It is really very hard for the Muslims of today to imagine and much less to bear or even attempt to bear the hardships that were experienced by Nabi ﷺ and his Sahaabah ﷺ in the path of Allah Ta’ala. Books of history are full of stories of their sufferings. It is a pity that our attitude is so indifferent and our knowledge so poor with regard to those events. I open this chapter with a story about Nabi ﷺ himself whose name is sure to attract the blessings of Allah Ta’ala.
For nine years, since Allah Ta’ala selected him for His mission, Nabi ﷺ had been preaching the message of Allah Ta’ala in Makkah and making all out efforts to guide and reform his people. Besides a few people, who had accepted Islam, or who helped him though not accepting Islam, all the rest in Makkah opposed him and went all out to persecute and ridicule him and his followers. His uncle Abu Taalib was one of those good-hearted people who helped him although he did not accept Islam. The following year on the death of Abu Taalib, the kuffaar increased their oppression (causing problems) without anyone to support and protect Nabi ﷺ .
At Taa’if, the second biggest town of Arabia, there lived a clan called Banu Saqeef which was strong in number. Nabi ﷺ went to Taa’if hoping to win them over to Islam. Taa’if would then be a safe place for the Muslims where the Quraish would not be able to harm them and also be a base for the propagation of Islam. When he reached Taa’if, Nabi ﷺ visited the three chiefs of the clan separately, and gave them the message of Allah Ta’ala, and asked each of them to help him in his mission. Instead of accepting his message, they refused to even listen to him. Inspite of the famous hospitality of the Arabs, each of them treated him very badly and rudely. They told him that they did not like him to be in their town. Nabi ﷺ had expected a friendly treatment and kind words from them as they were the leaders of their clans. But one of them mockingly said: “Hey, Allah Ta’ala has made you a Nabi!” The other teased him: “Could Allah not find anyone else besides you to make him His Nabi?” The third one mockingly said: “I do not want to talk to you, because if you are really a Nabi, then to oppose you is to invite trouble, and if you only pretend to be one, then why should I talk with a person pretending to be a Nabi?” Nabi ﷺ , who was very patient, did not give up after meeting the chiefs and tried to speak to the common people in the town, but nobody would listen to him and they instead asked him to leave their town and go wherever he liked. When he realised that his efforts were in vain, he decided to leave the town. But they did not allow him to leave in peace and sent the street hooligans after him to tease him and throw stones at him. He was hit with stones so much that his whole body was covered with blood and his shoes were stuck to his feet. He left the town in this terrible condition. When he was far out of the town and safe from the people, he made dua to Allah Ta’ala, asking for forgiveness.
Translation: “O Allah, I complain to You alone that I am weak, that I do not have any resources and that I do not hold any significance in the eyes of the people. O, Most Merciful of all those who show mercy, You are the Rabb (master) of the weak, and You are my own Rabb (master). To whom are You going to entrust me? To a stranger who would look at me harshly or to an enemy, to whom You have given control over my affairs? If You are not angry with me, then I do not care for anything except that I should enjoy Your protection. I seek shelter in Your light (noor), which removes all sorts of darkness’s and controls the affairs of this world and the hereafter. May it never be that You become angry with me or You are displeased with me. I must please You until You are happy with me. There is neither strength (to refrain from evil) nor any power (to do any good) except with You.”
The heavens were moved by His dua and Jibraa-eel عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ came before Nabi ﷺ , greeted him with Assalamu Alaykum and said: “Allah Ta’ala knows all that has happened between you and these people. He has sent the angel in charge of the mountains to do whatever you decide.” Saying this, Jibraa-eel عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ brought the angel before Nabi ﷺ . The angel greeted Nabi ﷺ with Assalamu Alaykum and said: “O, Nabi of Allah, I am at your service. If you wish, I can cause the mountains on both sides of this town to collide with each other, so that all the people would be crushed to death, or you may suggest any other type of punishment for them.” The merciful Nabi ﷺ said: “Even if these people do not accept Islam, I do hope from Allah Ta’ala that there will be people from among their children who would worship Allah Ta’ala and serve His Deen.”
