Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

FROM CALL TO SECOND PLEDGE OF UQ.BAH
THE EARLY CONVERTS
Among the first to have been attracted to the faith of Muhammad (PBUH) was a group of those who had been ardent believers in the unity of God. Even though they were not conversant with the concept of monotheism which Islam enunciated, yet one could easily find in them the spark of righteousness which could easily develop into flames. Zayd bin Ami. whose son Sa’id became a very devoted follower of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), was one of those famous men who belonged to this group.
There was also a group of men who stood, in fact, outside the clan system, though nominally attached to some clan. Either the clan did not recognize their affiliations to be a matter of great importance, or the clan considered itself too weak to offer them protection against the high-handedness of the tyrants. These men were in no way inferior to the proud men of Quraysh both physically and mentally, but they had unfortunately no strong clan at their back to support them. They lacked power and prestige. Amongst them were Ammar, Khabbab, Abu Fukaiha Suhayb (may God be pleased with them) These innocent souls were ridiculed and jeered in season and out of season. Referring to such people the high-brow Quraysh aristocrats asked the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with scorn and jest: ”Are these the only persons who have been blessed by Allah amongst us?” There were a few amongst the Muslims who, in the words of the Holy Qur’an, were mustad’afun. Ibn Sa’d characterises them as ”those
From Call to Second Pledge of Uc/bah 63
who had no clan to protect them.”1 Having formed some idea of the sort of men who responded to Muhammad’s (PBUH) call, let us consider more fully the treatment meted out to them and to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by their Makkhan compatriots and the possible reasons for their doing so.
In the beginning the Makkhan leaders did not care much for Muhammad (PBUH) and his teachings. An orphan as he was, they did not see in him the strength and power of a revolutionary who stood much of a chance of success. To them he was a zealot. But this attitude of indifference soon changed into active hostility. They could ill afford to observe as silent spectators to the growth of this movement. They were watching its onward march with grave concern and rallied all their resources to put a stop to its tidal wave. It was not, however, till three to four years of his ministry had elapsed that a full scale opposition to Muhammad (PBUH) was organized. They first contacted Abu Talib and apprised him of the situation which had been created by his nephew. They said: ”O Abu Talib ! your nephew curses our gods; finds faults with our way of life, mocks at our religion and degrades our forefathers; either you stop him, or allow us to get at him, for you are in the same position as we are in opposition to hifh: and we will rid you of him.” Abu Talib tried to appease their wrath by giving them a polite reply. The Holy Prophet continued on his way preaching God’s religion and calling men hitherto. The Quraysh were further infuriated and approached Abu Talib for the second time and insisted him to put a stop to his nephew’s activities which, if allowed unchecked, would involve him into severe hostility. Abu Talib was deeply distressed at the breach with his people and their enmity, but he could not afford to desert the apostle too. He sent for his nephew and told him what the people had said; ”Spare me and yourself and put not burden upon me that I can’t bear.” Upon this the Holy Prophet replied, ”O my uncle ! by God, if they put the sun in my right hand and moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until God has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it.” The Holy Prophet got up. As he turned away his uncle called him and said: Come back, my nephew, and when he came back, he said, ”Go and preach what you please, for by God I will never forsake you.”
Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, The Life of Muhammad (PBUH), P.68.

64 Political and Cultural History of Islam

When the Quraysh perceived that Abu Taiib had refused to yield before their demand and he was resolved to protect him, they themselves organized a campaign of persecution against him and his companions. It was started right from the holy precinct of the Ka’bah to which the Quraysh were deeply attached. It was their shrine, their centre of devotion, the focus of their idolatrous religious worship. Hence it had to be protected at all cost from the ever-increasing influence of Islam. Muhammad (PBUH), on the other hand, had a strong desire to cleanse this sacred House of God from idolatry. It is narrated that once the Holy Prophet went into the sanctuary of the Ka’bah and summoned the people to the unity of God. There was sudden uproar and attack upon him from every side. Harith ibn Abi Halah rushed to the spot and tried to save the life of the Holy Prophet. A sharp quarrel arose between them, a sword struck the head of noble Harith and he fell dead on the ground. He was the first martyr to lay down his life for the sake of Islam.2 PERSECUTIONS
Muhammad (PBUH) was ridiculed on every occasion by Quraysh. Sometimes the wicked people assembled in the streets and pointed at him slightingly as he passed and shouted : ”There goes the fellow from among the sons of Abdul Muttalib who speaks about the heavens.” Dirt was thrown at him. His path was strewn with thorns and filth. Once, while he was praying in the Ka’bah, Uqbah, son of Abi Mu’ayt, made his sheet into a rope, cast it round the neck of the Holy Prophet and then twisted it so as to choke the Holy Prophet’s throat, and when he prostrated on the ground, he pulled it hard. But the Holy Prophet continued with his prayer with his usual calmness. In the meantime Abu Bakr (Rad.A) arrived at the spot, pushed back Uqbah and exclaimed : ”Do you slay a person because he says : My Lord is Allah, and has come to you with clear signs?”
It is narrated on the authority of Tariq ibn Abdullah alMuharibi that he once saw the Holy Prophet preaching. There is no god save Allah. A man followed him and ruthlessly flung stones at him. The Holy Prophet was profusely bleeding and the wicked fellow cried : ”O men, be on your guard, he is a liar.” It is also recorded that once Abu Jahl, the staunch enemy of the Holy Prophet, threw dust on his sacred head and shouted: ”O people, do not be
2 Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, The Life of Muhammad (PBUH), P 70.
3 Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, The Life of Muhammad (PBUH), P.70.