The Disbelievers Harming Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was sent to the world by Allah Ta‘ala to guide people towards the pure and perfect deen of Islam. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made effort to save people from kufr and disbelief. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would speak to the people in Makkah Mukarramah and invite them to Islam and the worship of one Allah Ta‘ala. He would also explain to them that worshipping idols is foolish and silly, as idols are pieces of stone, wood or metal that are lifeless and cannot do anything.

Most of the Quraish clan in Makkah Mukarramah were idol worshippers, so when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) spoke against their idols and invited people to Islam, it made them angry and upset. They asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to stop speaking against their idols, but Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not stop, as he was doing the work given to him by Allah Ta‘ala and he would never stop fulfilling the command of Allah Ta‘ala.

When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not listen to the Quraish, then they decided that they would trouble him, hurt him and cause him pain in different ways so that he would stop inviting to Islam and speaking against their idols.

On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was inviting the people to Islam. He said to them, “O people! Say Laa ilaaha illallaah and you will become successful!” However, instead of listening to him, the people were swearing at him, spitting at him and throwing sand at him.

On another occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) went to the market in Zul Majaaz and invited the people to Islam saying, “O people! Say Laa ilaaha illallaah and you will be successful.” At the same time, Abu Jahal, the evil enemy of Islam and the Muslims, was throwing sand at Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying, ‘O people! Do not listen to this man! He wants to stop you from worshipping your idols, Laat and Uzzaa!”

However, despite Abu Jahal throwing sand at him and troubling him, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) calmly continued to invite the people to Islam and did not worry about Abu Jahal.

One day, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was performing salaah in the Hateem area of the Ka’bah when Uqbah bin Abi Mu’ait, another evil enemy of Islam, came to him. Uqbah was so evil that he would not even leave Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to perform salaah in peace. Rather, on seeing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in salaah, he placed a cloth over the neck of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and pulled it so tightly that he began to strangle him.

At that moment, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came and immediately rushed forward to protect Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He pushed Uqbah away and recited the following verse of the Qur’aan Majeed:

اَتَقۡتُلُوۡنَ رَجُلًا اَنۡ یَّقُوۡلَ رَبِّیَ اللّٰه وَقَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ مِنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ ؕ

Are you killing a man just because he says, “My Rabb is only Allah”, and he has brought to you clear proofs from your Rabb? (Surah Mu’min v. 28)

From these incidents, we learn that whenever Muslims are firm upon Islam, then the non-Muslims will trouble them and will oppose them. However, no matter what the non-Muslims do, a true Muslim must remain firm upon Islam. If he is patient and turns to Allah Ta‘ala in dua, then Allah Ta‘ala will assist him and help him.