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The struggle Muslims face |
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Islamic Knowledge
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Monday, 09 November 2009 |
 INTRODUCTION:
Today Muslims witness their deen being attacked and vilified on a daily basis.
These attacks come from governments, the media and intellectuals and are becoming harsher and more direct. These are the days when writers who insult our beloved Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wassalam) are honoured and politicians see attacking Islam as a sure way of increasing their popularity. Muslims face emotional, intellectual and even physical attack with the Western nations invading Muslim countries in the name of the war on terror.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW:
Our beloved Prophet (saw) and his companions faced a very similar situation soon after the Prophet (saw) first received revelation.The attacks on the Prophet (saw) and his companions started when the call for Islam became public and addressed the problems of the Makkan society and the corruption of its leadership.The early Muslims endured horrific abuse at the hands of the Quraysh.
PERSECUTION:
The companions faced terrible persecution at the hands of the Quraysh. The family of Yasir suffered especially, with Sumaya (May Allah be pleased with her) having the honour of being the first martyr of Islam. She was killed simply because she refused to renounce her belief in Islam.
Many companions were persecuted and tortured because they held firm to their belief, Bilal is another example.Whilst being tortured he defied his oppressor by repeatedly saying “ahad” even though this only led to his torture being intensified.
When Abu Dharr al Ghifari accepted Islam he went to the Ka’bah and pronounced his declaration of faith in front of all the enemies of Islam which almost brought him death from the beating he received. However this did not stop him as the very next day when he saw people worshiping idols he began to curse the idols which again resulted in him receiving yet another beating.
Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt was tortured with pieces of heated iron from his shop being placed all over his body when he announced his Islam publicly.This resulted in the flesh and skin of his back and waist being burnt off.
Khubaib ibn Adyy was the first man to be crucified in the name of Islam and while he was being crucified his body was being stabbed by spears and swords. His tormentors were saying “wouldn’t you rather the Prophet (saw) was here in your place while you were safe with your family” he said “I wouldn’t want to be with my family and have the joys of the whole world if it meant the Prophet (saw) had the pain of even a prick of a thorn.” Uthman ibn Affan was tied with rope, thrashed severely and made to endure many other physical hardships for proclaiming his conversion.Abdullah ibn Masud was beaten unconscious for reciting the Quran publicly.
RIDICULED:
Once the Prophet (saw) was reciting his prayers at the Ka’bah when Uqbah bin Abu Muait twisted his neck with a piece of cloth until he (saw) was nearly strangled. On being informed of this,Abu Bakr rushed to the spot and saved the Prophet (saw) and then said addressing the Quraish:”Would you kill a person simply because he claims that Allah is his lord?”
The Prophet (saw) was slandered in many ways, accused of being a madman, magician, possessed, or soothsayer.
Once the Prophet (saw) was performing prayers in the courtyard of the Ka’bah in the presence of the Quraish.Abu Jahl said to the people “A camel has been slaughtered at such and such place and its intestines are still lying there. One should fetch them and put it on Muhammad.” Upon hearing this, Uqbah bin Abu Muait got up and fetched the intestines and put it on the back of the Prophet (saw) when he was prostrating. The disbelievers were overtaken by laughter. Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) who was only a child at the time removed the intestines from the back of her father. Many psychologists say that children who see their parents being humiliated can have severe and long lasting psychological effects.
MUSLIMS WERE DISCREDITED BY AMR IBN AL AAS WHEN THEY MIGRATED TO ABYSINNIA
The Prophet (saw) was stoned at Taif by the slaves and children.
During the treaty of Hudaybia the representative of the Quraish insulted the sahaba by saying to the Prophet (saw) “You are a noble man of Quraish so why have you chosen to side with these scum (the sahaba) against the nobility of Quraish”.
BOYCOTT
The Quraish imposed a complete social and material boycott on Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul-Muttalib who were lending their unrelenting support to the Muslims. No one was to meet the Muslims, talk to them, establish marital relations with them or trade with them. The Muslims were even forced to eat the leaves of trees.This agreement was put into writing and hung on the Ka’bah for added impact.The boycott lasted for three years during which time the Muslims could only buy food and other essentials during the months of peace. In this atmosphere they would continue to preach Islam among people from outside Makkah.This inhumane treatment stirred some Quraish from within.
COALITIONS AND TREACHERY AGAINST ISLAM
Mischief makers of Banu Asad had assembled in Qatan under the leadership of Talhah bin Khuwailid and Salamah bin huwailid with the intent of launching an attack on the Muslims.
In Safar, 4 AH the Quraish sent seven persons from the Adal and Qarah clans to the Prophet (saw) saying that their people have decided to enter Islam so they requested that some men be sent to teach these new converts. In response the Prophet (saw) sent 6 teachers headed by Marthad bin abu Marthad Ghanawi or Asim bin Thabit bin abu Aflah.When this party reached Raji, a water spot, they discovered the treachery of Quraish who had called in 200 men to kill the teachers.
The Prophet (saw) went to conduct discussions with Banu Nadir regarding some blood money owed due to a Muslim killing 2 members of that tribe. While the Prophet (saw) was there they tried to kill him by throwing a big rock from the citadel of the fortification.The Prophet (saw) realised the plot via revelation and left immediately before the plot could be executed. He confronted the Jews regarding their plot and they didn’t deny it. During this period Banu Muharib and Banu Tha’labah of Ghatfan tribe were making large scale preparations to wage war against the Muslims.The Prophet (saw) along with 400 companions proceeded to meet them.The enemies who had collected at an oasis retreated when they heard the news of the Muslims coming and no fighting took place.
