Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 81
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 81 was seated, struck him with force on the head with his bow and said: ‘I have just heard that you have been reviling Muhammad. Now, listen. I also follow the religion of Muhammad, and say the same as he says. If you consider yourself a brave man, now is the time for you to speak up boldly. ’ The companions of Abu Jahl stood up in his support and some grave incident might have ensued, but Abu Jahl was affected by the bravery and daring of Hamzah and restrained his companions, saying, ‘There is reason for Hamza h to be upset, for I have indeed been at fault. ’ Thus the matter went no further. In his agitation, Hamzah had uttered the words ‘I too follow Muhammad’s religion’ but when he reached home and his agitation subsided, he began to reflect upon the situation with which he was now faced. In the end, he decided to renounce paganism, and so h e went to the Holy Prophet and formally embraced Islam. On the same day Abu Bakr proclaimed the Unity of God in the courtyard of the Ka’aba openly. The Holy Prophet and some Muslims were also present on the occasion. Quraish were greatly perturbed over the daring of Abu Bakr and set upon him fiercely, and maltreated him so mercilessly that when his fellow tribesmen intervened and carried him to his house he was quite unconscious and his face was swollen. On regaining consciousness his first words were direc ted towards discovering whether the Holy Prophet had been molested in any way. When Umar’s adherence to Islam became generally known, Quraish were deeply agitated and encircled Umar’s house. When Umar emerged, he was surrounded by a large crowd, some of