It is really hard for the Muslims of to-day to imagine, and much less endure
or even attempt to endure, the hardships which were borne by the Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his illustrious companions in the path of Allah.
The books of history are full of stories of their sufferings. It is a pity that
we are so indifferent to those events and our knowledge is so poor in this regard.
I Open this chapter with a story about the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
himself to get the blessings of Allah which are sure to attend his auspicious
mention.
The Prophet's journey to Taif
For nine years, since his selection by Allah for His mission, the Prophet
(Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had been delivering the message of Allah in Mecca
and making all-out effort to guide and reform his community. Excepting a few
persons who had either embraced Islam or who helped him though not accepting
his creed, all the rest in Mecca left no stone unturned in persecuting and
deriding him and his followers. His uncle Abu Talib was one of this good-hearted
people who helped him inspite of not entering the fold of Islam.
The following year, on the death of Abu Talib the Qureysh got a free hand and
therefore accelerated their sinister pursuits without check and hinderance. At
Taif, the second biggest town of Hijaz there lived Banu Thaqif - A clan strong
in number. The Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) left for Taif with the hope
of winning them over to Islam, thus providing quarters for Muslims from the persecution
of the Qureysh, and also establishing a base for the future propagation of Islam.
On reaching Taif he visited the three chieftains of the clan separately, and
placed before each of them the message of Allah, and called upon him to stand
by his (Prophet's) side. Instead of accepting his message they refused even to
listen to him and notwithstanding the proverbial Arab hospitality each of them
treated him most contemptuously and rudely. They plainly told him that they did
not like his stay in their town. The Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had
expected a civil, even cordial treatment and due courtesy in speech from them
as they were heads of the clan, but one of them sneered:
"Hey, Allah has made
you a prophet!"
The other exclaimed with derision:
"Could Allah not lay His hand on anyone
else, besides you. To make him His Prophet?"
The third one gibed at him:
"I don't want to talk to you, for
if you are in fact a prophet then to oppose you is to invite trouble, and
if you only pretend to be one why should I talk with an imposter?"
The Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who was a rock of steadfastness and
perseverance, did not lose heart over this setback from the chieftains, He
tried to approach the common people; but nobody would listen to him, instead,
they asked him to clear off from their town and go wherever else he liked.
When he realised that further efforts were in vain, he decided to leave the
town. But they would not let him depart in peace, and set the street urchins
after him, to hiss, to hoot, to jeer at, and to stone him. He was so much pelted
with stones that his whole body was covered with blood and his shoes were clogged
to his feet. He left the town in this woeful plight. When he was far out of
the town, and safe from the rabble, he prayed to Allah thus:
"O, my Allah! To thee I complain of
the feebleness of my strength, of my lack of resourcefulness, and my insignificance
in the eyes of the people. O, Most Merciful of all capable of showing mercy!
Thou art the Lord of the weak and thou art my own Lord. To whom art Thou
to entrust me, to an unsympathetic foe who would sullenly frown on me, or
to an alien to whom thou hast given control over my affair? Not in the least
do I care for anything except that I may have thy protection for myself.
In the light of Thy face do I seek shelter - the light of which illumines
the Heaven and dispels all sorts of darkness, and which controls all affairs
in this world as well as in the hereafter. May it never be that I should
incur Thy wrath, or that Thou should be displeased with me. I must remove
the cause of Thy displeasure till thou art pleased. There is no strength
nor power but through Thee."
The Heavens were moved by the prayer and Jabratl appeared before the Prophet
(Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) greeting him with Assalamoalaikum and said:
"Allah knows all that has passed between
you and these people He has deputed an angel in charge of the mountains to
be at your command."
Saying this Jabrail ushered the angel before
the Prophet. The
angel greeted the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and said:
"O, Prophet of Allah! I am at your
service. If you wish, I can cause the mountains overlooking this town on
both sides to collide with each other, so that all the people therein would
be crushed to death, or you may suggest any other punishment for them."
The merciful and noble Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
"Even if these people do not accept
Islam, I do hope from Allah that there will be persons from among their progeny
who would worship Allah and serve His cause."
Behold the conduct of our noble Prophet whom we profess to follow! We get
so much irritated over little trouble or a mere abuse from somebody that we
keep on torturing and taking our revenge throughout our lives in every possible
manner. Does this behove people who claim to follow the magnanimous Prophet
(Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)? Look, even after so much suffering at the hands
of the Taif mob he neither curses them nor does he desire any revenge even
when he has the full opportunity to do so.
From teachings of Islam
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