Trial After Trial
‘Abdullah bin Jud‘an immediately gave the Quraysh one hundred dirhams so that, in compensation for the disrespect shown to the idols, some animals could be sacrificed in their names.
Then he went toward Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه. He had him tied with a rope and kept him without food or water throughout the day.
This then became his daily routine.
When the sun became extremely hot around midday, he would take Bilal رضي الله عنه outside and lay him upon the scorching sand.
He did not stop there. He would also have a heavy stone brought and placed upon his chest so that he could not move from his place.
Then that wretched man would say to him:
“Now either deny the prophethood and messengership of Muhammad and worship Lat and ‘Uzza, or I will keep you lying here until you die.”
Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه would respond:
“Ahad… Ahad.”
That is, Allah Almighty is One; He has no partner.
When Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه refused to abandon Islam, ‘Abdullah bin Jud‘an eventually became frustrated and handed him over to Umayyah bin Khalaf.
This man then subjected him to even greater persecution.
One day, while Bilal رضي الله عنه was being subjected to such severe treatment, the Noble Prophet ﷺ happened to pass by that place.
Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه was calling out, “Ahad! Ahad!” because of the intensity of his suffering.
Seeing him in this condition, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Bilal! This very ‘Ahad, Ahad’ will be the means of your salvation.”
Then one day Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه passed by that place.
Umayyah bin Khalaf had Bilal رضي الله عنه lying on the scorching sand, with a heavy stone placed upon him.
Seeing this painful scene, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said to Umayyah bin Khalaf:
“Do you not fear Allah regarding this helpless man? How long will you continue to torment him?”
Umayyah bin Khalaf angrily replied:
“You are the one who corrupted him, so why do you not save him yourself?”
Hearing this, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said:
“I also have an Abyssinian slave who is stronger than him and follows your religion. I can give him to you in exchange for Bilal.”
Umayyah replied:
“I accept this deal.”
As soon as he heard this, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه handed his Abyssinian slave over to Umayyah and, in exchange, took Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه and set him free.
Subhan Allah! What an excellent transaction!
Here it should be understood that Abu Bakr’s Abyssinian slave was very valuable in worldly terms.
It is also reported that Umayyah bin Khalaf demanded ten ounces of gold in addition to the slave. Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه accepted this demand as well.
He gave him a Yemeni garment and some gold.
At the same time, he said to Umayyah bin Khalaf:
“If you had asked me for one hundred ounces of gold, I would have given that to you as well.”
Besides Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه, Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه purchased and freed many other Muslim slaves.
These were Muslims who were being persecuted simply because they believed in and mentioned the name of Allah.
Among them was Hazrat Bilal’s mother, Hamamah رضي الله عنها.
Another was ‘Amir bin Fuhayrah رضي الله عنه.
He was subjected to severe persecution for believing in Allah.
He was the slave of a man from Banu Taym who was a relative of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.
Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه purchased him from his relative and set him free as well.
Another person was Hazrat Abu Faqihah رضي الله عنه.
He was the slave of Safwan bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه.
He had accepted Islam at the same time as Hazrat Bilal رضي الله عنه.
Safwan bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه was also initially a fierce opponent of the Muslims.
He accepted Islam after the Conquest of Makkah.
One day, he had Hazrat Abu Faqihah رضي الله عنه subjected to severe punishment on the scorching sand.
At that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه happened to pass by.
Safwan bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه was saying:
“Give him even more punishment, until Muhammad comes here and saves him with his magic.”
Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه immediately purchased Abu Faqihah رضي الله عنه from Safwan bin Umayyah and set him free.
Similarly, there was a woman named Zunairah رضي الله عنها.
Because she had accepted Islam, she was subjected to such severe persecution that she eventually lost her eyesight.
One day, Abu Jahl said to her:
“All that is happening to you is being caused by Lat and ‘Uzza.”
Hearing this, Zunairah رضي الله عنها said:
“Never! By Allah, Lat and ‘Uzza can neither benefit nor harm anyone.
Whatever is happening is occurring by the will of the One who is above the heavens.
My Lord also has the power to restore the sight of my eyes.”
The following morning, when she awoke, Allah Almighty had restored her eyesight.
When the disbelievers learned about this, they exclaimed:
“This is Muhammad’s magic.”
Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه also purchased Zunairah رضي الله عنها and set her free.
He also purchased and freed Zunairah’s daughter.
Similarly, there was a slave woman named Nahdiyyah.
She also had a daughter.
Both of them were slave women belonging to Walid bin Mughirah.
Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه freed them as well.
The sister and mother of ‘Amir bin Fuhayrah had also accepted Islam.
Before Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه accepted Islam, they had been his slave women.
Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه purchased them as well and set them free.
Among those believers who were subjected to persecution was Hazrat Khabbab bin al-Aratt رضي الله عنه.
The disbelievers tried to turn him away from Islam, but he remained steadfast.
He had been captured during the period of ignorance. Later, a woman named Umm Anmar purchased him.
He was a blacksmith.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ would comfort him and would visit him.
When Khabbab رضي الله عنه accepted Islam and Umm Anmar learned about it, she subjected him to severe punishment.
She would heat an iron object in the fire until it became extremely hot and then place it upon Hazrat Khabbab رضي الله عنه.
Eventually, Hazrat Khabbab رضي الله عنه mentioned his suffering to the Prophet ﷺ, so the Prophet ﷺ supplicated for him.
Immediately after the Prophet’s ﷺ supplication, that woman began suffering from severe headaches.
Because of this, she would make strange sounds in her distress.
Eventually, someone advised her that she should have heated iron placed upon her head as a treatment.
She assigned this task to Hazrat Khabbab رضي الله عنه.
He would heat the iron ring thoroughly and place it upon her head.