ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books General Invitation Persecution of Muslims By Quraysh In the early days of the prophetic mission the advancement of Islam was the result of a number of factors one of which was the steadfastness of the Prophet and his companions and supporters.

Examples of the patience and fortitude of the leader of the Muslims have already been stated whereas the forbearance and perseverance of the Muslims who lived in Makkah (the centre of polytheism and idolatry) deserves attention. An account of their sacrifices and steadfastness will be given in the chapters relating to events after Hijrah (migration to Madina).

For the present we mention the tragic events connected with the lives of some old devotees of the Prophet who lived in the shelterless environments of Makkah. BILAL THE ETHIOPIAN The parents of Bilal were amongst those persons who had been brought from Ethiopia to Arabia as captives. He himself (who later became the mu'azzin of the Prophet) was the slave of Umayyah bin Khalaf. Umayyah was one of the sworn enemies of the great leader of the Muslims.

As the kinsmen of the Prophet had undertaken his own defence Umayyah with a view to take revenge used to torture openly his slave who had been newly converted to Islam. He made him lie naked on hot sand during the hottest days placed a big red-hot stone on his chest and addressed him in these words: "I will not release you until you die in this condition or abjure the faith of Muhammad and worship 'Lat' and 'Uzza'.

In spite of all this torture however Bilal replied him with only two words which are a clear proof of his firm faith. He said 'Ahad! Ahad!' (viz. Allah is One and I will never revert to the religion of polytheism and idolatry). Others wondered at the steadfastness of this black slave who was a captive in the hands of a hard-hearted person. So much so that Waraqah bin Nawfal the Christian Arab scholar wept on the condition of Bilal and said to Umayyah: "By Allah!

If you kill him in this manner I will make his grave a sacred place to be visited by pilgrims ". [^12] At times Ummayah acted with still greater severity. He put a rope round the neck of Bilal and handed it over to the children so that they might drag him in the streets.[^13] Ummayah and his son were captured in the Battle of Badr the first battle of Islam. Some Muslims were not in favour of killing Umayyah but Bilal said: "He is the leader of infidelity and must be killed".