The Message of Islam — Page 22
22 wither. Even the trade caravans might be diverted from Makkah. It was, therefore, resolved to suppress this threat to their estab- lished way of life and to their prosperity. The new doctrine made a strong appeal to the weak and the oppressed. The slaves, who suffered extreme hardship and indig- nity, began to hope that the Prophet’s message might bring deliv- erance to them. Women, who were in some respects esteemed lower than animals, began to look up, and felt that the time was nigh when they might gain a position of dignity and honour beside their fathers, husbands, and sons. Young men were inspired with visions of a noble and dignified existence. The early converts came from the ranks of such as these. As the little band grew in number, the Meccans embarked upon a course of persecution which grew more cruel and savage as time passed, but their efforts failed to arrest the progress of the new doctrine of the Unity of God, the dignity and equality of man, and the lofty and noble goal of human existence. Opposition and Persecution Quraish, becoming more and more apprehensive of the inroads being made by the new doctrine, sent a delegation to Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle, to whom they explained that though his nephew’s denunciation of idol worship was intolerable to them, they had so far refrained from taking any extreme measure against him out of respect for Abu Talib. Would he not persuade his nephew to give up preaching the new doctrine, perhaps on pain