Tadhkirah — Page 228
228 1891 When the verses [of the Holy Qur’an] were revealed condemning the pagans as an abomination, polluted, and the worst of creation, and as stupid and the progeny of Satan, and that their idols will be the fuel of fire and will be castigated into Hell, Ab u Ta lib sent for the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said to him: ‘Son of my brother, the people are much provoked by your abuses and are bent on killing you and me too. You have dubbed their wise men as fools and have called their ancestors the worst of creation, and have named their revered gods the firewood of hell and fuel for fire and have generally described all of them as an abomination, progeny of Satan, and polluted. I advise you, as your well-wisher, to control your tongue and stop all this abuse; otherwise, I would have no power to protect you against the wrath of the people. ’ The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, answered: Uncle, I have uttered no abuse. All that I have said is a fact and is entirely relevant to the situation. This is what I have been sent for. If this should involve my death I would gladly welcome such death for myself. My life is dedicated to this purpose and I cannot refrain from expressing the truth for fear of death. Uncle, if you are apprehensive on account of your own weakness and on the score of the trouble in which you might be involved, you might withdraw your protection from me. God knows that I am in no need of you. I shall never refrain from conveying the Divine message. I hold the commandments of my Lord as dearer than my life. Should I be killed in this cause, I would wish to be restored to life so that each time I should die in the cause of Allah. I