, “Yes, we will bring imaan.”
The Quraish left no stone unturned in in their persecution of the Muslims. At times, they suspended them from trees, and at times, they tied their feet and dragged them around. They even placed heated iron bars on their backs and stomachs. The disbelievers did all sorts of vile things to the Muslims, but not one of them wavered from the true deen. They died tolerating these hardships but they did not turn away from Islam. May Allah Ta‘ala be pleased with them and may they be pleased with Him.
Hazrat Zinneerah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had suffered extreme torture and persecution at the hands of the disbelievers, until Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) eventually purchased her and set her free. In the same way, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also purchased other male and female slaves and set them free, thus rescuing those who were oppressed.
Some of the slaves which Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) purchased and freed were Hazrat Bilaal, Hazrat Abu Fukaihah, Hazrat ‘Aamir bin Fuhairah, Hazrat Nahdiyyah and her daughter - Hazrat Labeenah, Hazrat Mutiyah and Hazrat Ummu Ubais (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).
At that time, the respected father of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Abu Quhaafah, had not yet embraced Islam. One day, he said to Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “I notice that you choose the weak and feeble slaves to purchase and free. If you purchase young and strong slaves, they will at least be able to assist you.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “The motive for me setting them free is within my heart.”
Hazrat Zinneerah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was among the first women to embrace Islam. Abu Jahal would persecute and torture her.
When Abu Jahal and the other leaders of Makkah Mukarramah would see Hazrat Zinneerah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), they would say, “If the deen of Islam contained any goodness and excellence, then Zinneerah would not have preceded us in accepting it.”
Abu Fukaihah was the title of the Sahaabi named Yasaar. However, he was better known by his title of Abu Fukaihah.
He was the slave of Safwaan bin Umayyah. Umayyah bin Khalaf would sometimes get a rope tied to his feet after which he would drag him around. At times, he would tie his legs in chains and force him to lie down on the scorching sand with a huge boulder placed on his back. Such was the pain he suffered that he often fell unconscious. Sometimes, Umayyah would hold his neck and throttle him.
Hazrat Khabbaab bin Aratt (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – Part Two
Written by user2Hazrat Khabbaab bin Aratt (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says:
In the pre-Islamic days of ignorance, I was a blacksmith and would make swords. On one occasion, I made a sword for ‘Aas bin Waa’il. When the time came for him to pay me for his sword, he said, “I refuse to pay you even one cent until you reject and renounce Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
I replied, “Even if you had to die and be resurrected, I will never renounce Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” ‘Aas sarcastically enquired, “Will I be resurrected after my death?” Hazrat Khabbaab (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Yes, most certainly!” ‘Aas replied, “When Allah gives me death and resurrects me once again, and I have the same wealth and children in my possession, then at that time, I will settle my debt with you.”
Upon this, Allah Ta‘ala revealed the following verses of the Qur’aan Majeed:
اَفَرَءَیۡتَ الَّذِیۡ کَفَرَ بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ قَالَ لَاُوۡتَیَنَّ مَالًا وَّ وَلَدًا ﴿ؕ۷۷﴾ اَطَّلَعَ الۡغَیۡبَ اَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِنۡدَ الرَّحۡمٰنِ عَہۡدًا ﴿ۙ۷۸﴾ کَلَّا ؕ سَنَکۡتُبُ مَا یَقُوۡلُ وَ نَمُدُّ لَہٗ مِنَ الۡعَذَابِ مَدًّا ﴿ۙ۷۹﴾ وَّ نَرِثُہٗ مَا یَقُوۡلُ وَ یَاۡتِیۡنَا فَرۡدًا ﴿۸۰﴾
Did you see the one who has denied Our signs and said, “I will certainly be bestowed with wealth and children (in the Hereafter),” Has he looked into the unseen or has he taken a covenant with the Most-Merciful (Allah)? Never! We will record what he says (as a form of evidence against him in the Hereafter) and We will prolong for him the torment and punishment of the Hereafter extensively. And We shall inherit from him what he speaks of (wealth and children) and he will come to Us alone. (Surah Maryam v. 77-80)
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/230)
Hazrat Khabbaab bin Aratt (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – Part One
Written by user2Hazrat Khabbaab bin Aratt (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was among the first group of people to embrace Islam. It is said that he was the sixth person to embrace Islam. He was honoured to accept Islam even before the Muslims entered Daar-ul-Arqam.
Hazrat Khabbaab (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a slave of Ummu Anmaar. When she learnt of his conversion to Islam, she began to subject him to various forms of torture and suffering.
On one occasion, Hazrat Khabbaab (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went to meet Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). On meeting him, Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) honoured him by making him sit in his own place saying, “Nobody is more worthy of this seat than you, besides Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).”
