The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 201
VI - Commencement of Prophethood 201 my Lord is Allāh?” 1 At another instance, when the Holy Prophet sa announced the unity of God in the courtyard of the Ka‘bah, the Quraish gathered around the Holy Prophet sa in their rage, and raised an uproar. When the step-son of the Holy Prophet sa ( Ḥārith bin Abī Hāllah, the son of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra ) was informed, he came running and noticing this state of danger, tried to save the Holy Prophet sa from the Quraish. But the state of rage rampant among the young men of the Quraish was such as led an evil man to slay Ḥārith by his sword at the scene. 2 Due to the noise and turmoil at the time, it could not be ascertained as to who was responsible for this. Teachings for the Muslims of Steadfastness to Suffering Therefore, this was a very sensitive time for Islām and the Muslims. The Holy Prophet sa did not care for his own personal suffering, but was most definitely worried on account of the hardships of the Muslims, especially the weaker Muslims. But on the other hand, the Holy Prophet sa also knew well that nations are moulded by trials and tribulations. Therefore, from this vantage point, the Holy Prophet sa considered these hardships a means of training for the Muslims and would give his companions teachings of patience and forbearance. He would mention the hardships of the past Prophets and their followers, and would tell them that it had always been customary that the prophets of Allāh and their followers are given grief, but ultimately victory lies with the believers. As such, there is a narration that once, the Holy Prophet sa was reclining near the Ka‘bah, when Khabbāb bin Al-Arat and various other companions presented themselves before the Holy Prophet sa and said, “O Messenger of Allāh! The Muslims are receiving countless grievances from the Quraish, why does the Holy Prophet sa not pray against them?” Upon hearing this, the Holy Prophet sa immediately sat up, his face turned red, and he said: “Look here! There were a people before you, whose flesh was stripped of their bones, with iron prongs, but they did not waver in their faith. And such a people have passed, who were cut into two pieces by saws run upon their heads 1 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Mā Laqiyan-Nabiyyu sa wa Aṣḥābahu minal-Mushrikīna bi-Makkah, Ḥadīth No. 3856 2 Al- Iṣābatu fī Tamīziṣ-Ṣaḥābah, Volume 1, p. 696, Al-Ḥārith bin Abī Hāllah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Third Edition (2005)