Forbearance

12. FORBEARANCE

A man of weak will power shiver at the very thought of calamities and atrocities. But the Sahaba bore all sorts of adversities for the sake of Islam and did not allow their faith and belief to shatter a little.

Sayyiduna Bilaal was forced to lie under the scorching sun with iron armour on his body. Pagan boys dragged him along the hills of Makkatul Mukarrama. But his faith remained intact. 1

1 Ibne-Maaja, p.14

2 Usdul-Ghaaba

3 Usdul-Ghaaba

4 Usdul-Ghaaba

5 Usdul-Ghaaba

Sayyiduna Khubab was the slave of Umm-e-Anmar. When he embraced Islam, Umm-e-Anmar put hot iron over his head. One day Sayyiduna Omar saw his back and said: “I have never seen such a back (covered with scars and wounds).” Sayyiduna Khubab replied: “This is because the pagans dragged me along live fire.” 2

Sayyiduna Suhaib and Sayyiduna Ammar were also forced to lie under the scorching sun with iron jacket on their bodies. But the scorching sun and hot iron could not affect their conviction. 3

Sayyidah Sumaiyyah, mother of Sayyiduna Ammar was forced to lie under the scorching sun. The Beloved Habbeb (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) passed by her and said: “Keep patience, for Paradise is your destination.” Abu Jahl got so infuriated over this that he killed Sayyidah Sumaiyyah through his spear. Thus, she became the first martyr in the history of Islam. 4

When Sayyiduna Omar came to know about the conversion of his sister to Islam, he beat her so much that she was bleeding from the entire body. But she said in clear terms: “Yes, I have embraced Islam; do whatever you like.” 5 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

When Sayyiduna Abu Zar Ghifari announced his conversion to Islam in the Mecca Mosque, the pagans overpowered him and beat him to the extent of profuse bleeding. 6

6 Sahih Muslim

7 Usdul-Ghaaba

8 Bukhari, Kitaabul Ikrah

9 Tabqaat

10 Usdul-Ghaaba

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ood recited loudly a few verses of the Holy Quraan in the Musjid-e-Haram. The pagans beat him on his face. He said to his colleagues: “If you wish I would go again and recite the Quraan in a louder voice”.7

These were the people who were either very poor or migrants from other places. The pagans did not spare rich and distinguished Muslims too.

Sayyiduna Uthman was a man of great reputation. But when he embraced Islam, his uncle tied him with a rope. 8

Sayyiduna Ayyash bin Abi Rabiyah and Sayyiduna Salmah bin Hisham were punished for embracing Islam. The pagans tied their legs together and left them like that. 9

After his conversion, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr delivered a speech inviting others to embrace Islam. The pagans listened to his awful words and beat him to the extent that Banu Tamim, the tribe of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr assumed he was no more. They wrapped him in a cloth and took him home. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr came back to his senses by evening, but instead of mentioning his pains, enquired about the wellbeing of the Glorious Prophet of Islam (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam). His family members also deserted him, but he continued to repeat his master’’ name. At last, people took him to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallallhu Alaihi Wassallam). The Glorious Prophet of Islam (Sallallhu Alaihi Wassallam) saw his condition and fell on him and kissed him. 10 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

These were a few examples of firmness, devotion and forbearance of the companions of the Beloved Habbeb (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam). These qualities were even recognized by the people of Books. Isti’ab reports: “When the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) went to Syria, a Christian saw them and said, ‘The Companions of Prophet Jesus, who were assassinated and crucified, did not bear hardships more than the Companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallhu Alaihi Wassallam) ’”. 11

11 Isti’ab, Vol.I, p.6