The mere raising of the flag of truth in peace and security...

The mere raising of the flag of truth in peace and security will not help promote truth. Truth will be promoted only when there is steadfastness and perseverance on the part of those who believe in truth.

There is a verse in the Holy Quran that says "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm against the disbelievers, compassionate among themselves." [^3] The phrase "firm against the disbelievers" does not mean that Muslims are involved in a constant war with the disbelievers. Rather, it means strength and solidity. Firm means solid here. This solidity may be manifested in a particular manner on the battlefield.

It may also be manifested in a different way when negotiating with the enemy. Notice how the Holy Prophet (S) spoke to his enemies when it was necessary to do so. His plans were the embodiment of solidity, without any flaws. In the Battle of Ahzab, the Holy Prophet (S) entered into negations with the enemy. But it was not ordinary negotiations. The details of those negotiations are recorded in history. Battles and negotiations were both carried out in a solid manner.

Cooperation was also carried out in a firm way. That is the meaning of the phrase "firm against the disbelievers". The phrase "compassionate among themselves" means that Muslims are lenient with one another. Muslims do not treat each other in a firm way. It is time for expressing affections when Muslims are together. The resistance at the beginning of Be’that resulted in three years of unbelievable resistance in She'b-e Abi Talib.

They lived in the sizzling sun in a valley near Mecca for three years. There were no plants and no water and this is no joke. The Holy Prophet (S), Abi Talib, Khadijah and all Muslims and their families lived in this valley in the holes of the mountains. They had blocked all the ways so that they had no access to foodstuff. Sometimes when it was time for Hajj - in which, according to the rules of the Jahiliyya era, no one was allowed to start a war - they were allowed to enter the town.

But Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab and other chiefs of Mecca had told their servants and children to pay twice the price and buy whatever the Muslims needed to buy. They had been told to prevent the Muslims from buying what they needed. Living in such difficult conditions for three years is no joke. It is such resistance and the heart that relies on Allah the Exalted that give rise to such steadfastness and make people patient.