Look at the behaviour of our noble Nabi ﷺ , whom we say we follow. We get so irritated over a little trouble or some bad words from somebody that we keep on harming him and taking revenge throughout our lives in every possible way. Is this good behaviour for one who claims to follow Nabi ﷺ ? Look, even after so much suffering at Taa’if, he does not curse the people of Taa’if nor take any revenge, even when he had the opportunity to do so.
Hadhrat Anas bin Nadhr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was one of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ who could not take part in the Battle of Badr. He regretted to have missed the honour of participating in the first battle of Islam. He waited for a chance so that he could compensate for Badr. He did not have to wait long as the battle of Uhud took place the next year. He joined the army with much eagerness. Although they were less in number and the Muslims were gaining the upper hand, some people made a mistake and the Muslims had to suffer a temporary loss. Nabi ﷺ had sent a group of fifty archers (men with bows and arrows) to guard a road behind the mountain against the enemy troops who were mounted on animals. They had firm instructions not to move from their places until they received further orders from Nabi ﷺ . When they saw the Muslims winning and the enemy escaping, they left their places thinking that the battle was over and it was time to join in the chase and share the booty. The leader tried his best to stop them from leaving by reminding them of Nabi’s ﷺ command and begged them to stay on, but only ten people listened to him, arguing that the order given by Nabi ﷺ was only while they were actually fighting. The mounted troops of the enemy then noticed the unguarded road in the back, and attacked the Muslims from behind who were busy with sharing the booty. It was at this time that Hadhrat Anas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ saw Hadhrat Sa’ad bin Mu’aaz رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ passing in front of him. He shouted to him: “O, Sa’ad! Where are you going? By Allah! I smell the sweet smell of Jannah coming from Mount Uhud.” Saying this, he ran into the middle of the enemy and fought fiercely till he attained martyrdom.
After the battle, it was found that his body had been wounded so much that only his sister could identify him and that too only from his fingertips. More than eighty wounds which were inflicted by arrows and swords were counted on his body. Those who strive in the path of Allah Ta’ala with sincerity and love, taste the pleasures of Jannah even in this world and so did Anas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ smell the sweet smell of Jannah.
Translation: In the sixth year of the Hijrah, Nabi ﷺ and 1400 of his Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ left for Makkah to perform Umrah. The Quraish heard of the news and decided to stop him coming into Makkah even for Umrah, so he had to camp at Hudaybiyyah. However, the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ were determined to enter even if it involved an open fight. Despite the eagerness of Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ to fight, Nabi ﷺ did not agree and, he entered into an agreement with the Quraish, accepting all their conditions. This one-sided and seemingly unfair agreement was very difficult on the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ , but their love for Nabi ﷺ made them accept his decision and even the most brave man like Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ had no choice but to accept the decision. According to one of the points of the agreement, converts to Islam must be returned to the Quraish, but those who left the Muslims to join the Quraish will not be returned to the Muslims. Hadhrat Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , a Muslim in Makkah, was suffering great persecution at the hands of the Quraish. They always kept him in chains. On hearing about the arrival of Nabi ﷺ in Hudaybiyyah, he somehow escaped and managed to reach the Muslim camp at a time when the agreement was about to be signed. His father Suhail (at that time a non-Muslim), was the messenger of the Quraish in the discussions for the agreement. He slapped Hadhrat Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ on his face and insisted on taking him back to Makkah. Nabi ﷺ said that, since the agreement had not yet been signed, Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ should not be returned. However, Suhail would not listen to anyone and was not prepared to leave his son with the Muslims even at the request of Nabi ﷺ and would have even cancelled the agreement. Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , describing his hardships, complained at the top of his voice but much to the shock of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ , Nabi ﷺ agreed to his return. However he asked him to be patient saying: “Oh! Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , do not be distressed, Allah Ta’ala will soon open a way for you.”
