The Early Persecution Of Muslims

Bismillah Hir Rehman Ir Raheem
Start In the Name Of Allah The Most Beneficent The Most Merciful

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"Muslims were persecuted during early Islamic periods and are still persecuted today" (Shafay Islam)

The persecution of Muslims is not a new matter. Muslim have been in subject of persecution during early periods of Islam and are uptil now. The persecution began as people started converting to Islam. The seventh convert to Islam named Sumayyah bint Khabbab was killed. He was tortured first by Abu Jahl [1].
Muhammad was protected somewhat by the influence of his family, but even he was subjected to such abuse; while he was praying near the Kaaba, Abu Lahab threw the entrails of a sacrificed camel over him, and Abu Lahab's wife Umm Jamil would regularly dump filth outside his door. 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.

Some torture incidents were

The Quraish tried to bribe Rasulullah to give up Islam in exchange for gifts of wealth or any thing he would like. But our Prophet did not accept their bribe. The Quraish decided to torture and persecute even more.
Hazrat Bilal , the slave of Umayya-bin-Khalaf, was laid flat on his back on hot sand. A hot heavy stone was placed on his chest and he was beaten while his hands were tied behind his back. Hazrat Uthman, a rich and prosperous man of the Banu Umayya tribe was tied up with ropes by his uncle and beaten and tortured.
Hazrat Ammar , his father Hazrat Yaasir and his mother Sumayyah (R.A.) had embraced Islam. Abu Jahl killed Hazrat Sumayya (R.A.) with a sharp spear.
Abu Jahl also beat slave lady Hazrat Zaeerah in such a way that she became totally blind.
Some helpless Muslims like Hazrat Khabbab-bin-Aett were pushed into a fire.
Sources : Biography of Muhammad by Inter-Islam

Some Free Muslim and Muslim male and female who were tortured are:

Male
Yasir ibn Amir – tortured and killed.
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
Ammar ibn Yasir – tortured.

Female
Sumayyah bint Khabbab – killed by spear.
Al-Nahdiah – tortured
Umm Ubays – tortured
Lubaynah– extensively beaten
Zinnira – beaten until she lost her eyesight temporarily

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
Ruqayyah bint Muhammad – was divorced on orders of Abu Lahab
Sa'd ibn Ubadah – tortured

The persecution was much more. Quraish even tried to kill the Prophet
Ibn Abbas reported: Regarding the verse, “We will call the angels of Hell,” (96:18) Abu Jahl said, “If I see Muhammad praying, I will stomp on his neck!” So the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “If he does, he will be seized by the angels.”
[Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book 44, Number 3348, Sahih]

The Quraish tried to kill , torture and abuse as much Muslims as they can. They even went to Abu Talib and asked him to stop his nephew to stop preaching Islam. However, to this Muhammad replied
:”O my uncle! By God if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until God has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it."

Quraish made Muslims suffer economically, socially and politically. They even ban trading with the clan of Muhammad that was Banu Hashim. After the persecution aroused and it become unbearable for Muslims Prophet Muhammad ordered Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia. Muslims left behind there home. money, relatives, assets and everything for the sake of Islam and Allah. They were tortured day by day by Quraish, the slaves under Quraish were abused more than anyone else. Muslims become weak and poor but they didn't let go there faith in Allah.In this regard following verses of Quran was revealed:

Quran 16:41
"To those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, after suffering oppression,- We will assuredly give a goodly home in this world; but truly the reward of the Hereafter will be greater. If they only realised (this)!"

Quran 16:110
But verily thy Lord,- to those who leave their homes after trials and persecutions,- and who thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently persevere,- Thy Lord, after all this is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Abyssinian emigration gave the Meccans a conclusive proof that the Muslims were ready to run all risks, and undergo every form of hardship in the cause of Islam. They would shrink from no danger in the path of God. The Meccans did their utmost to check this tide of emigration, but all in vain. It was not until seven years after Muhammad's flight from Mecca that they rejoined their Muslim brethren at Medina. The Muslims finally returned from Abyssinia in 7 A.H. but to Medina and not Mecca.

However, Prophet Muhammad forgive the Makkans on the conquest of Makkah. Read:
The Conquest of Makkah | The Day Of Mercy

Allah Knows The Best

[1]Alfred Guillaume "The Life of Muhammad: A translation of Ishaq's (sic - should be Ibn Ishaq) Sirat Rasul Allah" Oxford 1955 ISBN 0-19-636033-1, 2003 reprint used - page 145