The Persecution of the Muslims
⛓️ The Persecution of the Muslims — Ahadun Ahad
﴿ Do people think they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make known those who are true, and will certainly make known those who are liars. ﴾
— [Al-'Ankabut: 2-3]
📖 Introduction
The Beginning of the Great Trial
After the public proclamation on Mount Safa...
Quraysh realized that this religion would not stop through mockery and threats...
They moved to a new phase: physical torture!
They targeted the weak among the Muslims:
- Slaves and freedmen
- The poor without clans
- Women and children
Why the weak? Because no one protects them... no tribe will avenge them!
⛓️ Images of Torture — The Testimony of Blood
📊 List of the Tortured
| Name | Social Status | Torturer | Type of Torture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilal ibn Rabah | Abyssinian slave | Umayya ibn Khalaf | The burning rock |
| Sumayyah bint Khayyat | Slave woman | Abu Jahl | Spear thrust |
| Yasir ibn 'Amir | Ally | Abu Jahl | Torture to death |
| 'Ammar ibn Yasir | Their son | Abu Jahl | Drowning and burning |
| Khabbab ibn al-Aratt | Blacksmith | His masters | Embers on his back |
| Suhayb ar-Rumi | Merchant | Quraysh | Beating and starvation |
| Abu Fukayha | Slave | Safwan ibn Umayya | Dragged with ropes |
| 'Amir ibn Fuhayra | Slave | His master | Severe beating |
| Umm 'Ubays | Slave woman | Al-Aswad ibn 'Abd Yaghuth | Beating |
| Zinnira | Slave woman | Abu Jahl | Beaten until blind |
🔥 Bilal ibn Rabah — Ahadun Ahad
📋 Identity Card
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi |
| Origin | Abyssinian (Ethiopian) |
| Profession | Slave of Umayya ibn Khalaf |
| Title | The Muezzin of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Death | Damascus, 20 H |
📜 The Scene — The Burning Rock
The time: A scorching summer noon...
The place: The desert of Mecca, the sand on fire...
Umayya ibn Khalaf drags Bilal to the desert...
He throws him on his back... naked under the burning sun...
Then he places on his chest a huge rock that two men could not carry!
Umayya: Deny Muhammad! Deny the Lord of Muhammad!
Bilal (in a voice broken by pain): Ahad... Ahad...
Umayya (furious): Say: Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza!
Bilal: Ahad... Ahad...
Umayya: I will not leave you until you die or apostatize!
Bilal (with astonishing firmness): Ahad... Ahad...
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه passes by...
He sees the scene... his heart breaks...
Abu Bakr: O Umayya! Do you not fear Allah regarding this poor man? Until when?
Umayya: You corrupted him! Save him if you can!
Abu Bakr: I will sell you a black slave stronger and more robust than him, and you sell me this one?
Umayya: Agreed!
Abu Bakr bought him for seven ounces of gold (or nine according to some)...
Then he freed him for the sake of Allah!
💬 The Testimony of the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The master of martyrs is Hamza, and a man who stood up to an unjust ruler, commanded and forbade him, and was killed."
— [Sahih al-Jami']
And he ﷺ said about Bilal:
"He is a man from the people of Paradise."
— [Reported by Ahmad]
🩸 The Family of Yasir — The First Martyrs of Islam
📋 Family Card
| Member | Information |
|---|---|
| Yasir ibn 'Amir | The father, ally of Banu Makhzum, first martyr (male) |
| Sumayyah bint Khayyat | The mother, first female martyr of Islam |
| 'Ammar ibn Yasir | The son, noble Companion, among the first |
📜 The Scene — A Family Under Torture
The place: The burning sands of Mecca...
Abu Jahl and his men surround the family of Yasir...
The father... The mother... The son... all three tortured together!
Yasir (thrown on the ground, beaten): There is no god but Allah...
Sumayyah (dragged on the sand): O Lord... patience...
'Ammar (drowned in water): ...
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passes by them...
His heart breaks... but he has no power to save them...
So he speaks his immortal words:
"Patience, O family of Yasir! Your appointment is Paradise!"
🩸 The Martyrdom of Sumayyah — First Female Martyr
Abu Jahl raged at her steadfastness...
He grabbed a spear...
And stabbed her in her private parts!
Sumayyah fell as a martyr...
The first female martyr of Islam!
Then Yasir died under torture...
The first male martyr of Islam!
💔 'Ammar and the Permission
The torture continued on 'Ammar...
They plunged him in water until he nearly died...
They said: Deny Muhammad!
He uttered the word of disbelief while his heart was serene with faith!