After the agreement was signed and Nabi ﷺ had returned to Madinah, another Makkan Muslim Hadhrat Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ escaped to Madinah and asked Nabi’s ﷺ for protection. Nabi ﷺ refused to listen to him and according to the agreement, handed him over to the two persons who had been sent by the Quraish to fetch him. However, he advised him as he had advised Hadhrat Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ to be patient and to hope for the help of Allah Ta’ala. When Hadhrat Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his two guards were on their way back to Makkah, Hadhrat Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said to one of them: “Friend, your sword is extremely fine.” The man was flattered and took it out from its sheath and said: “Yes it is really very fine, and I have tried it on so many people. You can have a look at it.” He quite foolishly gave the sword to Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , who immediately used it on its owner and killed him. The other man ran off and reached Madinah to report to Nabi ﷺ . In the meantime Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also arrived. He said to Nabi ﷺ : “Oh, Nabi of Allah, you returned me once as you had to abide by the agreement. I was not obliged to the agreement and I managed to escape from them with this trick, as I was afraid they would force me to leave Islam.” Nabi ﷺ said: “You are a trouble-maker. I wish you could be helped.” Hadhrat Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ understood from this that he would be returned to the Quraish again when they asked for him. Therefore, he left Madinah and escaped to a place in the desert on the sea shore. Abu Jandal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also managed to escape and joined him there. More Muslims of Makkah followed and in a few days quite a large group of Muslims gathered in the desert. They had to suffer in the desert, where there were no people or vegetation. However, because they had not signed any agreement, they troubled the Quraish by attacking their caravans passing that way. This forced the Quraish to come to Nabi ﷺ and request him to call the Muslims in the desert to Madinah.
Then they will also follow the agreement like the other Muslims and the caravans could pass in safety. It is said that Hadhrat Abu Baseer رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was on his deathbed when the letter sent by Nabi ﷺ asking him to return to Madinah reached him. He died while holding Nabi’s ﷺ letter in his hand. No power on earth can make a person give up his Imaan, as long as it is true Imaan. Allah Ta’ala has promised to help those who are genuine Muslims.
Hadhrat Bilal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , who was the muazzin of Nabi’s ﷺ Masjid, is one of the most famous of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ . He was an Abyssinian slave belonging to a kaafir in Makkah. His master, Umayyah bin Khalaf, who was the worst enemy of Islam, did not like him accepting Islam and, therefore, punished him severely. He would make him lie down on the burning sand at midday and place a heavy stone on his chest, so that he could not even move. He would then say to him: “Leave Islam or burn and die.” Even then, Bilal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ would shout out: “Ahad” - The One (Allah), “Ahad” - The One (Allah). He was whipped at night causing many cuts on his body. He was then forced to lie on the burning ground during the day to make him either leave Islam or to die a slow death from the wounds. Abu Jahl, Umayyah and others, would take turns in punishing Hadhrat Bilal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and would get tired competing with one another in causing more and more painful punishment, but Hadhrat Bilal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ never gave up. At last Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ bought him and he became a free Muslim.
While Islam taught the oneness ofour creator Allah Ta’ala, the idol worshipers of Makkah believed in many gods, therefore Hadhrat Bilal رضى اللهُ عَنْا repeated: “Ahad (The One), Ahad (The One).”
This shows his love for Allah Ta’ala, Who was so dear to him, that no amount of punishment could stop him from repeating His pure name. It is said that the street children of Makkah would drag him in the streets, while he would continue saying: “Ahad! Ahad!” Look how Allah Ta’ala rewarded his steadfastness. He had the honour to become the muazzin of Nabi ﷺ . He was always to remain with him to call out the Azaan for his Salaah at home and also while travelling. After the death of Nabi ﷺ , it became very hard for him to stay in Madinah as he would miss Nabi ﷺ at every step and in every corner. He, therefore, left Madinah, and decided to pass the rest of his life in the path of Allah Ta’ala. Once he saw Nabi ﷺ in his dream saying to him: “O, Bilal! How is it that you never visit me?” As soon as he got up, he left for Madinah. On reaching Madinah, Hadhrat Hasan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and Hadhrat Husain رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , the grandsons of Nabi ﷺ , asked him to call out the Azaan. He could not refuse them, for they were very dear to him. As soon as the Azaan was called out, the people of Madinah cried openly remembering the happy old days of Nabi ﷺ . Even the women came out of their houses weeping. After a few days Hadhrat Bilal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ left Madinah and passed away in Damascus in the year 20 A.H.
