paarsurrey
Veteran Member
Muhammads life at Mecca was model of a peaceful person
Arabia at the Time of the Prophet's Birth
From very childhood he was given to reflection
and meditation. In the quarrels and rivalries of others
he took no part, except with a view to putting an end to
them. It is said that the tribes living in Mecca and the
territories around, tired of unending blood-feuds,
resolved to found an association the purpose of which
was to help victims of aggressive and unjust treatment.
When the Holy Prophet (sa) heard of this, he gladly joined.
Members of this association gave an undertaking in the
following terms:
They will help those who were oppressed and will restore
them their rights, as long as the last drop of water
remained in the sea. And if they do not do so, they will
compensate the victims out of their own belongings (Sirat
Ibni Hisham by Imam Suhaili).
It seems that no other member of this association
was ever called upon to discharge the undertaking
solemnly entered into by members of this association.
But opportunity came to the Holy Prophet (sa) when he
had announced his Mission. His worst enemy was Abu
Jahl, a chief of Mecca. He preached social boycott and
public humiliation of the Prophet (sa). About that time a
person from outside came to Mecca. Money was due to
him from Abu Jahl, but Abu Jahl refused to pay. He
mentioned this to people in Mecca.
Some young men,
out of sheer mischief, suggested that he should
approach the Prophet (sa). They thought that the Prophet (sa)
would refuse to do anything for fear of the general
opposition to him and particularly for fear of the
opposition of Abu Jahl. If he refused to help this man,
he would be said to have broken his pledge to the
association. If, on the other hand, he did not refuse and
chose to approach Abu Jahl for the restitution of this
loan, Abu Jahl was certain to turn him away with
contempt. This man went to the Prophet (sa) and
complained to him about Abu Jahl. The Prophet (sa),
hesitating not a minute, stood up, went with the man
and knocked at Abu Jahl's door.
Abu Jahl came out and
saw that his creditor was standing with the Prophet (sa).
The Prophet (sa) mentioned the loan and suggested its
payment. Abu Jahl was taken aback and, making no
excuses, paid at once. When the other chiefs of Mecca
heard of this they reproved Abu Jahl, telling him how
weak and self-contradictory he had proved. He preached
the social boycott of the Prophet (sa), yet he himself
accepted direction from the Prophet (sa) and paid a loan on
his suggestion.
In self-defence, Abu Jahl pleaded that
any other person would have done the same. He told
them that as he saw the Prophet (sa) standing at his door,
he also saw two wild camels standing one on each side,
ready to attack. We cannot say what this experience
was. Was it a miraculous appearance designed to upset
Abu Jahl or was it the awe-inspiring presence of the
Prophet (sa) which produced this hallucination?
A man hated and oppressed by a whole town had taken the
courage to go alone to the leader of that town and
demand the restitution of a loan. Maybe this very
unexpected sight frightened Abu Jahl and for a moment
made him forget what he had sworn to do against the
Prophet (sa), and forced him to do as the Prophet (sa)
suggested (Hisham).
Pages 6-7
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Life-of-Muhammad.pdf
Regards
Arabia at the Time of the Prophet's Birth
From very childhood he was given to reflection
and meditation. In the quarrels and rivalries of others
he took no part, except with a view to putting an end to
them. It is said that the tribes living in Mecca and the
territories around, tired of unending blood-feuds,
resolved to found an association the purpose of which
was to help victims of aggressive and unjust treatment.
When the Holy Prophet (sa) heard of this, he gladly joined.
Members of this association gave an undertaking in the
following terms:
They will help those who were oppressed and will restore
them their rights, as long as the last drop of water
remained in the sea. And if they do not do so, they will
compensate the victims out of their own belongings (Sirat
Ibni Hisham by Imam Suhaili).
It seems that no other member of this association
was ever called upon to discharge the undertaking
solemnly entered into by members of this association.
But opportunity came to the Holy Prophet (sa) when he
had announced his Mission. His worst enemy was Abu
Jahl, a chief of Mecca. He preached social boycott and
public humiliation of the Prophet (sa). About that time a
person from outside came to Mecca. Money was due to
him from Abu Jahl, but Abu Jahl refused to pay. He
mentioned this to people in Mecca.
Some young men,
out of sheer mischief, suggested that he should
approach the Prophet (sa). They thought that the Prophet (sa)
would refuse to do anything for fear of the general
opposition to him and particularly for fear of the
opposition of Abu Jahl. If he refused to help this man,
he would be said to have broken his pledge to the
association. If, on the other hand, he did not refuse and
chose to approach Abu Jahl for the restitution of this
loan, Abu Jahl was certain to turn him away with
contempt. This man went to the Prophet (sa) and
complained to him about Abu Jahl. The Prophet (sa),
hesitating not a minute, stood up, went with the man
and knocked at Abu Jahl's door.
Abu Jahl came out and
saw that his creditor was standing with the Prophet (sa).
The Prophet (sa) mentioned the loan and suggested its
payment. Abu Jahl was taken aback and, making no
excuses, paid at once. When the other chiefs of Mecca
heard of this they reproved Abu Jahl, telling him how
weak and self-contradictory he had proved. He preached
the social boycott of the Prophet (sa), yet he himself
accepted direction from the Prophet (sa) and paid a loan on
his suggestion.
In self-defence, Abu Jahl pleaded that
any other person would have done the same. He told
them that as he saw the Prophet (sa) standing at his door,
he also saw two wild camels standing one on each side,
ready to attack. We cannot say what this experience
was. Was it a miraculous appearance designed to upset
Abu Jahl or was it the awe-inspiring presence of the
Prophet (sa) which produced this hallucination?
A man hated and oppressed by a whole town had taken the
courage to go alone to the leader of that town and
demand the restitution of a loan. Maybe this very
unexpected sight frightened Abu Jahl and for a moment
made him forget what he had sworn to do against the
Prophet (sa), and forced him to do as the Prophet (sa)
suggested (Hisham).
Pages 6-7
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Life-of-Muhammad.pdf
Regards