The Prophet Whom They Do Not Know!

When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) began to call to Islam publicly, he, his companions and all those who believed in him were greatly harmed by the people of Quraysh.

The Quraysh beat, abused, insulted, tortured, expelled them from their homes; they also took their properties, and deprived them of their families and children.

As for our Prophet whom they do not know, the Quraysh repeatedly tried to kill him. Abū Jahl tried to kill him by throwing a stone on his head. Uqbah Ibn Abī Maˁīṭ also tried to strangle him.

Moreover, they asked his uncle Abū Ṭālib to hand him over to them to be killed, and exchange him with Imārah Ibn Al-Walīd to take him as a son.

Abū Ṭālib despised their sick mind and replied: "By Allah, it is really an unfair bargain to give me your son to bring him up in exchange of I to grant you my son so that you can kill him! By Allah, that will never happen".

Then, the leaders of Quraysh met in An-Nadwah (Council) House and plotted to kill the Prophet.

They selected a band of young men from each tribe, who would, simultaneously, strike the Messenger with their swords so that the blood-money would be distributed among them all, and therefore no one would be held responsible.

However, Allah saved him after immigrating to Madinah, leaving behind his house, property, and relative people. Besides, Makkah was the most beloved land to the Prophet.

Moreover, they did not let him go, rather, they sent a person to kill him in Madinah, but Allah rescued him and revealed the plot to him.

However, the Quraysh planned to fight him while in Madina. In many wars that they waged against the holy Prophet, they did not respect the sanctity of the Muslim martyrs; they mutilated the corpses of the Prophet's companions including his uncle Ḥamzah Ibn Abdul-Muṭṭalib.

Not only did they persecute the Prophet and his companions, but also prevented the Messenger from visiting the Sacred House of Allah, and violated the truce they agreed upon.

However, Allah provided succor to his Messenger and enabled him to capture them all during his conquest to Makkah.

After the conquest, the Prophet used all kindness in dealing with them. He pardoned them released their captives, and protected their souls, wealth, children, and honor, in accordance with Allah’s sayings: "and let them pardon and overlook" [Al-Nur- 22] and (They are˺ those who donate in prosperity and adversity, control their anger, and pardon others. And Allah loves the good-doers.(Al-Imran: 134)

This is the Prophet whom they do not know!

By Ilham Shahin, Assistant Secretary-General for Female Preacher affairs, Islamic Research Complex (Azhar)