Hadhrat Abu Zarr Ghiffaari رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ is very famous among the Sahaabah رَضَ الله عَنْظُمْ for his piety and knowledge. Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ used to say: “Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has such knowledge that other people cannot cope to learn.” When he first heard about Nabi ﷺ , he sent his brother to go to Makkah and find out whether he was really a Nabi. After making enquiries his brother returned and told him that he found Muhammad ﷺ to be a man of good habits and excellent behaviour and that his wonderful message was neither poetry nor magic. This report did not satisfy him. He, therefore, decided to go to Makkah and find out the truth for himself. When he reached Makkah, he went straight to the Haram. He did not know Nabi ﷺ , and he did not know who to ask about him considering the fearful conditions prevailing at that time in Makkah. When it became dark, Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ noticed him and could not ignore him as he was a stranger. Looking after and caring for the travellers, the poor and the strangers was a habit of Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ . He therefore took him to his house without asking him why he had come to Makkah and Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also did not tell Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ the purpose of his visit. The next day, he again went to the Haram and stayed there till the night without being able to learn who Nabi ﷺ was. In fact, everybody knew that Nabi ﷺ and his Sahaabah ﷺ were being punished in Makkah and Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ knew it was dangerous to ask about Nabi ﷺ . Hadhrat Ali ﷺ again took him home for the night and once again did not ask him why he had come to Makkah. However, on the third night, after Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ had entertained him, he asked him: “Brother, what brings you to this town?” Before replying, Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ to promise that he would speak the truth. He then asked him about Nabi Muhammad ﷺ . Hadhrat Ali ﷺ replied: “He is certainly the Nabi of Allah Ta’ala. You come with me tomorrow and I shall take you to him, but you have to be very careful, in case the people come to know that you are with me, and you could get into trouble. If I see some trouble on the way, I shall move to the side pretending to adjust my shoes, and you may carry on without stopping so that the people may not think that we are together.” The next day, he followed Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , who took him to Nabi ﷺ . In the very first meeting he accepted Islam. Fearing that the Quraish might harm him, Nabi ﷺ asked him to keep his conversion to Islam a secret. He also asked him to go back home to his clan and return when the Muslims had become much stronger.
Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied: “O, Nabi of Allah! I take an oath in the name of Allah, I must go and recite the Kalimah in the middle of these kuffaar.” True to his word, he went straight to the Haram Shareef and right in the centre of the crowd, at the top of his voice, he recited the Shahaadah:
Translation: “I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ ) is the Nabi of Allah.”
People attacked him from all sides and would have beaten him to death if Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ ,
(the uncle of Nabi ﷺ , who had not yet accepted Islam), had not protected him and saved him from death. Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said to the mob: “Do you know who he is? He belongs to the Ghiffaar clan, who live on the way of our caravans to Syria. If he is killed, they will attack us and we shall not be able to do business with that country.” This stopped them and they left him alone. Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ repeated the Shahaadah the next day and would have surely been beaten to death by the crowd had not Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ once again saved him for the second time.
The action of Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was due to his extreme love for shouting out the Kalimah among the kuffaar. The advice of Nabi ﷺ of stopping him was due to the love in his heart for Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . Nabi ﷺ did not want him to be put to hardships by the Kuffaar which may be too much for him. There is absolutely no disobedience in this story. Since Nabi ﷺ himself was going through all sorts of hardships in spreading the message of Islam. Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also thought it better to follow his example rather than to avoid danger. It was this quality of Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ that took them very far in their Dunya and in their Deen. When a person had recited the Kalimah and entered the Deen of Islam, no power on earth could turn him back and no oppression or cruelty could stop him from Tabligh.
Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ is also one of those blessed persons who offered themselves for sacrifice and suffering for the sake of Allah Ta’ala. He was the sixth or seventh person to accept Islam and therefore suffered long. He was made to put on steel armour and lie in the sun to sweat and suffer. Very often he was made to lie flat on the burning sand, which caused the flesh on his back to melt. He was the slave of a woman. When she came to know that he was visiting Nabi ﷺ , she used to burn his head with a hot iron rod. Hadhrat 'Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , once asked Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ about his sufferings after accepting Islam. He showed him his back. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said, “I have never seen such a back before.” He said, “My body was dragged over heaps of burning charcoal and the blood and fat coming out of my back put out the fire.” It is said that, when Islam spread and the Muslims conquered all the surrounding lands, he used to weep and say: “Allah Ta’ala seems to be rewarding us in this world for all our sufferings and perhaps no reward would be left for us in the Hereafter.” Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “Nabi ﷺ once read a very long rakaat while performing Salaah. When the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ mentioned it to him, he said, ‘This was a Salaah of desiring from Allah Ta’ala and humility. I asked three favours from Allah Ta’ala. I begged Him: O Allah! Do not let my Ummat die by famine; do not let my Ummat be destroyed by an enemy overpowering them; and do not let my Ummat fight amongst themselves.’ Allah Ta’ala accepted the first two duas, but not the third one.” Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ passed away in 37 A.H. He was the first of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ to be buried at Koofah. Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , once passing his grave, said: “May Allah Ta’ala bless and show mercy on Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . He accepted Islam happily. He made hijrat with great pleasure in the path of Allah Ta’ala, and spent his whole life in struggling and suffering for Islam. Blessed is the person who remembers the day of Qiyaamah, prepares for his questioning, remains satisfied with very little of this world and is able to please Allah Ta’ala.” To be able to please Allah Ta’ala, was really the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ greatest achievement, for this was the only purpose of their life.
Hadhrat Ammaar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his parents were also severely punished. They were tortured on the burning hot sands of Makkah. While passing by them, Nabi ﷺ would ask them to be patient, giving them good news about Jannah. Ammaar's رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ father, Yaasir رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , died after suffering at the hands of the kuffaar. His mother Sumayya رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا was killed by Abu Jahl, who put his spear through the most private part of her body, causing her death. She had refused to leave Islam in spite of suffering terrible torture in her old age. The blessed lady was the first person to become a shaheed (to die in the path of Allah Ta’ala). The first Masjid in Islam was built by Ammaar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ .When Nabi ﷺ moved to Madinah, Ammaar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ built a room for him where he could sit, take a rest in the afternoon and read his Salaah under its roof. He first collected the stones and then built the Masjid in Quba. He fought against the enemies of Islam very bravely. Once when he was fighting in a battle he happily said: “I am going to meet my friends very soon. I am going to meet Muhammad ﷺ and his Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ .”He then asked for water. He was given some milk. He took it and said: “I heard Nabi ﷺ saying to me, ‘Milk shall be the last drink of your life’.” He then fought till he was made shaheed. He was about ninety-four years old at that time.
Hadhrat Suhaib رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and Hadhrat Ammaar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ became Muslims at the same time. Nabi ﷺ was staying at Arqam's رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ place, when they both came separately with the same intention of accepting Islam and met each other at the door of the house. Like other poor Muslims of that time, Suhaib رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also suffered a lot at the hands of the Kuffaar. At last he decided to emigrate to Madinah. The Quraish would not tolerate this, and soon after he left, a group went after him to bring him back to Makkah. As they came near, he shouted to them: “You know that I am better with the bow and arrow than all of you. As long as I have a single arrow left with me, you will not be able to catch me, and when I finish all my arrows, I shall fight you with my sword, as long as it is in my hand. If you like, you can take my money and my two women slaves which I have left in Makkah, instead ofme.” When they agreed, he told them where to find his money, and they allowed him to go to Madinah. At this, Allah Ta’ala sent down the following Aayat of the Qur-aan to Nabi ﷺ :
Translation: “And from the people is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, and Allah Ta’ala is most Compassionate (Kind) towards His bondsmen.” (Surah Baqarah - Aayah 207)
Nabi ﷺ was at that time at Quba. When he saw Hadhrat Suhaib رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ coming, he remarked: “A good bargain, Suhaib!”
