The Early Propagation of Islam, Quraysh’s Opposition & the Sufferings of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and His Companions

Start of the Propagation of Islam and the First Stage

First of all, the Final Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) secretly invited those people to Islam whom he trusted and who were also acquainted with his circumstances. Under these circumstances, Sayyidatuna Khadija (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا) was the first woman, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) was the first free man, Sayyiduna Ali bin Abu Taalib (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) was the first boy, Sayyiduna Zaid Bin Harithah (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) was the first freed slave and Sayyiduna Bilal (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) was the first slave to embrace Islam.²

Referance:

² Al-Mawahib-ul-ladunniyah, vol. 1, p. 115

The propagation of Islam continued secretly. The way a thirsty person rushes towards fresh and cold water, in the same way, fortunate people rushed devotionally towards accepting the invitation of truth (Islam).

A group of Muslims had been formed over the period of three years. During this period of time, he (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) also stayed at Dar al-Arqam, where he would educate and guide the Muslims.¹

Referance:

¹ Seerat-ul-Halbiyyah, vol. 1, p. 402

Second stage OF THE Propagation of Islam

The following verse was then revealed after three years:

وَ اَنْذِرْ عَشِیْرَتَكَ الْاَقْرَبِیْنَ

And, O Beloved, warn your closest relatives.²

In this blessed verse, the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was commanded to also invite his close relatives to Islam. So, one day, he (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) stood upon Mount Safa, and called the people of Quraysh. When all the people of the Quraysh tribe gathered, the Final Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) said: “O my nation! If I say to you that an army is hiding behind this mountain which is about to attack you, will you believe me?”

All of them replied in one voice, saying: “Yes, definitely. We will believe you, because we have always found you truthful and trustworthy.”

Then, the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) remarked: “I then say that I am warning you of the Divine torment, and if you do not embrace faith, then the torment of Allah Almighty will befall you.”

Referance:

² [Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 19, Surah Al-Shu'ara, Verse 214)

Having heard this, all the people of Quraysh became displeased and left. His uncle, Abu Lahab, was also amongst them and he began to utter insolent words against the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم). The Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) did not reply to his disrespect, but Allah Almighty revealed a complete Surah of the Holy Quran in condemnation of that evil blasphemer.¹

The Third stage OF THE Propagation of Islam

In the fourth year of the declaration of Prophethood, the following verse of Surah Hijr was revealed:

فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَ اَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ

Therefore, publicly announce what you are commanded, and turn away (your) face from the polytheists.²

In this blessed verse, Allah Almighty commanded His Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) to propagate Islam openly to everyone. After this, he (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) started propagating Islam and speaking against polytheism and idolatry openly. In this environment, the entire Quraysh, or rather the entire Arabian Peninsula, started opposing him.³

Referance:

¹ Bukhari, vol. 3, p. 294, Hadith 4770

² [Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 14, Surah Al-Hijr, Verse 94)

³ Sharh-ul-Zurqaani, vol. 1, p. 462

Oppressions of Disbelievers upon the BELOVED PROPHET (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم)

As soon as the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) started propagating Islam openly, he was subjected to severe cruelty and oppression. Due to the expected revenge of Banu Hashim and the danger of having a war with them, the disbelievers could not martyr the Final Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم), but they subjected him to oppression beyond any bound.

They would call him a foreteller, a sorcerer, mad and insane; they would utter insolent sentences against him, make taunting remarks, at times throw rubbish on him, at times pour blood of animals at his blessed door, at times put thorns on his way and at times, they would target his blessed body.

Once, when the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was performing Sajdah in the sanctuary of the Ka’bah, a disbeliever named ‘Uqbah, placed the intestines of a camel on his blessed back. Seeing this, the disbelievers started roaring with laughter. Then, Sayyidatuna Fatima (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا) came forward and removed it from him.¹

Once, the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was again offering Salah in the sanctuary of the Ka’bah. The disbeliever named Uqbah put a shawl around his neck and pulled it so hard that he (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) began to feel strangled. Seeing this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) moved forward and removed that disbeliever, pushing him away. Later on, the disbelievers tortured Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) as well.²

Referance:

¹ Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 193, Hadith 520

² Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 575, Hadith 3852

The Brutality of the disbelievers against the Blessed Companions

Along with the Final Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم), the disbelievers crossed all limits in oppressing the honourable companions as well.

Once, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) started delivering a sermon in the sanctuary of the Ka’bah. Seeing this, the polytheists and disbelievers fiercely attacked the Muslims. They beat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) so much that his face was left covered with blood. His nose and ears were all covered in blood too, and his face could not be recognised. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) fell unconscious and remained unconscious for a long time.¹

Sayyiduna Khabbaab (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) embraced Islam at the time when only a few people had embraced Islam. Quraysh tortured him immensely. They tortured him to such an extent that once, they made him lie on his back on burning coals and one person stood on his chest. That person continued to stand on his chest until the burning coals were extinguished due to the flesh of his back melting. The marks of those coals remained on his back throughout his life. Once, Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) saw those marks on his back during his caliphate. He (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) became extremely sad and wept.²

Referance:

¹ Tareekh Ibn-e-Asakir, Raqm 3398, vol. 30, p. 49

² Tabaqaat Ibn-e-Sa’d, Raqm 43, vol. 3, pp. 122 - 123

Sayyiduna Bilal (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) would be dragged through the markets with his neck tied with a rope. He would be beaten relentlessly with sticks. In the scorching heat of the afternoon, he would be made to lie on scorching sand and a very heavy stone would be placed on his chest, resulting in his tongue coming out of his mouth. Even in this state, he would raise the slogan, ‘Ahad Ahad.’¹

Not only would men be tortured and oppressed, but the women who embraced Islam would also face hardships. Sayyidatuna Sumayyah (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا), the mother of Sayyiduna Ammar bin Yasir (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا), is that fortunate woman who was the first to sacrifice her life for Islam. She was an elderly woman, whom Abu Jahl martyred with a spear.²

She has the honour of becoming the first female martyr of Islam.

Referance:

¹ Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘alal-Mawahib, vol. 1, p. 498

² Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘alal-Mawahib, vol. 1, p. 496