Persecution begins (3)

Not all the salves who became Muslim were ransomed. Some succumbed to their injuries, while others were forced to recant in public although they remained believers at heart. Ammar bin Yasir and his parents belonged to the Banu Makhzoom tribe, of which Abu Jahl was a chieftian. Led by Abu Jahl, various people from the tribe would take Ammar and his family to Abtah and leave them in the scorching sun. The Prophet saw their plight and exhorted them to stand fast in faith, saying, “Patience, O family of Yasir, patience. Your destination is Paradise. O Allah!

Forgive my family of Yasir.” And stand fast they did. Yasir, Ammar’s father, bore the torture until his death. Summayah bint Khayyat (may Allah have mercy upon her) the mother of Ammar, was a slave of Abu Hudhayfah Makhzoomi. This frail old woman died and attaied the honour of being the first martyr in Islam when Abu Jahl struck a lance at her genitals.

As for Ammar, the torture became unbarable for him. The polytheists would make him wear a coat of mail and put a heavy red stone on his chest. Overpowered by distress, he uttered whatever the polytheists bade him say. However, at heart he remained full of faith. Ammar was remorseful at his bodies betrayal of his heart and soul. With the revelation of the following verse, however, Ammar and all the believers were heartened, for Allah assured them that He looked at believing hearts, not at tongues weakened by torture: “Those who renounce faith in Allah and open their hearts to disbelief – except for those believers who were forced to recant outwardly – will earn Allah’s wrath and a great punishment.” (16: 106).

While some form of hostility from the community at large was only to be expected, it was strange that even the immediate families of the new Muslims joined in the persecution. Love vanished in the face of allegience to their idols. When Mus’ab bin Umayr accepted Islam, his privileged lifestyle ended. His mother refused to give him food and drink and turned him out of her house. Defenseless and shunned by the one who had given birth to him, he was brutally tortured, and his skin was peeled off like the slough of a snake by his tormentors.