Suhaib رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “Nabi ﷺ was eating dates at that time. I also joined him in eating. One of my eyes was sore. He said, ‘Suhaib! You are eating dates when your eye is sore’. ‘But I am taking them by the side of the other eye, which is not sore, O, Nabi of Allah,’ I replied. Nabi ﷺ was amused with my reply.”
Hadhrat Suhaib رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was very generous and freely spent his money on others. ‘Umar ٧٧ (سوالله رَضَاللهُ عَنهُ once told him that he was over-generous. He replied: “But I spend only where it is right.” When Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was about to die, he wanted Suhaib رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ to perform his janaazah salaah.
Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , of whom all the Muslims are proud and the disbelievers still fear, was very strong in opposing Nabi ﷺ and famous for persecuting the Muslims before he accepted Islam. One day, in a meeting, the Quraish asked for someone to volunteer to kill Nabi ﷺ . ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ offered himself for this job, at which everybody said: “Surely you can do it, ‘Umar!” With a sword hanging from his neck, he left immediately to carry out this evil deed. On his way he met Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ of the Zuhrah clan. “Where are you going, ‘Umar?” asked Sa’ad رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied: “I am going to kill Muhammad.” Sa’ad ﷺ warned ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “But don’t you see that Banu Haashim, Banu Zuhrah and Banu Abdi Munaaf will kill you in revenge?” ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ gets upset with the warning and replies: “It seems that you have also accepted Islam. Let me kill you first.” ‘Umar رضِى اللهُ عَنّهُ pulled out his sword. Sa’ad رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , declaring his conversion to Islam, also took out his sword. They were about to start a fight when Sa’ad رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said to him: “You better first put your own house in order. Your sister and your brother-in-law have accepted Islam.” Hearing this, ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ became very angry and immediately went to his sister's house. The door was locked from inside and both husband and wife were learning the Qur-aan from Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . ‘Umar رضالله عَنّهُ knocked at the door and shouted for his sister to open it. When Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ heard the voice of ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , he hid himself in a room, forgetting to take the pages of the Noble Qur-aan with him. When his sister opened the door, ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ hit her on the head, saying: “O, enemy of yourself, have you also left your religion?” Her head began to bleed. ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ then went inside and asked, “What were you doing and who was the stranger I heard from outside?” His brother-in-law replied, “We were talking to each other.” ‘Umar ة رضَالله عَن asked him, “Have you also left the religion of your forefathers and become a Muslim?” His brother-in-law replied, “But what if the new religion is the better and the true one?” ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ became furious and jumped on him, pulling his beard and beating him up terribly. When his sister tried to stop him, he smacked her face so violently, that it bled profusely. She was, after all, 'Umar's sister. She burst out: “‘Umar! You are hitting us only because we have become Muslims. Listen! We are ready to die as Muslims. You can do whatever you like.” When ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ had cooled down and felt ashamed over his sister's bleeding, he saw the pages of the Qur-aan left behind by Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . He said, “Alright show me, what these are?” “No,” said his sister, “you are dirty and no dirty person can touch the Qur-aan.” He asked again, but his sister was not prepared to allow him to touch the Qur-aan unless he washed his body. ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ at last agreed. He washed his body and then began to read the Qur-aan. It was Surah “Taaha”. He started from the beginning of the Surah, and he was a completely changed man when he came to the aayat:
Translation: “Verily I am Allah. There is none worthy of worship besides Me, so worship me and establish Salaah for My remembrance.” (Surah Taahaa - Aayah 14)
He said: “Alright, take me to Muhammad ﷺ .” On hearing this, Hadhrat Khabbaab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came out from inside and said: “O, ‘Umar! Good news for you. Yesterday (on Thursday night) Nabi ﷺ made dua to Allah Ta’ala, ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with either ‘Umar or Abu Jahl, whomsoever You like.’ It seems that his dua has been answered in your favour.” ‘Umarرَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ then went to Nabi ﷺ and accepted Islam on Friday morning. Although ‘Umar’s ﷺ conversion to Islam was terrible news for the Quraish, the Muslims were still few in number and the whole country was against them. The kuffaar increased their efforts to completely wipe out the Muslims and Islam. With Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ now on their side, the Muslims started to perform their Salaah openly in the Haram.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “‘Umar’s رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ Islam was a big victory, his hijrat to Madinah a very great help, and his becoming the Khalifah, a great blessing for the Muslims.”
