Persecution of the Prophet (5)

Likewise, Jibreel pointed towards the head of Aswad bin Abd Yaghuth and he developed boils that caused his death. Another source states that these boils resulted from sunstroke that Jibreel had inflicted on him. According to yet another narration, Jibreel pointed towards Aswad’s belly and he developed dropsy that caused his belly to swell so much that he died.

When Aswad bin Abdul Muttalib became excessive in his persecution of the Prophet , the Prophet asked Allah to “snatch” his eyesight and to deprive him of fatherhood. In respose to his supplication, Jibreel was sent to strike his face with a thorny branch so that Aswad lost his eyesight. He then struck his son dead.

Harith bin Qays, the last of these five previously named opponents of the Prophet , met a horrible death. As he lay dying, his stomach filled with yellow fluid, and the contents of his intestines began to flow from his nose.

Divine intervention and retribution came to those most active and vocal in their hatred of Islam, but for the most part, the Prophet quietly endured all the hardships, just as prophet’s before him had done. Looking at his patience and unshakable faith, the believers were heartened during their sufferings in the cause of Allah. Verbal abuse and physical threats continued, so the Prophet devised ways of defense. He took two steps to help secure the fledgling Muslims.