The early Muslims in Makkah were subjected to such brutal oppression as could only be endured by those who had made up their minds to sacrifice their lives in pursuit of a higher destiny in the life to come. Such people endure all the atrocities the unbelievers perpetrate against them, rather than revert to pagan faith.

Ĥabīb ibn Zayd al-Anşārī (رضي الله عنه), when Musaylamah, the liar who claimed to be a messenger of Allah asked him: “Do you believe that Muĥammad is Allah’s Messenger?” Ĥabīb (رضي الله عنه) said: “Yes, indeed.” Musaylamah asked him: “Do you believe that I, too, am Allah's messenger?” Ĥabīb said: “I hear nothing.” Musaylamah then ordered that Ĥabīb (رضي الله عنه) be dismembered. He kept asking him and he kept giving the same replies until he died under such torture.

`Abdullāh ibn Ĥudhāfah (رضي الله عنه) of the Sahm clan of the Quraysh was a companion of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) who was once taken captive by the Byzantines. He was taken to their ruler who offered him a share in his kingdom and that he would give him his own daughter as a wife if he would embrace Christianity. `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) said: “If you were to give me all your kingdom and all the wealth and property of all Arabs in return for disowning the faith of Muĥammad, (صلي الله عليه وسلم), I would not accept for even a blink of an eye.” The Byzantine ruler said: “If you refuse, then I will kill you.” `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) said: “Do what you like.” The ruler then ordered that he should be crucified. Soldiers then shot at him with arrows piercing his legs and arms, but he refused to convert to Christianity despite all this.

The ruler then ordered that he should be brought down from the cross. A large pan made of copper was put over a great fire until it was boiling fiercely. Another Muslim captive was then thrown into the pan and soon his bones were visible. `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) was then told to convert to Christianity, threatened that he would suffer the same fate if he did not. He refused, and the ruler ordered that he should be thrown into the pan. As he was being lifted, the ruler noticed that his eyes were tearful. He ordered that he should be brought down. He then spoke to him only to be astonished by `Abdullāh’s (رضي الله عنه) explanation of his crying. `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) said: “I only cried because I have one soul, and I am subjected to this torture for my faith. I wish I had as many souls as the number of hairs on my body and each one of them was subjected to the same fate.”

Another report suggests that the Byzantine ruler then imprisoned `Abdullāh ibn Ĥudhāfah (رضي الله عنه) for several days without food or water. He then sent him wine and pork. `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) touched nothing of this. He was then taken to the ruler who asked him why he did not eat or drink. `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) said: “In my condition, [i.e. a case of starvation approaching death] it is lawful for me to eat and drink the otherwise forbidden things you sent me. But I will not give you the pleasure of feeling that you have broken my resolve.” The ruler secretly admired `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) for his great resistance under pressure. He said to him: “Kiss my head and I will set you free.” `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) said: “I will do so if you will also set free all the other Muslim captives you hold.” The ruler agreed and `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) kissed his head. The ruler was true to his promise and set them all free. `Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) took them all to Madinah and reported what happened to the Caliph, `Umar ibn al-Khaţţāb (رضي الله عنه) who said: “It is the duty of every Muslim to kiss `Abdullāh ibn Ĥudhāfah’s head. I will be the first to do so.” He then stood up and kissed `Abdullāh’s (رضي الله عنه) head.

This shows that faith is a matter of grave importance. There can be no compromise about it. To uphold it may require paying a heavy price. But, to a Muslim, faith is far more valuable than any price. It is so also in Allah’s (سبحانه وتعالى) view. It is a trust honoured only by one who is prepared to sacrifice his life for it.* Indeed the life of this world and all the comforts it may provide is of little consequence compared with faith. [Fi Zilal al-Qur'an]

*(The author, Sayyid Qutb (رحمه الله), himself honoured this trust when he refused to succumb to all the pressure and torture he was subjected to. He sacrificed his life when he was executed for no crime other than holding his views.)

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 27th January 2011

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