LATER THE JEWS OF BANU NADIR WERE EXILED TO KHAIBAR OR SYRIA
The Jews and the Quraysh in the battle of Ahzab – Prominent chieftains from Banu Nadir alongside those of Banu Wa’il went to Makkah to incite support and raise funds for the battle.They then went to the Ghaftan clans and Banu Kinanah to play the same role. Next they made contact with Banu Quraizah of Al-Madinah who were still bound to help the Muslims according to a pact signed by both parties. Finally Banu Sulaim, Fazarah,Ashja, Banu Sa’d and Banu Murrah and the chieftains of the Quraish, Banu Nadir and Ghaftan went to the Kabah and vowed to fight against the Muslims as long as they lived.The total number of allied forces came to at least ten thousand or twenty-four thousand according to some narrations. It consisted of four thousand five hundred camels and three hundred horses.
There are many incidences regarding Abdullah ibn Ubai. One famous one involves the incident when Aisha (May Allah be pleased with) was left behind during a journey.Abdullah ibn Ubai spread rumours regarding her.
People who stood up to rulers
IMAM MALIK
He stood up to the Khalifah Abu Ja`far al-Mansur regarding the hadith “The divorce of the coerced does not take effect”. Imam Malik was told not to narrate this hadith but he did anyway and was flogged for it. Even after being flogged and while being paraded he still defied the Khalifah by narrating the hadith.
SAID IBN JUBAIR
Said ibn Jubair fought along side Abdullah ibn az-Zubair and was part of a group called the “Battalion of Quran reciters”. He was eventually captured and brought to Al Hajjaj.
He is renowned for his conversation with Al Hajjaj and consequent death.All throughout the conversation he remained steadfast to the truth even though this infuriated al Hajjaj even more.What makes him even more special is that you can lie when your life is at risk.When he was finally killed his blood gushed out in a way that al Hajjaj had never seen before, the explanation for this was that Said ibn Jubair was so relaxed at the time of his murder that his blood was kept in its original form, but usually if one is scared or afraid their blood curdles and does not flow profusely.
Abdullah ibn az-Zubair (ibn Asma) He stood up to Yazid and had to fight the army of Al Hajjaj.
While under siege Abdullah ibn Zubair went to his mother,Asma. She asked him, “what brings you at such an hour when the war is on?” He said “I came to consult with you.”"Consult with me on what?” asked Asma. He said,”Most of my supporters have betrayed me, either out of greed or out of fear. Only a few remain with me, and they will not be able to resist for long. Messengers have been sent from the Umayyads proposing that I stop the fight, and they would give me whatever I ask for.” She answered “its up to you.You know yourself best. If you believe that you are right and fighting for a right cause, be persevering in the fight as were your supporters who died for it. But if you are after worldly gains, then wretched are you and you have destroyed yourself and those with you”. He later died in battle.
IMAM ABU HANIFA
In 763, al-Mansur, the Abbasid Khalifah offered Abu Hanifa the post of Chief Judge of the State, but he declined to accept the offer, choosing to remain independent. His student,Abu Yusuf, was appointed Qadi Al-Qadat (Chief Judge of the State) instead of himself.
In his reply to al-Mansur,Abu Hanifa excused himself by saying that he did not regard himself fit for the post.Al¬Mansur, who had his own ideas and reasons for offering the post, lost his temper and accused Abu Hanifa of lying. “If I am lying”,Abu Hanifa said,”then my statement is doubly correct. How can you appoint a liar to the exalted post of a Chief Qadi (Judge)?” Incensed by this reply, the ruler had Abu Hanifa arrested and locked in prison and tortured.
IMAM BUKHARI
Even here, there were envious people who did not leave him alone.They met the governor of Bukhara, who was a representative of the Khalif, Khâlid ibn Ahmad.They told him to call Imâm Bukhârî to his house and busy him withteaching his son.When the governor put this suggestion to Imâm Bukhârî, he was told,”I do not want to abuse knowledge and carry it to the footstep of the rulers. If anybody wants to learn, they should come to my school”.The governor replied, by stating,”If my son was to attend your school, he should not sit with ordinary people.You would have to teach him separately”. Imâm Bukhârî answered,”I cannot stop any person from hearing Ahâdîth”. Upon hearing this, the governer of Bukhara became angry with him and manufactured a fatwa (verdict) against Imâm Bukhârî to banish him from the city.
OTHER EXAMPLES
Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751/1350) and Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328), both tortured and imprisoned. Ibn Taymiyya died in prison.
Ibn Rushd (d. 595/1198), imprisoned and exiled.
Al-Nisa’i (d. 309/915), beaten and died from his injuries in jail
Al-Tabari (d. 310/923), Muslim historian, was persecuted by fanatic Hanbalis; his books were eventually burned, and grave desecrated by enemies.
Al-Nawawi (d. 676/1277), fired from his teaching post and banned to Damascus, then to Egypt, fired again, arrested and imprisoned, died poor and lonely in his father’s home.
The common characteristic of all of the above is that despite obstacles including in some instance the worse of oppression and torture they all remained firm in their belief and constant in their struggles to make the word of Allah highest. May Allah (swt) accept their actions and may we all be inspired to strive in their footsteps. Ameen.
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