In the last episode, we discussed how the Quraysh reacted when the Prophet (peace be upon him) began preaching Islam openly in Mecca. The most difficult of these was the persecution of the weak companions. While sarcasm was tolerated in the past, the physical abuse that has now begun is not tolerable. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not have the power to protect his oppressed companions. There was so much persecution in Mecca that the Companions had no choice but to leave Mecca and go elsewhere. Those in the upper classes of society did not have any problems with converting to Islam, but they were under great pressure. These companions had to live under great pressure, separated from their own tribe. We will discuss several stages of the Prophet Muhammad’s call to Islam at this stage. Let us first begin our discussion with the activities of inviting people to Islam in the life of Mecca. We all know that during the 13 years of the Prophet’s life in Mecca, But what was his call? What was the main point of his invitation to Islam? If we look at the verses revealed during the life of Mecca, we will see that they revolve around a few things. It discusses the biographies of previous prophets, the story of monotheism, belief in heaven and hell, destiny, and prophethood. At that time, the verses regarding Sharia or Islamic laws had not yet been revealed. The reason for this is that in the early days of Islam, it was necessary to have complete faith in Islam. If someone does not have strong faith in their heart, there is no point in imposing unnecessary rules on them. If he doesn’t have faith in him, it wouldn’t be right to impose authority on him. He will be lazy in following the rules of Islam only when the situation is unfavorable. That is why we see that the companions endured much hardship in Mecca. Their faith was so strong that they became world powers in just 50 years. Behind this was their strong faith and belief. That is why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught his companions the most during their time in Mecca that they should build their way of life on faith. That’s why he found a place where he could regularly discuss with his companions. And teach them about Islam. He chose the house of the young companion Arkan ibn Akaam’s as the meeting point. Where he would secretly meet with the companions and teach them Islam. We know this place as Darul Akram, after the name of the Sahabi Akram. The place was a university for Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a teacher. After the spread of Islam, when the Quraysh began to oppose it, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) began the work of Darul Akram. This is most likely the fourth year of receiving Prophetic. Darul Akram became an education center for Muslims However, its activities were not to be made public; Muslims would meet here in secret. Here they would worship, meet, and study among themselves. A new social order was emerging and Darul Akram was its center. There is a reason behind why Darul Akram was chosen as the center First, Akram’s conversion to Islam was a secret, so it was unthinkable that Muslims would gather at his house. Secondly, Akram belonged to the Masum tribe, and the Quraysh had a strong rivalry with this Banu Maksum tribe. So it was hard to imagine that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would choose the house of someone from the enemy tribe of Banu Maksum as a meeting point. Fourthly, when Akram embraced Islam, he was only 16 years old. It was absurd to think that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would open a center for the propagation of Islam in the home of someone who was only 16 years old. Now we discuss Makki life. The first foundation of Makki life was the propagation of “Tawhid”. Allah Almighty has instructed every prophet to preach Tawheed. The conflict between Islam and other religions is mainly centered on this “Tawhid”. But the sad thing is that even today’s Muslims do not really know what Tawhid means. Many people think that Tawhid means that Allah is one and unique. But the polytheists of Arabia also believed that Allah is one being. He alone is the Creator and Lord of the universe.
The Quran declares that Allah Taala:
Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me.
(Quran 43:27)
And Allah also says:
And if you asked them, “Who sends down rain from the sky and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness?” they would surely say ” Allah.” Say, “Praise to Allah “; but most of them do not reason.
(Quran 29:63)
Why are Arabs still considered polytheists? This is because they have compared some idols between Allah and them as similarities. They did not consider those idols equal to Allah, but it was shirk. Even attributing even a percentage of Allah’s power to anyone is shirk. Muslim scholars have divided Tawheed into three categories to understand it:
These are Tawheed and Rubia, Tawheed al-Ulya and Tawheed Asma Wal Sifat.
The basic premise of the Tawheed and Rubia is that Allah created the universe and He is sovereign over all of it. All people in the world, except atheists, believe in the ruby of Tawhid. Even secular Hindus and Christians believe that there is one Creator. And he will have power over all. But most people associate shirk with the Rubia of Tawheed and the Asmaul Shifa.
