The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 56
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 56 God. Now they shall indeed be destroyed. ” 1 In summary, until the Holy Prophet sa resided in Makkah, he endured all kinds of torment, but did not take up the sword against the Quraish. The reason being that firstly, before any measures could be taken against the Quraish, according to the custom of Allāh, the divine message needed to be conveyed incontrovertibly, and this called for respite. Secondly, it was also the desire of God that the Muslims exhibit a model of forgiveness and patience to that final limit whereafter remaining silent was equivalent to suicide, which cannot be deemed a commendable deed by any sensible individual. Thirdly, the Quraish headed a kind of democratic government in Makkah and the Holy Prophet sa was one of its citizens. Hence, good citizenship demanded that until the Holy Prophet sa remained in Makkah, he respect the authority, and not allow anything as would disturb the peace, and when the issue exceeds the limit of forgiveness, he migrate from there. Fourthly, it was also necessary that until his people had become deserving of punishment due to their actions in the estimation of God, and until the time to destroy them had not arrived, the Holy Prophet sa live among them, and when the time arrives, he migrate from there. The reason being that, according to the custom of Allāh, until a Prophet of God remains within his people, they are not struck by a punishment as would destroy them. 2 When a destructive punishment is impending, the Prophet is ordered to leave such a place. Due to these reasons, the migration of the Holy Prophet sa possessed distinct indications within it, but it is unfortunate that these wrong-doing people did not recognize them, and continued to grow in their tyranny and oppression. For if the Quraish had abstained even now, and had refrained from employing a course of compulsion in religion, and had permitted the Muslims to live a life of peace, then God is the Most Merciful of those who are Merciful, and His Messenger was also Raḥmatullil-‘Ālamīn. 3 Indeed, even then they would have been forgiven. However, the writings of divine decree were to be fulfilled. The migration of the Holy Prophet sa served as fuel upon the fire of the Quraish’s enmity and they stood up with an even greater zeal and uproar than before, to obliterate Islām. In addition to inflicting persecution and tyranny upon the poor and weak Muslims, who until now were still in Makkah, the first undertaking of the Quraish, as soon as they found out that the Holy Prophet sa had left Makkah, 1 Sunanun-Nasa’ī, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Wujūbil-Jihād, Ḥadīth No. 3085 2 Al-Anfāl (8:34) 3 A Mercy to all Peoples [Publishers]