He came to the Prophet ﷺ crying:
'Ammar: O Messenger of Allah! They did not leave me until I insulted you and spoke well of their gods!
The Prophet ﷺ: How do you find your heart?
'Ammar: Serene with faith!
The Prophet ﷺ: If they do it again, do it again!
And Allah revealed:
﴿ Except one who is forced while his heart is at peace with faith. ﴾
— [An-Nahl: 106]
🔥 Khabbab ibn al-Aratt — Embers on the Back
📜 The Scene
Khabbab was a blacksmith who made swords...
He embraced Islam and his mistress tortured him!
She would take the heated iron from the fire...
And place it on his head and back!
Nothing extinguished the fire except the melted fat of his back!
Years later... 'Umar ibn al-Khattab saw his back...
'Umar: I have never seen anything like this!
Khabbab: O Commander of the Believers, a fire was lit for me, and nothing extinguished it except the fat of my back!
💬 Khabbab's Complaint to the Prophet ﷺ
Khabbab came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was reclining on his cloak in the shade of the Kaaba...
Khabbab: O Messenger of Allah! Will you not ask for victory for us? Will you not supplicate Allah for us?
The Prophet ﷺ sat up, his face reddened, and said:
"Among those before you, a man would be taken and a pit would be dug for him in the ground and he would be placed in it. Then a saw would be brought and placed on his head and he would be cut in two. He would be combed with iron combs down to his flesh and bones. This would not turn him away from his religion!"
"By Allah, Allah will complete this matter until the traveler goes from Sanaa to Hadramawt fearing nothing but Allah and the wolf for his sheep, but you are impatient!"
— [Sahih al-Bukhari]
🏃 The First Hijra to Abyssinia — Fleeing to Preserve the Religion
📅 The Context
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Rajab, 5th year of prophethood (615 CE) |
| Cause | Intensification of torture on Muslims |
| Destination | Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia) |
| Why Abyssinia? | There is a just king where no one is oppressed |
| Distance | Across the Red Sea |
👥 The First Emigration
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Number | 12 men + 4 women (or 11 men + 4 women) |
| Leader | 'Uthman ibn Maz'un |
| Notable Emigrants | 'Uthman ibn 'Affan and Ruqayya daughter of the Prophet ﷺ |
The Prophet ﷺ said about 'Uthman and Ruqayya:
"They are the first to emigrate to Allah after Lot عليه السلام."
👥 The Second Emigration (The Great One)
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Number | 83 men + 18 women (or more) |
| Leader | Ja'far ibn Abi Talib |
| Cause | Increased persecution after some returned |
🗺️ Map of the Emigration
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Mecca | Starting point in secret |
| 2. Shu'ayba | Port near Mecca |
| 3. Red Sea | Crossing by ship |
| 4. Abyssinia | Arrival in the kingdom of the Negus |
👑 The Negus — The Just King
📋 Identity Card
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ashama ibn Abjar |
| Title | An-Najashi (title of Abyssinian kings) |
| Religion | Christian |
| Quality | Just king where no one is oppressed |
| Fate | He embraced Islam later, the Prophet ﷺ prayed the funeral prayer in absentia for him |
📜 The Great Confrontation — At the Court of the Negus
Quraysh's Delegation Pursues the Muslims
Quraysh was not satisfied with the Muslims' escape...
They sent a delegation to bring them back:
- 'Amr ibn al-'As (before his Islam)
- 'Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi'a
They brought precious gifts to the Negus and his patriarchs!
📜 The Scene — At the Palace of the Negus
The place: The palace of the Negus, in Abyssinia...
The patriarchs (ministers) are seated... The gifts have been presented...
'Amr ibn al-'As enters:
'Amr: O King! Some foolish youth have taken refuge in your land. They left the religion of their people, and have not entered your religion. They came with a religion they invented, which neither we nor you know!
Their nobles, their fathers, their uncles, and their clans have sent us to you so that you return them to them!
The Patriarchs: He speaks the truth, O King! Hand them over to their people!
The Negus (with wisdom): No, by Allah! I will not hand them over until I hear their words!
Send for these people, let them come!
📜 Ja'far Speaks — The Speech of Islam
The Muslims entered upon the Negus...
They did not prostrate to him as was the custom!
The Negus: What is this religion for which you left your people, without entering my religion or the religion of any of these communities?
Ja'far ibn Abi Talib rose to speak:
Ja'far: O King!
We were a people of ignorance (Jahiliyya):
- We worshipped idols
- We ate carrion
- We committed immoralities
- We cut off family ties
- We mistreated our neighbors
- The strong among us devoured the weak
We were like that...