Tawheed al-Ulya is believing in Allah as the only being. Tawheed Asma Wal Sifat are the names that Allah has given to Himself. The Quraysh of Mecca did not believe in the second and third categories of Tawhid. For example, they believed in Allah and many other gods as mediators between them. And worshipped them. But Allah is the only one worthy of worship.
And to others of them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
(Quran 62:3)
They had strange ideas about God, such as saying that angels were daughters of God.
Then, has your Lord chosen you for [having] sons and taken from among the angels daughters? Indeed, you say a grave saying.
(Quran 17:40)
There were many such misconceptions. They believed these false beliefs after hearing them from men. And they kept such false beliefs alive in society because such false beliefs were a kind of source of income for them. In the Middle Ages, Christian churches would absolve sinners in exchange for money. The Quraysh knew and understood what power this idol had to do to harm or benefit people. Yet they did not oppose it because they had an interest in this religion. So when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told them to worship one God, they immediately said, “If we worship one God, what will we do with the other idols?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) strengthened the knowledge of Tawheed among his companions because the knowledge of Tawheed was also the knowledge of interest. In the Sirat series, we have discussed only what is relevant.
In this regard, I conclude the discussion with some quotes from the book of Safi al-Salafi.
The training of the companions brought many blessings. They attained purity in every branch of Tawheed. They only followed Allah. If there was any exception to following Allah, they would not accept it, no matter what anyone said. They loved no one as much as they loved God. He loved Allah alone, trusted in Allah, and sought refuge in Allah alone. And he would ask God for forgiveness. When he slaughtered an animal, he slaughtered it in the name of Allah, and when he asked for something, he asked Allah for it. He only asked from Allah, he prostrated to Allah, he did not ask from anyone else. They established what the Messenger of Allah said, without any form of idolatry. And without any misinterpretation Tawheed was established at every level of their lives, in their actions and in their souls. The second most important thing in life in Mecca is the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is Resalat. That is, believing in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as the Messenger sent by Allah. We have sent you as a bearer of good news and a warner to all mankind.
We have sent you ˹O Prophet˺ only as a deliverer of good news and a warner to all of humanity, but most people do not know.
(Quran 34:28)
Believing in the message of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) means following all his commands. Believing in the message of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) means placing his command above all other commands in the world. Accepting all his teachings and abandoning everything that is against his ideals. Whether it is family norms, social customs, or the laws of the country.
Allah Almighty says:
And it is Allah’s Will to lighten your burdens, for humankind was created weak.
(Quran 4:28)
The six pillars of Islam are emphasized in life in Mecca. The subjects on which verses were revealed in the life of Mecca are belief in angels, belief in later prophets, description of Paradise and Hell.
Allah Almighty says about the angels:
And the thunder exalts [Allah] with praise of Him – and the angels [as well] from fear of Him – and He sends thunderbolts and strikes therewith whom He wills while they dispute about Allah; and He is severe in assault.
(Quran 13:13)
And to Allah ˹alone˺ bows down ˹in submission˺1 whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of living creatures, as do the angels—who are not too proud to do so.
(Quran 16:49)
Allah Almighty says about the previous book:
And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets exceed others [in various ways], and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].
(Quran 17:55)
Allah also says:
We have sent other messengers before you- some We have mentioned to you and some We have not- and no messenger could bring about a sign except with God’s permission. When [the Day] God ordained comes, just judgement will be passed between them: there and then, those who followed falsehood will be lost.
(Quran 40:78)
Allah Almighty says about fate:
Do not let their words grieve you ˹O Prophet˺. Surely all honour and power belongs to Allah. He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
(Quran 10:65)
It is certainly We Who resurrect the dead, and write what they send forth and what they leave behind. Everything is listed by Us in a perfect Record.
(Quran 36:12)
There are many verses in the Quran about Paradise and Hell. We mention some of them.
