Confinement and social boycott (617 AD)
The exasperation of the idolaters was increased by this refusal but they became really desperate after the conversion of Omar (RAH), and Hamzah, two of their stalwarts. Hamzah was the real uncle of the Messenger of Allah and of his age as well. Chmar was younger but already famous for his bravery also
wisdom, who often represented Quraish on embassies and assignments. He was one of the few people in Makkah who could read and write. Previously Muslims used to offer their prayer secretly in the House of Arqam (Dar Arqam) at a hilltop. But Omar (RA) and Hamzah (RA) persuaded them to offer the prayer in open, beside Kaaba, before everyone. Consequently, the disbelievers grew more and more embittered, until things came to such a pass that they decided to ostracize those members of the Prophet's clan, including idolaters, who protected him, as well as Muslims, who believed in him. Thus, they drew up a covenant to paralyze the economic and social life of the clan of Bani Hashim and Bani Muttaleb for an indefinite period. They passed resolution that none of them would have any social contact with the clan of the Prophet of Allah or sell to them or buy from them. They all signed this agreement and deposited it in the Kaaba. Then the Prophet (PBUH) was confined with all his kinsfolk in a mountain gorge "Shaab-e-Abu Talib" which ran down to Makkah. Only at the time of annual pilgrimage could he go out and preach, or with any of his kinsfolk dare to go into the city.
This was no doubt a very difficult period for the Prophet and his family. The non-believers had thought that tired of this prison life and social boycott, most, if not all, of the clan of Bani Hashim and Bani Abu Talib, will leave the Prophet (PBUH). But they were again proven wrong. Now that they had enough time to observe the Prophet (PBUH) closely, it further strengthened their resolve for him. So majority of the clan of Bani Hashim and
Bani Muttaleb accepted Islam. News of this harsh treatment them spread in the entire Arabian Peninsula and people began to discuss about the new faith, with sympathy. The belief of his obey their Guide and Leader (PBUH) intensified.
In the prison, Muslim children writhed in the agony of hunger and thirst, but their mothers had nothing to offer their hungry tears. The people were forced to eat leaves of the trees, dry hide, and grass as food. The reaction of Quraish to the high cries of the children and their mothers writhing in agony in the gorge was mixed. Some rejoiced and some felt ashamed of this agony, Muslims lived for three long years.
At length some kinder hearts among the Quraish grea weary of the boycott of old friends and neighbors. The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) also told them that the writings on the document have been eaten by moths, except the name of Allah; and this applies no more. Abu Talib sent the message to the Makkan chief regarding what his nephew had told about the fate of their agreement. At this, the elders of Quraish brought out the document for reconsideration. They were astonished to see that, as the Prophet (PBUH) had told them, all the writing had been destroyed by white ants, except the words "Bismika Al Lahumma" ("In your name, O Allah"). When they saw that marvel, the ban was removed, and the Prophet (PBUH) was again free to go about the city. This happened in the month of Muharram of the tenth year of his Prophethood (619 AD).
Prolonged confinement in prison had its toll on the heath of people, especially the children and the old. Barely months had passed out of confinement when his most cherished companion, the wise and consoling Khadijah (RAH) died. May God bless her forever? She left behind four daughters for him to look after. As if Allah was testing the patience and endurance of
His Prophet (PBUH), within a few weeks of the death of Khadija (RAH) his uncle and guardian, Abu Talib, the grand old man of Makkah, also died.
Not only a great personal loss, these deaths were a big set-back to the struggle of Islam as well. After their passing away, the opponents became very bold and started attacking the prophet physically; rarely had they courage to do so in the fetime of Abu Talib. His sworn enemy, uncle Abu Lahab, succeeded Abu-Talib. He tried to make life for the prophet of Allah (PBUH) as difficult as possible. He was the one who had always sided with the persecutors. It was such a painful year for the prophet of Allah that he named it: "The year of sorrow for (Aam al-Hazn)
Second Flight to Abyssinia
When the persecution became so unbearable that the very survival of the small Muslim community seemed in danger the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) advised his followers to migrate across the Red Sea to Christian Abyssinia (Ethiopia), where a tolerant social order had made it possible for the Muslims to practice their religion in freedom. This time eighty-two men and eighteen women emigrated under the leadership of Jafar-bin-Abu Talib, a cousin of the Prophet of Allah in the year 616 AD (10).
Being stubborn in their resolve not to let Muslims be at peace anywhere, the Makkan chiefs sent a delegation to plead with the Abyssinian king to return the Muslim refugees, describing them as dangerous fugitives, opponents of Jesus Christ (May Allah bless him). Fortunately, the king called the Muslims to defend themselves against this charge in the royal court. Muslims were afraid, but they decided to speak the truth as had been revealed in the Holy Quran that Allah has no son, wife, mother, father, and Jesus was his prophet. Jafar-bin-Abu
Talib (RAH) as leader of the Muslims recited some ayait "Surah Maryam", concerning Jesus (PBUH), on hearing which his eyes. He said, "By God, this discourse and the Bible are tag brands of the same lamp". He told the Quraish envoys, "Return to your country. I shall not hand over these oppressed people to you". The king was inwardly so much impressed by the words of your revelation and righteous conduct of Muslims that he secretly accepted Islam and sent a letter expressing his obedience to the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) (31). However, he did not declare his Islam for political reasons.
Unparalleled Love for Faith
Thus humiliated in Abyssinia, the chiefs and their supporters in Makkah became desperate in their enmity against Islam and its followers. They plotted the Prophet's assassination many times, but such was the power of his faith that undaunted, he kept on preaching publicly. He still went to the Kaaba to pray in his own way. The Muslims also endured extreme hardships, but their strength of character was such that not a single one of them renounced the new faith, nor did they get provoked.
In this extreme period of trial, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and his followers set the noblest and the bravest examples of patience, endurance, self-control and passive resistance for the world. They were provoked daily by way of body torture and personal humiliation but they never reacted. In fact, torture made their faith stronger than before. Enemies used to be tired of their brutalities and wondered at the strength of the faith of the Muslims. Many of them accepted Islam, impressed by the steadfastness of their victims.
Great sacrifices rendered by the companions of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) for the sake of their faith, have moved
even some of the modern non-Muslim intellectuals. For example, a Hindu Professor K. S. Rama Krishna Rao writes: (14)
"Read the history of the early converts to Islam and every heart would melt at the sight of the brutal treatment of innocence men and women. Summiyia, an innocent woman, is cruelly cut to pieces by piercing through with spears. An example is made of Yasar (her husband) whose legs are tied to two camels and the beasts are driven in the opposite direction. Khabbab bin Arth & made to lie down on a bed of burning cool with the brutal feet of the merciless tyrant on his breast so that he may not move and this makes even the fat beneath his skin melt. Khabbab Bin Adi is put to death in a cruel manner by cutting off his flesh piecemeal. from the prick of a thorn.
Scores of heart-rending incidents of this type may be narrated. But what do all these incidents show? Why was it that these sons and daughters of Islam not only surrendered their allegiance to their Prophet, but made a gift of their bodies, hearts and souls? Is not the intense faith and conviction on the part of the immediate followers of Muhammad (PBUH) the noblest testimony to his sincerity and to his utter self-absorption in the task assigned to him?" (14).
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