عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه أن رجلا جاء إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فسأله أن يعطيه فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ما عندي شيء ولكن ابتع علي فإذا جاءني شيء قضيته فقال عمر يا رسول الله قد أعطيته فما كلفك الله مالا تقدر عليه فكره صلى الله عليه وسلم قول عمر فقال رجل من الأنصار يا رسول الله أنفق ولا تخف من ذي العرش إقلالا فتبسم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعرف في وجهه البشر لقول الأنصاري ثم قال بهذا أمرت (الشمائل المحمدية رقم: 338)

Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that on one occasion, a needy person came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and then asked him to give him something. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I do not have anything by me (at present to give you), but you may go and purchase something on my name (as a debt upon me). When I receive some wealth, I will settle the debt.” Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “O Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! You have already given him (prior to this, what you had possessed). Allah Ta‘ala did not make you responsible for that which you do not have ability over (on account of which you do not need to allow him to take a debt on your name).” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was not pleased with this statement (and advice) of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Thereupon, a person from the Ansaar said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), spend whatever you wish, and do not fear any decrease from the Lord of the ‘Arsh (Throne).” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) smiled and the happiness could be seen on his mubaarak countenance due to the statement of the Ansaari. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “This is exactly what I have been commanded to do (by Allah Ta‘ala).”

Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was an Abyssinian by lineage, and was the slave of Umayyah bin Khalaf.

At midday, when the heat was at its fiercest and the boulders of the desert would become extremely hot, Umayyah would command his slaves to lay Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) down onto the burning stones of the desert. He would then place a heavy boulder onto his chest to prevent him from moving and would say, “You will die like this. If you wish to live, then reject Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and worship Laat and ‘Uzza.” However, nothing but the words ‘Ahad! Ahad!’ (Allah is One! Allah is One!) would emit from his mouth.

Silah bin Zufar (rahimahullah) reports:

When any person would make mention of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in the presence of Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), then Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would say, “He is the one who surpassed everyone. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) all regarded him as the one who went ahead of everyone.”

Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then explained, “I take an oath by that Being in whose hand lies my life! Whenever we (the Sahaabah) competed in any good work, we found that Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) preceded us and surpassed us in doing it.”

(Majma‘uz Zawaa’id #14332)

The more Islam continued to spread and the more the number of the Muslims grew, the more the rage and hatred of the disbelievers of Makkah increased.

As far as those Muslims are concerned who had people to protect and assist them, then the disbelievers did not have much power and control over them. However, the pitiable Muslims who were helpless and had no one to protect them became the target of the oppression and persecution of the Quraish. They would beat some of these poor Muslims and confine others to dark and narrow cages.

We will next mention a few incidents highlighting the sheer brutality and ruthlessness of the kuffaar of Makkah and the patience and endurance of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/223-224)