Until Allah sent us a Messenger from among us:
- Whose lineage we know
- His truthfulness
- His trustworthiness
- And his chastity
He called us:
- To Allah to unify Him and worship Him alone
- To abandon what we and our fathers worshipped of stones and idols
He commanded us:
- Truthfulness in speech
- Returning trusts
- Maintaining family ties
- Good neighborliness
- Abstaining from prohibitions and bloodshed
He forbade us:
- Immoralities
- False testimony
- Consuming the wealth of orphans
- Slandering chaste women
He commanded us:
- To worship Allah alone without associating anything with Him
- Prayer, charity, and fasting...
We believed in him, had faith in him, and followed him in what he brought from Allah...
Then our people attacked us:
- They tortured us
- They tried us in our religion
- To make us return to idol worship
When they overpowered us, oppressed us, overwhelmed us, and separated us from our religion...
We left for your land!
We chose you over all others!
We hoped not to be oppressed under you, O King!
📜 The Recitation of Surah Maryam
The Negus (moved): Do you have anything from what your prophet brought from Allah?
Ja'far: Yes.
The Negus: Recite it to me.
Ja'far recited from Surah Maryam:
﴿ Kaf Ha Ya 'Ayn Sad. This is a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zachariah. When he called to his Lord a private call... ﴾
Then he recited the story of Mary and Jesus عليهما السلام:
﴿ And mention, in the Book, Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east... ﴾
😭 The Tears of the Negus
The Negus wept until his beard was wet!
And his bishops wept until their manuscripts were soaked!
The Negus: This and what Jesus brought come from the same source!
Go! By Allah, I will never hand them over to you!
📜 'Amr's Last Attempt — The Jesus Trap
'Amr ibn al-'As did not give up...
The next day, he returned to the Negus:
'Amr: O King! They say something terrible about Jesus son of Mary!
Ask them about him!
The Negus (to the Muslims): What do you say about Jesus son of Mary?
Ja'far (with firmness): We say about him what our Prophet ﷺ brought:
He is the servant of Allah, His Messenger, His Spirit, and His Word which He cast to Mary the Virgin, the Pure!
The Negus picked up a stick from the ground and said:
"By Allah, Jesus son of Mary does not exceed what you have said by the length of this stick!"
The patriarchs grunted (showed disapproval)...
The Negus said:
"Even if you grunt, by Allah!"
"Go, you are safe in my land!" — (Shuyum = protected)
"Whoever insults you will be punished!"
"I would not like to have a mountain of gold and harm one of you!"
Then he returned the gifts to 'Amr and 'Abdullah!
📊 Reasons for the Muslims' Success with the Negus
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sincerity | They spoke according to their faith, not to please |
| Wisdom | They chose verses that touch the heart of a Christian |
| Firmness | They made no concession on their belief about Jesus |
| The justice of the Negus | A king who seeks truth, not interest |
| The Quran | The Word of Allah touches sincere hearts |
💡 Lessons from the Persecution
🎯 For the Contemporary Muslim
| Lesson | Application |
|---|---|
| Steadfastness on the truth | Whatever the cost |
| Patience in trial | "Patience, O family of Yasir!" |
| The permission of compulsion | What is done under compulsion is not sin |
| Seeking safety | Emigration is legitimate to preserve religion |
| Defense through argument | Ja'far's speech is a model |
📝 Lesson Summary
🎯 Main Events
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Torture of Bilal | "Ahad... Ahad" under the rock |
| Martyrdom of Sumayyah | First female martyr of Islam |
| Martyrdom of Yasir | First male martyr of Islam |
| Permission for 'Ammar | ﴿Except one who is forced...﴾ |
| Emigration to Abyssinia | Fleeing to preserve religion to a just king |
| Ja'far's Speech | Islam presented to the Negus |
| Protection of the Negus | Refusal to hand them over to Quraysh |
✅ Lessons Learned
| Lesson | Proof |
|---|---|
| Sincere faith is invincible | The steadfastness of Bilal and the family of Yasir |
| Brotherhood transcends money | Abu Bakr buys Bilal |
| Truth triumphs | The Negus protects the Muslims |
| Wisdom in da'wah | Ja'far chooses Surah Maryam |
❓ Questions for Reflection and Review
- Why did Quraysh target the weak for torture?
- What did Bilal repeat under torture? And why that word?
- Who is the first female martyr of Islam? How was she martyred?
- Why did the Muslims choose Abyssinia for emigration?
- How did Ja'far defend Islam before the Negus?
- Why did the Negus weep when hearing the Quran?
- What is the permission that was revealed concerning 'Ammar ibn Yasir?