Now we will discuss what impact this had on the lives of the companions. First, Tawheed and Risalat are the foundations of Islam. The companions accepted that Allah is one and unique, that He is powerful over all things, and that He is the supreme creator. They accepted that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a messenger sent from Allah and whatever he said was from Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the last prophet and whatever he revealed would remain intact until the Day of Judgment. Thirdly: Islam is the only religion accepted by Allah and all other religions are invalid. Ignorance comes to people in different forms at different times. Sometimes in the guise of idol worship, sometimes in the guise of misconceptions, sometimes in the guise of human orders. All religions except Islam are invalid or false. Just as Hinduism and Christianity were false religions in previous eras, similarly, nationalism, secularism, etc. are false ideas of the present era. The companions could distinguish between truth and falsehood, so they eliminated falsehood wherever they traveled. Fourthly, the companions understood that the ideals sent by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) were the foundation of life. The command or prohibition of lawful and unlawful actions is sent by Allah and His Messenger. Whether an action is morally good or bad will be declared by Allah. Fifthly, the life of this world is temporary, rather it is a testing ground from Allah. Allah Almighty tests people on their faith. Humans are the best creatures of Allah Almighty. The identity of man is that he is dependent on Allah and that he is a servant of Allah. Humans are the best creatures of Allah, so Allah’s right over humans is that they worship Allah and obey Him. Man is not like any other creature created by God. At the same time, he will not be bound to Allah again by boasting of his superiority.
And do not disbelieve. This is the state of man towards Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) instilled this teaching in the hearts of his companions. Therefore, they hated polytheism and never accepted oppression. The sixth thing is that everything that Allah created in the world was created for the benefit of mankind. The sun, the moon, everything on the earth is subject to Allah for humans. People will use these in the way shown by Allah. Human dignity is based on these things, so when a person worships an idol, he is essentially degrading himself. And when he prioritizes his own intelligence, which we see in today’s society, it is basically half-heartedness or arrogance. Belief in fate and helped the companions gain faith. Because they knew that whatever happens, good or bad, comes from Allah. Therefore, one should seek help only from Allah and not from anyone else. Belief in fate taught the companions patience and, on the other hand, made them courageous. Because they knew that life and death were in the hands of Allah. A person will die exactly when Allah wills. The stories of later prophets were an inspiration for the companions. It requires a lot of sacrifice to remain steadfast in the path of Islam. When the companions learned how much their ancestors had endured to establish the religion of Allah, they became courageous and were guided to that path. Half of the Holy Quran is filled with the stories of previous nations and the events of the Messengers sent to them. It is very important for us to know these events because we learn from them the test of faith. Another reason to know about the events of previous generations is so that we can learn from their mistakes. Another reason to know about the events of previous generations is so that we can learn from their mistakes. The description of the ninth paradise and hell created patience in the hearts of the companions. People commit sins despite knowing that Allah is the only God. The reason for this is lack of piety. Most of the verses revealed during the life of Mecca contain descriptions of the Day of Judgment, Paradise and Hell. The more people know about these descriptions, the more they will be oriented towards the Hereafter. Seek good deeds and stay away from bad deeds. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that he was like Paradise and Hell. That is, their faith was so strong that they could understand the afterlife in the same way they could understand the life of this world. And this is why they were the best generation. For this reason, it can be said that the companions who embraced Islam in the early era of Islam were raised by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) himself. They had a clear idea of where they came from, what to do, and where to go. They knew what the source of the right path was. They remembered Allah. Islam was their sacrifice and knowledge. Who was the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)? Their faith and outlook should be based on Tawhid. Because they are the necklace of the Muslim Ummah. In short, these are the syllabus of Darul Aqam, the best university in the world. Where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the teacher and his companions were the students. Now let’s come to the third step of today’s topic, why the Quarish ignored the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
First, let’s find out why they refused and what Allah said in response to them. Then we will discuss why they refused. First, they rejected the main message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which was Tawheed. We have already mentioned what their form of polytheism was. The Quraysh of Mecca sought help from Allah through idols. But when the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that their idols were all false and could not benefit them, the Quraysh refused to accept this. They refused to abandon idol worship. They refused to abandon idol worship. Because idol worship has been part of their culture for thousands of years. They were amazed to think that their own son, Muhammad, could oppose their father’s religion.
Allah says:
And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, “This is a magician and a liar. Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing. And the eminent among them went forth, [saying], “Continue, and be patient over [the defense of] your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended. We have not heard of this in the latest religion. This is not but a fabrication.
(Quran 38:4-7)
Second: They rejected life after death. Not only did they deny it, but they also mocked the Hereafter.
But those who disbelieve say, “Shall we direct you to a man who will inform you [that] when you have disintegrated in complete disintegration, you will [then] be [recreated] in a new creation? Has he invented about Allah a lie or is there in him madness?” Rather, they who do not believe in the Hereafter will be in the punishment and [are in] extreme error.
