Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hadhrat Aa'isha (Radhiallahu Anha) says, “(From my youth) the only religion I found my parents strictly adhering to was the Deen of Islam. Not a day would pass wherein Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had not visited us in the morning and evening. When the Muslims were being tortured and persecuted mercilessly, (my father) Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) decided to migrate to Abyssinia. When he reached a place called Barkul Ghimaad, Ibnud Daghina, the leader of the Qaara tribe, met him and the following dialogue ensued:
Ibnud Daghina: “Where are you off to, O Abu Bakr?”
Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu): “My people have driven me out of my homeland through the ongoing torture and persecution. I intend migrating to another land in order that I be able to worship my Lord peacefully.”
Ibnud Daghina: “O Abu Bakr! It does not behove a man of your calibre to leave a land nor be driven out by his people. You are renowned for earning and providing sustenance to those who are unable to earn for themselves, you uphold the rights of kinship, you carry the burdens of others (i.e. settling their debts and assisting them), you show hospitality to your guests and you are there for the people (aiding and assisting them) at the time of natural disasters and calamities (e.g. at the time of famine and drought). O Abu Bakr! Return to your land, for I have granted you protection and security, go and worship your Lord in peace."
Ibnud Daghina then returned with Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu) and he went around to all the leaders of the Quraysh informing them, “It does not behove a man of the calibre of Abu Bakr to leave a land nor be driven out by his people. He is renowned for earning and providing sustenance to those who are unable to earn for themselves, he upholds the rights of kinship, he carries the burdens of others (i.e. settling their debts and assisting them), he shows hospitality to his guests and he aids and assists the people at the time of natural disasters and calamities.” The Quraysh did not oppose the security that Ibnud Daghina had granted to Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu). Instead, they said to him, “Tell Abu Bakr that he should worship his Rabb within the confines of his home, perform his salaah there and recite as much of the Qur'aan he wishes. However, he should not annoy and frustrate us by practicing his Deen in public as we fear that he would then mislead our women and children." Ibnud Daghina agreed to the conditions and conveyed this message to Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu).
Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) continued in this way worshipping Allah Ta’aala in seclusion (within the confines of his home). He did not perform salaah in public nor did he recite the Qur'aan at any place other than his own home. It then occurred to him that he should construct a Masjid in the courtyard of his house to perform salaah and recite the Qur'aan. The women and children of the disbelievers were greatly attracted to the recitation of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu); they would crowd around his house to observe him perform salaah and recite the Qur’aan Majeed. Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) was a man who wept uncontrollably whenever he recited the Qur'aan. Viewing this condition, the leaders of the Quraysh became greatly worried and concerned and thus they sent for Ibnud Daghina.
When Ibnud Daghina met them, they said to him, “We sanctioned the protection that you granted to Abu Bakr on condition that he worships his Rabb within the confines of his home. He has now violated the agreement by building a Masjid in the courtyard of his house, thereby openly performing salaah and reciting the Qur’aan. We fear that he should not mislead our women and children. With immediate effect, stop him from publicly worshipping his Creator. If he is prepared to abide by the agreement and worship his Rabb in seclusion, he may do so. However, if he persists upon doing so publicly, inform him that you withdraw your security and protection. We are only doing this because (we honour your security and) we do not wish to oppose you and break your security. However, under no circumstances are we prepared to allow Abu Bakr to publicly advocate his Deen.”
Ibnud Daghina then immediately proceeded to Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) and addressed him saying, “O Abu Bakr, you are well aware that the security I afforded you was subject to the conditions laid down by the Quraysh. You either abide by the agreement, (and confine your worship to within your home), or else I will be absolved of the amnesty and security I have granted you. Certainly it does not please me to hear the Arabs saying that I have breached the agreement and went against my word.” Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) spontaneously replied, “I return to you your security and I am satisfied with the divine security of Allah Ta’aala.” [1]
Note: The words with which Ibnud Daghina praised Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) at the time he was leaving Makkah Mukarramah, corresponds to the description of Hadhrat Khadeeja (Radhiallahu Anha) at the time she comforted and consoled Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) after being blessed with nubuwwat. Rasulullah (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) feared that he would not be able to fulfil the task that he had been commissioned with. It was then that she consoled him, saying that Allah Ta’ala will divinely support you in the mission of Nubuwwat, for indeed you are renowned for earning and providing sustenance to those who are unable to earn for themselves, you uphold the rights of kinship, you carry the burdens of others (i.e. settling their debts and assisting them), you show hospitality to your guests and you aid and assist the people at the time of natural disasters and calamities.
[1] صحيح بخاري
