Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 115
115 returned disappointed, but in Mecca they soon thought of another plan to force the return of Muslims from Abyssinia. Among the caravans going to Abyssinia they set afloat the rumour that all Mecca had accepted Islam. When the rumour reached Abyssinia, many Muslim refugees joyfully returned to Mecca but found on arrival that the rumour which had reached them was a fabrication. Some Muslims went back again to Abyssinia but some decided to stay. Among the latter was ‘Uthman bin Maz‘un, son of a leading Meccan chief. ‘Uthman received protection from a friend of his father, Walid bin Mughirah, and began to live in peace. But he saw that other Muslims continued to suffer brutal persecution. It made him very unhappy. He went to Walid and renounced his protection. He felt he should not have such protection while other Muslims continued to suffer. Walid announced this to the Meccans. One day, Labid, poet-laureate of Arabia, sat among the chiefs of Mecca, reciting his verse. He read a line which meant that all graces must ultimately come to an end. ‘Uthman boldly contradicted him and said, "The graces of Paradise will be everlasting. " Labid, not used to such contradictions, lost his temper and said, "Quraysh, your guests were not insulted like this before. Whence has this fashion begun?" To appease Labid, a man from among the audience rose and said, "Go on and take no notice of this fool". ‘Uthman bin Maz‘un insisted that he had said nothing foolish. This exasperated the Qurayshite, who sprang upon ‘Uthman and gave him a sharp blow, knocking out an eye. Walid was present at the scene. He was a close friend of ‘Uthman’s father. He could not endure such treatment of his deceased friend’s son. But ‘Uthman was no longer under his formal protection and Arab custom now forbade him to take sides. So he could do nothing. Half in anger, half in anguish he turned to ‘Uthman, and said, "Son of my friend, you would have saved your eye, had you not renounced my protection. You have to thank yourself for it. " ‘Uthman replied, I have longed for this. I lament not over the loss of one eye, because the other waits for the same fate. Remember, while the Prophet suffers, we want no peace. 131 ‘Umar Accepts Islam About this time, another very important event took place. ‘Umar, who later became the Second Khalifah of Islam, was still one of the fiercest and the most feared enemies of Islam. He felt that no effective step had yet been taken against the new Movement and decided to put an end to the Prophet’s life. He took his sword and set out. A friend was puzzled to see him going and asked where he was going and with what intent. "To kill Muhammad," said ‘Umar. "But would you be safe from his tribe after this? And do you really know how things are going? Do you know that your sister and her husband have joined Islam?" It came like a bolt from the blue and greatly upset ‘Umar. He decided to go and have done with his sister and her husband first. As he reached their house he heard a