The life of the Holy Prophet of Islam — Page 6
disdain should befall me. Unto You is all appeasement until You are appeased, and no one has power or ability except in You. ” At that time the Angel Gabriel appeared and addressed him saying: “Allah has heard what your people said to you, and how they have replied to you. Allah has sent the angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people. ” The Angel of the Mountains then appeared and said, “O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I shall cause mountains surrounding Al-Ta’if, to fall upon them, and crush them into pieces. ” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “No, for I hope that there shall be among their children those who will worship Allah alone, and will worship none besides Him. ” And he prayed, “O my Lord guide these people because they know not. ” He then returned to Mecca. Shi‘b Abi Talib The tenth year of the Prophethood was a year of intense persecution and suffering in the life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Quraish and the other tribes had continued their boycott of the Bani Hashim and the Muslims for about three years and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the people of his family and Companions lay besieged in Shi‘b Abi Talib. The Quraish had blocked up this vicinity from every side so that no supplies of any kind could reach the besieged people. This boycott continued uninterrupted for about three years and had broken the back of the Muslims and the Bani Hashim; so much so that at times they were even forced to eat grass and the leaves of trees. At last, when the siege was lifted, Abu Talib, uncle of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who had been shielding him for ten long years, died, and hardly a month later his wife, Hadrat Khadijah, who had been a source of peace and consolation for him ever since the beginning of the call, also passed away. Because of these tragic incidents, which closely followed each other, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to refer to this year as the Year of Sorrow and Grief. But all this period of suffering was spent with patience and with great tolerance. Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (peace be upon him) of the age, says about the Holy founder of Islam: The calamities and hardships that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had to endure during the thirteen years of his Meccan life cannot be imagined. Our heart trembles when we think of them. They demonstrate his high resolve, generous heartedness, perseverance and steadfastness. What a mountain of steadfastness he was that no difficulty could shake him in the least. He did not slacken for a moment in the discharge of his duty, nor was he sorrowful. No difficulty could weaken his resolve. Some people out of misunderstanding enquire: why did he have to encounter all these misfortunes and difficulties when he was the loved one of God and His chosen one? I would say to them that water is not discovered till one digs into the earth and splits it through several feet. It is only then that agreeable water is found which is the basis of life. In the same way, delight in the cause of God Almighty can be procured only by steadfastness and firmness under difficulties and misfortunes. How can those who have no experience of these ways imagine and feel that delight? How can they be aware that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had to endure trouble a spring of delight and comfort welled up in his heart, and his trust in God, love of God, and faith in Divine help were strengthened? (Malfuzat, Vol. II, pp. 307-305)