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It is really very hard
for the Muslims of today to imagine and much less to bear, or even
attempt to bear the hardships that were experienced by Nabi SAW and
his illustrious companions in the path of Allah SWT . 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 Nabi SAW himself,
whose name is sure to attract the blessings of Allah SWT .
Nabi SAW journey to Taif.
For nine years, since his
selection by Allah SWT for His mission, Nabi SAW had been delivering
the message of Allah SWT in Makkah and making all-out efforts to
guide and reform his community. Apart from a few persons who had
either embraced Islam, or who helped him though not accepting Islam,
all the rest in Makkah left no stone unturned in persecuting and
mocking him and his followers. His uncle Abu Talib was one of those
good-hearted people who, in spite of his not entering into the fold
of Islam had helped him. The following year, on the death of Abu
Talib, the Quraish got a free hand and therefore increased their
persecution without anyone to support and protect Nabi SAW.
At Taif, the second
biggest town of Hijaz, there lived a big clan called Banu Thaqif.
Nabi SAW left for Taif with the hope of winning them over to Islam,
thereby providing a sanctuary for the Muslims from the persecution of
the Quraish, and also establishing a base for the future propagation
of Islam. On reaching Taif, Nabi SAW visited the three chieftains of
the clan separately, and placed before each of them the message of
Allah , and called upon each of them to stand by his side. Instead of
accepting his message, they refused to even listen to him and not in
keeping the famous Arab hospitality, each of them treated him most
disrespectfully and rudely. They plainly told him that they did not
like his stay in their town.
As they were the heads of the clan,
Nabi SAW had expected a civil and friendly treatment and due courtesy
in speech from them. But one of them sneered: "Hey, Allah Ta’ala
has made you a Nabi!" The other exclaimed with ridicule: "Could
Allah not lay His hand on anyone else, beside you to make him His
Nabi?" The third one mockingly remarked: "I do not want to
talk to you, for if you are in fact a Nabi, then to oppose you is to
invite trouble, and if you only pretend to be one, why should I talk
with an impostor?"
Nabi SAW, who was a rock of
steadfastness and perseverance, did not lose heart over this check
from the chieftains and 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 realized 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 sorrowful
plight. When he was far out of the town and safe from the mob, he
prayed to Allah SWT thus:
"Oh Allah, I
complain to You alone that I am weak, that I do not
have any resources and
that I do not hold any significance in the eyes
of the people. O, Most
Merciful of all those who show mercy, You are
the Rabb (Lord) of the
weak, and You are my own Rabb (Lord). To
whom are You to going
to entrust me? To a stranger who would look
at me at me harshly or
to an enemy, to whom You have given control
over my affairs. If You
are not angry with me, then I do not care for
anything except that I
should enjoy Your protection. I seek shelter in
Your light (noor),
which removes all sorts of darknesses and controls
the affairs of this
world and the hereafter. May it never be that you
become angry with me or
you are displeased with me. I must please
you until You are happy
with me. There is neither strength (to
refrain from evil) nor
any power (to do any good) except with You."
The
Heavens were moved by the Dua and Jibrael appeared before Nabi SAW,
greeting him with Assalamu Alaikum and said: "Allah SWT knows
all that has passed between you and these people. He has deputed the
angel in charge of the mountains to be at your command." Saying
this, Jibrail brought the angel before Nabi SAW. The angel greeted
Nabi SAW with Assalamu Alaikum and said: "O, Nabi 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."
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| Mountain of Taif |
The
merciful and noble Nabi SAW 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.")
Look at
the conduct of our noble Nabi SAW, whom we profess to follow. We get
so much irritated over a little trouble or a mere abuse from somebody
that we keep on torturing them and taking revenge throughout our
lives in every possible manner. Does it befit people who claim to
follow the noble Nabi SAW? Look, even after so much suffering at the
hands of the Taif mob, he neither curses them nor does he work for
any revenge, even when he has the full opportunity to do so.