Hearing this, Hazrat Khabbaab (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remarked, “O Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen! Even Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is not more eligible than I am, because Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) enjoyed some support and protection from certain disbelievers of Makkah Mukarramah during the period of suffering and torture, whereas I had no one to protect me at all. One day, when the disbelievers of Makkah Mukarramah saw me, they made me lie on burning coals. One of them then placed his foot on my chest so that I was unable to move.”
Saying this, Hazrat Khabbaab (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) lifted his kurta to expose the scars covering his back.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/229)
Hazrat Suhaib bin Sinaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) - Part Three
Written by user2The disbelievers of Makkah Mukarramah would torture Hazrat ‘Ammaar, Hazrat Suhaib, Hazrat Abu Faa’idah and Hazrat ‘Aamir bin Fuhairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to such an extent that they would lose their senses and fall unconscious. This state of senselessness was so severe that they did not even realize what they were uttering.
In regard to such people, the following verse was revealed:
ثُمَّ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ہَاجَرُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا فُتِنُوۡا ثُمَّ جٰہَدُوۡا وَ صَبَرُوۡۤا ۙ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہَا لَغَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱۰﴾٪
Then, your Lord – for those who migrated after being persecuted and then fought in the way of Allah and stood patient – surely your Lord, after all, is Most-Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah Nahl v. 110)
This verse was revealed in regard to the abovementioned people.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/228-229)
Hazrat Suhaib bin Sinaan (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Two
Written by user2Just as the disbelievers of Makkah persecuted Hazrat ‘Ammaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), they also subjected Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to various types of torture.
When he intended to perform hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah, the Quraish of Makkah said, “If you leave all your wealth and possessions in Makkah, you may go. Otherwise, we will not allow you to go.” Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed to their demands, and abandoning the worthless possessions of this world, he migrated.
On arriving in Madinah Munawwarah, he related this incident to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) who said:
ربح البيع
Suhaib has struck a good bargain!
In other words, he exchanged the dunya which is temporary and perishable for the Aakhirah which is eternal and everlasting.
Hazrat Suhaib bin Sinaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – Part One
Written by user2Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) hailed from an area that was in the vicinity of Mowsil. His father and uncle (father’s brother) were both appointed by Chosroes as governors over Ubullah.
On one occasion, the Romans launched an attack on this area. At that time, Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was still a young boy. During the looting and plundering, they seized him as a captive and took him to Rome. He thus grew up in Rome, and this is the reason why he was famously known as ‘Suhaib Roomi’ (Suhaib the Roman).
Eventually, a person of the Banu Kalb tribe purchased him from the Romans and brought him to Makkah Mukarramah. After arriving in Makkah Mukarramah, ‘Abdullah bin Jad‘aan purchased him and set him free.
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) commenced inviting towards Islam, Hazrat ‘Ammaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) both arrived at Daar-ul-Arqam at the same time and embraced Islam.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/227-228)
More...
Hazrat ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Three
Written by user2On one occasion, Hazrat ‘Ammaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) removed his kurta and a few people noticed black scars covering his back. When they asked him how he had received these scars, he replied, “The Quraish of Makkah would make me lie on the scorching stones of the desert. These are the scars of those injuries.”
The same torture was inflicted upon his father, Hazrat Yaasir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and his mother, Hazrat Sumayyah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).
Hazrat ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Two
Written by user2Hazrat ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had no family or tribe in Makkah Mukarramah to protect him. Hence, the Quraish subjected him to different types of punishments and tortures.
At the peak of midday, they would lay him onto the burning sand and beat him until he would fall unconscious. At times, they would plunge his head into water and suffocate him, and at times, they would force him to lie on a bed of blazing coals.
Hazrat ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – Part One
Written by user2Hazrat ‘Ammaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a man of Qahtaani decent. His father, Yaasir, came to Makkah Mukarramah in search of one of his missing brothers. His two brothers, Haarith and Maalik, also accompanied him on this journey.
Haarith and Maalik returned to Yemen while Yaasir decided to stay in Makkah Mukarramah. He then established an alliance with Abu Huzaifah Makhzoomi. Abu Huzaifah got him married to his slave woman, Sumayya bint Khayyaat, and it was from this union that Hazrat ‘Ammaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was born.
Hazrat Bilaal bin Rabaah (radhiyallahu 'anhu) – Part Two
Written by user2One day, while Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was being tortured as normal, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) happened to pass by. Witnessing this scene, his heart filled with pity. He addressed Umayyah (the master) saying:
ألا تتقي الله في هذا المسكين حتى متى أنت
Do you not fear Allah in regard to this poor man? How much longer will you continue torturing him?