Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 80
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 80 tone and his devotions began to interest and attract women, children and simple - minded people. On this, Quraish complained to Ibn Daghna that as Abu Bakr recited the Quran aloud, their women and children and the weaker section of their people were attracte d to his faith. He should, therefore, tell Abu Bakr to stop making his recitation in an audible voice. Ibn Daghna mentioned this to Abu Bakr, who told him that he would not change his method, but that if Ibn Daghna was being inconvenienced over it, he did not desire to continue under his protection. God was sufficient for him as Protector. Thereafter Abu Bakr was persecuted in diverse ways, but he remained steadfast as a rock. About the same time Islam and the Muslims were supported and strengthened in Mecca by the adherence of two outstanding personalities, namely Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib and Umar bin Khattab, to Islam. We have mentioned earlier the conversion of the latter. Hamzah was an uncle of the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, and was very fond of him. He was accustomed to spending his day in hunting. On returning to Mecca in the late afternoon he would perform a circuit of the Ka’aba and would look in at the small partie s of Quraish who generally met in the courtyard of the Ka’aba at that time of the day, and then return home. One day, on his return from hunting, one of his maids said to him, ‘Abul Hikam (Abu Jahl) has just been reviling your nephew Muhammad, who did not say a word in reply. ’ Hamzah was greatly agitated on hearing this and, after performing a circuit of the Ka’aba, he advanced towards the party among whom Abu Jahl