(Quran 34:7-8)
Ubaydah took a piece of bone and asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) if he meant that Allah would resurrect him from this bone after death.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Indeed, Allah will cause you to die, resurrect you, and cast you into Hell.”
After this incident, Allah revealed the verse:
Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop – then at once he is a clear adversary? And he presents for Us an example and forgets his [own] creation. He says, “Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated? Say, “He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing.
(Quran 36:77-79)
Allah also gives the answer to why He will resurrect people after death.
Can those who believe in God and those who do not believe in Him be equal in this world?
So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah – how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.
(Quran 30:50)
Thirdly: Disbelief in the message of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
The reason they used to disbelieve in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was that they asked why a human being was sent as a Messenger and not angels.
What kind of prophet is this who eats and drinks and then goes to the market? Allah has mentioned them in the Quran.
And they say, “What is this messenger that eats food and walks in the markets? Why was there not sent down to him an angel so he would be with him a warner? Or [why is not] a treasure presented to him [from heaven], or does he [not] have a garden from which he eats?” And the wrongdoers say, “You follow not but a man affected by magic.
(Quran 25:7-8)
This was just their excuse because if angels had been sent, they would have said why not humans? They used to say that why should we humans follow angels? Allah could have sent someone from among our people.
And We did not send before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others – will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.
(Quran 25:20)
They gave another reason for rejecting the Prophet (peace be upon him). They called the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) “Mad” while they called him “Al-Amin” Even though they called him crazy, they didn’t stop hoarding wealth with him. In fact, they had no excuse to deny the truth. Their excuses were so weak that Allah Almighty answered them with one word.
The fourth one said that the Quran is a poem composed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself.
And We did not give Prophet Muhammad, knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a message and a clear Qur’an
(Quran 36:69)
Indeed, this Quran is the recitation of a noble Messenger.
It is not the prose of a poet as you claim, yet you hardly have any faith.
Nor is it the mumbling of a fortune-teller, yet you are hardly mindful.
It is a revelation from the Lord of all worlds.
(Quran 69:40-43)
The polytheists used to say that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) learned the Quran from a foreigner. Their claim was on the verge of madness. They failed to challenge the unique language style of the Quran. Yet the Arabs of that era were the best in literature. How could a foreigner write the Quran there?
Allah Almighty says:
Say, O Prophet, “If all humans and jinn were to come together to produce the equivalent of this Quran, they could not produce its equal, no matter how they supported each other.”
(Quran 17:88)
Or do they say, “He invented it”? Say, “Then bring ten surahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.”
And if they do not respond to you – then know that the Qur’an was revealed with the knowledge of Allah and that there is no deity except Him. Then, would you [not] be Muslims?
(Quran 11:13-14)
And it was not [possible] for this Qur’an to be produced by other than Allah, but [it is] a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the [former] Scripture, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.
Or do they say [about the Prophet], “He invented it?” Say, “Then bring forth a surah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.”
(Quran 10:37-38)
The question is, why were the Quraysh opposed? Let’s end today’s discussion by discussing a few points. First, the religion practiced by Christians and Jews in Arab society was not originally a religion, but rather a distortion of a later book. And the polytheists of Arabia had no religion, but rather they followed their own culture. Anyone who started a custom would have it become their religious custom after a few years. According to the current time, thousands of years ago, the cultural stars knew the names of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Ismail (peace be upon him), but it was only verbally. Follow their example in all your actions. Secondly, their superstition and dogma meant they would never think of changing the religion of their ancestors. They had in mind the blast premi law to abandon the religion of the predecessors.
When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “No! We only follow what we found our forefathers practicing.” ˹Would they still do so˺ even if Satan is inviting them to the torment of the Blaze?
(Quran 31:21)
Point number three: Greed for clan power. We have already discussed that in the past, Arabia was a tribal society. Obeying the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) means that the authority of all tribes goes to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Because Islam means believing in what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) brought. All the authorities in the world are subordinate to the economy of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) because he is the Messenger of Allah. The most powerful people in society opposed the prophets. Point number four: The Quraysh were afraid that if they converted to Islam, they would lose their status in Arabia. Other tribes of Arabia will attack them and they will become poor. Allah has mentioned this to them in the Quran.
Even though the Quraysh knew that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was telling the truth, they still did not want to accept Islam for fear of losing their status.
