The Prophet in the Quran

greatest abuser (shaatim). Umar Faruq asked for the Prophet’s permission to slay him, but the Prophet said; “Leave him alone, otherwise people will start saying that Muhammad kills his own people.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 4905) This incident tells us of an important example set by the Prophet, that is to bear humiliation, for if we failed to do so, greater evil would follow and that would result in discrediting God’s religion. No Premature Action After he received prophethood, the Prophet of Islam lived for thirteen years in Makkah where the majority of the Makkans opposed him, tormenting him in every possible way. Owing to his dawah struggle, however, about two hundred men and women accepted Islam. These Muslims would say to the Prophet again and again that they wanted to engage in jihad against this oppression. But the Prophet always exhorted them to exercise patience. For instance, when Umar Farooq asked for the Prophet’s permission to wage jihad against the oppression of the Quraysh, the latter replied: O Umar, we are small in number. (Seerah Ibn Kathir, Vol. 1, p. 441) During the last days in Makkah about two hundred people in Madinah embraced Islam. When these people learned that the Prophet and his companions were being targeted for oppression, they too asked for the Prophet’s permission to wage war against the oppressors, but the Prophet gave them the same reply: Show patience, for I have not been given permission to do battle. (Al-Mawahib alLadunniyyah by Al-Qastallani, Vol. 1, p. 199) Despite being subjected to all kinds of injustice and oppression for a period of fifteen years, the Prophet unilaterally adopted the path of patience and tolerance. Then for the first time, on the occasion of the battle of Badr, the Prophet went out along with his companions to encounter the enemy. He took this step only when he had received God’s clear promise that He would send His angels to the aid of His Messenger. (The Quran, 8:9) The way of the Prophet of Islam was not to retaliate immediately against any act of oppression. He felt that, despite injustice and oppression on the part of the enemy, the way of patience and avoidance of clashes should be adopted. Practical steps were to be taken only when it was certain that they would yield the desired result. Avoiding Confrontation During the thirteen years’ period in Makkah, the majority continued to oppose the Prophet, while only a small number of people supported him. When the Makkans found that mere opposition was not enough to extirpate his mission from Makkah, they resolved to remove him from their path by killing him. They unanimously decided that all the leaders of Makkah should attack him together and thus put an end to the movement of monotheism forever. This was a very precarious situation. One option, which appeared to be the only one, was for the