The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page cli
GENERAL INTRODUCTION did not fail to impress them. 'Umar, subsequently the Second Khalifah of Islam, was still a disbeliever, a bitter enemy and persecutor of Muslims. By sheer chance, he met some members of this party. One of these was a woman, Ummi Abdullāh. When 'Umar saw household effects packed up and loaded on animals, he understood at once that it was a party leaving Mecca to take refuge elsewhere. "Are you going?" he asked. "Yes, God is our witness," replied Ummi ‘Abdullāh. "We go to another land, because you treat us most cruelly here. We will not return now until Allah pleases to make it easy for us. " "Umar was impressed and said, "God be with you. " There was emotion in his voice. This silent scene had upset him. When the Meccans got to know of it, they sent a party in chase. This party went as far as the sea but found that the Muslims had already embarked. Not being able to overtake them, they decided to send a delegation to Abyssinia to excite the king against the refugees and to persuade him to hand them over again to Meccans. One of the delegates was 'Amr bin al-‘Āṣ, who later joined Islam and conquered Egypt. The delegation went to Abyssinia, met the king and intrigued with his court. But the king proved very firm and, in spite of the pressure which the Meccan delegation and his own courtiers were able to put upon him, he refused to hand over the Muslim refugees to their persecutors. The delegation returned disappointed, but in Mecca they soon thought of another plan to force the return of Muslims from Abyssinia. Among the caravans going to Abyssinia they set afloat the rumour that all Mecca had accepted Islam. When the rumour reached Abyssinia, many Muslim refugees joyfully returned to Mecca but found on arrival that the rumour which had reached them was a fabrication. Some Muslims went back again to Abyssinia but some decided to stay. Among the latter was 'Uthman bin Maz'un, son of a leading Meccan chief. 'Uthmān received protection from a friend of his father, Walīd bin Mughīrah, and began to live in peace. But he saw that other Muslims continued to suffer brutal persecution. It made him very unhappy. He went to Walīd and renounced his protection. He felt he should not have such protection while other Muslims continued to suffer. Walid announced this to the Meccans. One day, Labīd, poet-laureate of Arabia, sat among the chiefs of Mecca, reciting his verse. He read a line which meant that all graces must ultimately come to an end. ‘Uthmān boldly contradicted him and said, "The graces of Paradise will be everlasting. " Labīd, not used to such contradictions, lost his temper and said, "Quraish, your guests were not insulted like this before. Whence has this fashion begun?" To appease Labīd, a man from among the audience rose and said, "Go on and take no notice of this fool". 'Uthman bin Maz'un insisted that he had said nothing foolish. This exasperated the Quraishite, who sprang upon 'Uthman and gave him a sharp blow, knocking out an eye. Walid was present at the scene. He was a close friend of CXXV