The problems and sufferings of the Muslims were increasing all the time. Nabi ﷺ at last allowed them to emigrate to some other place. Abyssinia at that time was ruled by a Christian King (who later on accepted Islam), who was very merciful and just. In Rajab, in the fifth year of Nubuwwat, the first group of Muslims emigrated to Abyssinia. This group had about twelve men and five women. The Quraish chased after them to catch them, but their boats had already left the shore. When they reached Abyssinia, they heard the false news that the whole tribe of the Quraish had accepted Islam. They were very happy to hear this news and returned to their country. When they reached Makkah, they learnt that the news was false and the problems were going on as before. Some of them decided to return to Abyssinia but the rest entered Makkah, under the protection of a few noble people. This is known as the first migration (Hijrat) to Abyssinia. Later on, a bigger group of eighty-three men and eighteen women emigrated to Abyssinia. This is called the second migration to Abyssinia. Some Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ took part in both the migrations. The Quraish did not like the migrations, and the thought of peace enjoyed by the Muhaajireen gave them no rest. They sent a group to Abyssinia with beautiful presents for the king, his chiefs and the priests. The group first met the chiefs and the priests, and by giving them the presents, they won their hearts. They then came to the king’s palace and bowed down in front of him. After presenting the gifts, they said: “O, king! A few lads of our people have left their religion, and have joined an absolutely new religion, which is opposed to our as well as your religion. They have come to settle in your country. The people of Makkah, their parents and families have sent us to take them back to their country. We request you to hand them over to us.”
The king replied: “Without proper investigation, we cannot hand them over to you. Let us call them and hear what they have to say. If what you are saying is true, that they have forsaken their religion, then we will happily hand them over to you." Thereafter, the king called the Muslims to his court. At first, they were very worried and did not know what to do, but Allah Ta’ala gave them courage, and they decided to go and speak the truth before the king. When they came before him, they greeted him with ‘Salaam’. Someone objected that according to the rules of the land, they had not bowed down before the king. They explained: “Our Nabi ﷺ has forbidden us from prostrating before anyone except Allah Ta’ala.” The king then asked them to explain the charges brought against them. 
Hadhrat Ja'far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ stood up and said: “O, king! We were an ignorant nation. We neither knew Allah Ta’ala nor His Ambiyaa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ .
We worshipped stones. We used to eat dead meat and did all sorts of terrible and disgraceful things. We did not fulfil the rights of our relatives. The strong among us would oppress the weak. At last, Allah Ta’ala sent a Nabi ﷺ to guide and reform us. His noble lineage, beautiful character, sincerity of his mission and pure life is well known to us. He invited us to worship Allah Ta’ala, and encouraged us to give up idol and stone worship. He commanded us with good behaviour, and stopped us from shameless things. He taught us to tell the truth, to return the trust (amaanah), to take care of our families and to do good to our neighbours. He taught us to read Salaah, to Fast, to pay Zakaat, to have good behaviour; and to avoid all evil, bad behaviour and killing. He stopped us from adultery, rude behaviour, telling of lies, stealing the wealth of an orphan, falsely accusing anyone, and all other evil things. He taught us the Qur-aan, the wonderful book of Allah Ta’ala. We believed in him, followed him and practised on his teachings. Then, our people began to harm and torture us, thinking that we might give up our Islam and go back to idol-worship. However, when their cruelties became too much, we escaped to your country with the permission of our Nabi ﷺ .” The king said: “Let us hear something of the Qur-aan that your Nabi ﷺ has taught you.”
