Persecution of Muslims by the Meccans

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In the early days of Islam at Mecca, the new Muslims were often subjected to abuse and persecution.

Overview

Sumayyah bint Khabbab, and her husband Yasir were tortured to death by Abu Jahl.^{[1] [2]}

Muhammad was protected somewhat by the influence of his family, but even he was subjected to such abuse as thrown over with the entrails of a camel over him by Abu Lahab, while he was praying near the Kaaba and Abu Lahab's wife Umm Jamil would regularly dump filth outside his door.^[3] The master of the slave Bilal ibn Rabah (who would become the first muezzin) would take him out into the desert in the heat of midday and place a heavy rock on his chest, demanding that he forswear his religion and pray to the polytheists' gods and goddesses, until Abu Bakr bought him and freed him.

Migration age

613 - 614

The physical assaults began in 613.^[4] In 614, a group of Muslims were on their way to the hills of Mecca to hold a meeting with Muhammad, when a group of polytheists observed their gathering and began to abuse and fight them. Sa'ad defended himself from a polytheist and accidentally shed his blood, reportedly the first instance of bloodshed in the history of Islam.

7 BH (614–615 CE)

In seventh Islamic month (Rajab) of 7 BH (614–615 CE) twelve male and twelve female Sahaba, the Muslims who originally converted in Mecca, migrated to Aksum seeking refuge from persecution.

6 BH (615–616 CE)

Following the return from the First migration to Abyssinia, the Muslims continued to suffer Persecution by the Meccans.^[4] This time, in 6 BH (616 CE) almost one hundred Muslims made a second migration back to Abyssinia where they stayed protected. After the Muslims in Arabia had migrated to Medina in AH 7 (628/629) and attained security, the Muslims in Abyssinia migrated back to Arabia and reunited with them in Medina ^[4] after six years absence.

5 BH (616–617 CE)

The Meccan boycott of the Hashemites by the Quraish was proclaimed in 617.

3 BH (618–619 CE)

2 BH (619–620 CE)

In 620, after the Year of Sorrow when his main source of support, Abu Talib had died did the persecution increased exponentially, so he tried to seek support from the neighboring city of Tai'f.

AH 1 (622/623)

This persecution ultimately provoked the Migration to Medina.

Post Migration age and response

Invasion of Safwan

List of battles of Prophet Muhammad Ghazwah (expeditions where he took part) Abwa Buwat Safwan Dul 1st Badr Kudr Sawiq Qaynuqa Thi Bahran Uhud Asad Nadir 2nd Nejd 2nd Badr Jandal Trench Qurayza Lahyan Mustaliq Treaty Khaybar Fadak Qura Dhat Baqra Mecca Hunayn Autas Ta'if Tabouk Sariyyah (expeditions which he ordered) Raids Nakhla 1st Nejd Qatan Unais Raji Damri Bir Atik Maslamah Ukasha 1st Thala 2nd Thala Qarad Jumum Is 3rd Thala Hisma Zaid Auf 1st Ali Wadi Kurz Rawaha Umar Bakr Bashir Mayfah Ghalib Yemen Sulami Kadid Layth Shuja Ka'b Mu'tah 1st Amr Ubaidah Hadrad Edam Khadirah Khalid 2nd Amr Sa'd Jadh Tufail 1st Autas 2nd Autas Tamim Khatham Dahhak Jeddah 3rd Ali Udhrah 3rd Khalid 4th Khalid Sufyan Jurash Najran Mudhij Hamdan Dhul Army of Usama (Final Expedition)

Muhammad ordered an attack to pursue Kurz bin Jabir Al-Fihri who led a small group that looted Muhammad's animals^[5]

Invasion of Sawiq

Muhammad ordered Muslims to pursue Abu Sufyan for killing 2 Muslims and burning a corn field^[3]

List of Specific Recorded Instances

Slaves who were Muslims

Male

• Yasir ibn Amir – tortured and killed.^[6]
• Bilal ibn Ribah – lied on burning sand, had a very heavy stone put on his chest with somebody jumping on it.
• Khabbab ibn al-Aratt – lied on burning sand, had hot metal put on his head,
• Abu Fakih – tied and dragged on burning sand, had a very heavy stone put on his chest ^[7]
• Abu Fuhayra
• Ammar ibn Yasir – tortured.^[6]

Female

• Sumayyah bint Khabbab – killed by spear.
• Al-Nahdiah – tortured ^[6]
• Umm Ubays – tortured ^[6]
• Lubaynah– extensively beaten ^[6]
• Zinnira – beaten until she lost her eyesight temporarily.^[7]

Free Muslims

• Muhammad – entrails of animals thrown at him while praying, people trying to strangle him, subjected to boycott, assassination attempt.
• Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad – was divorced on orders of Abu Lahab ^[4]
• Ruqayyah bint Muhammad – was divorced on orders of Abu Lahab ^[4]
• Sa'd ibn Ubadah – tortured ^[4]

References

1. ↑ Lings, Martin. Muhammad: His life based on the earliest sources. pp. 79, 80. ISBN 978-0946621330. Retrieved 6 February 2015. 
2. ↑ Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 145. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, pp.150-151. (online)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 The Sealed Nectar The Second ‘Aqabah Pledge on sunnipath.com
5. ↑ Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar p. 128
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Millennium_Biography
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 witness-pioneer.org