Hadhrat Ja'far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ recited a few Aayaat from the beginning of ‘Surah Maryam’, which touched the hearts of the king and the priests so much so that tears flowed down their cheeks and wet their beards. The king remarked: “By Allah, these words and the words revealed to Moosa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ are the rays of one and the same light.” He then told the Quraish delegation that he would not hand over the Muslims to them. The Kuffaar, disappointed and disgraced, had a meeting. One of them said: “I have a plan that is sure to make the king angry with the Muslims.” Although the others did not agree, yet he would not listen to them. The next day, they told the king that the Muslims do not believe in Hadhrat 'Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ and in his religion. The Muslims were again called to the court. They were much more worried this time. When the king asked about their belief in Hadhrat ‘Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , they said: “We believe in what Allah Ta’ala has sent down about him to our Nabi ﷺ , that is he is a servant and Nabi of Allah Ta’ala and is the word of Allah Ta’ala, which He gave to the virgin and pure Maryam رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا .”
Negus (the king) said: “Hadhrat ‘Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ himself does not say anything more than that.” The priests then began to protest, but the king would not listen to them. He returned the presents to the Kuffaar and told the Muslims: “Go and live in peace. If anybody ill-treats you, he will have to answer to me.” The king’s decision was announced all over. This gave the Muslims some respect in the country, and the Quraish delegation had to return in failure. This failure of the Quraish in Abyssinia, and the victory of the Muslims over them, caused an increase in the frustration of the Kuffaar. Hadhrat ‘Umar’s رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ accepting Islam made them even more furious. They became more and more angry, until their anger reached such a point that a large number of the Quraish chiefs planned to kill Muhammad ﷺ . But this was not so easy because Banu Haashim, the family of Nabi ﷺ , were strong in number and still stronger in position. Although all of them were not Muslims, yet even the non-Muslims among them would not agree to, nor tolerate the murder of Nabi ﷺ . Therefore, the Quraish decided to completely boycott the Banu Haashim family. Their chiefs wrote a document saying that none of them or their families would mix with or buy from or sell to those who sided with the Banu Haashim, unless and until they hand over Muhammad ﷺ for the death penalty. All of them signed this document on the 1st Muharram in the seventh year of Nubuwwat and the document was hung up in the Ka'bah in order to give it full importance. For three long years, Nabi ﷺ and all his family were shut up in the valley, which was a small section in one of the valleys that ran down to Makkah. For three long years nobody could see them nor have any contact with them. They could not buy anything in Makkah or from anyone else coming from outside. Any person found outside this valley, was beaten mercilessly and if he asked for anything it was refused. Soon their food stock was reduced to a bare minimum and they were rationed. Their women, and more especially their children and babies would cry with hunger. This was harder on them than their own starvation. During the last part of this period, their only food was the little food that the husbands of the Banu Haashim women married into other families managed to smuggle into the valley in the darkness of night. At last after three years, by the Grace of Allah Ta’ala, the document was eaten up by white ants and the boycott ended. We cannot even imagine the sufferings that they had to go through. During this period, the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ not only remained firm on their Imaan, but also kept busy in spreading the light of Islam amongst themselves. Look! How much the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ have suffered in the path of Allah Ta’ala for the cause of Islam. We claim to follow their footsteps and dream of being like them, but how much have we suffered for Islam? What sacrifice have we made for the sake of Allah Ta’ala? Success is always according to the sacrifice. We wish to live in luxury and comfort, and are racing with the non-Muslims in enjoying the good things of this world, forgetting the Aakhirat, and then at the same time we expect to receive the same help from Allah Ta’ala which the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ received. We cannot bluff anybody but ourselves by behaving like this. A poet has said,
“O Traveller, I am afraid that you will not reach the Ka'bah because the road that you are following leads (in the opposite direction) to Turkey.”