The Prophet Muhammad’s Suffering with Quraysh

The Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Suffering with Quraysh – A Detailed Overview

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ endured great suffering at the hands of the Quraysh tribe during the early years of his mission. This suffering can be broken down into key stages, each marked by unique forms of hardship and resistance.

1. Secret Call to Islam (3 Years)

• After receiving revelation in the cave of Hira, the Prophet ﷺ began calling to Islam privately.
• He invited close individuals such as:
  • Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (his wife)
  • Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq
  • Ali ibn Abi Talib
  • Zayd ibn Harithah
• During this phase, there was no major persecution, as the message was not yet public.

2. Public Declaration and Rising Opposition

• Once he publicly called to monotheism, Quraysh saw this as a threat to their religious and social order.
• They mocked and ridiculed him with labels like:
  • Poet, soothsayer, madman, and sorcerer.
• Acts of harm included:
  • Placing camel entrails on his back during prayer.
  • Attempting to strangle him with his own garment at the Kaaba.

3. Torture of His Companions

• When Quraysh failed to silence the Prophet ﷺ, they turned to torturing his followers, especially the poor and weak:
  • Bilal ibn Rabah: Dragged over hot sand and beaten.
  • Ammar, Yasir, and Sumayyah: Severely tortured; Sumayyah was killed and became Islam’s first martyr.
  • Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt, Suhayb, and others: Burned with hot iron, whipped, and humiliated.

4. Negotiation and Temptation Attempts

• Quraysh offered the Prophet ﷺ wealth, leadership, and women in return for stopping his call.
• His firm response:
  

  “If they placed the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left to abandon this mission, I would not abandon it until Allah makes it prevail or I perish.”

5. The Boycott in the Valley of Abu Talib (3 Years)

• Quraysh imposed a harsh social and economic boycott on the Prophet ﷺ and Banu Hashim.
• They were:
  • Forbidden from buying, selling, or marrying.
  • Confined to a valley with minimal food or aid.
• The Muslims suffered extreme hunger, to the point of eating leaves.
• The boycott ended after some Quraysh nobles intervened.

6. The Year of Sorrow

• Shortly after the boycott, the Prophet ﷺ lost two of his greatest supporters:
  • Abu Talib (his protective uncle)
  • Khadijah (his supportive wife)
• Without their support, Quraysh intensified their abuse.
• This year came to be known as ‘Aam al-Huzn (The Year of Sorrow).

7. The Journey to Ta’if

• The Prophet ﷺ sought support in Ta’if, but was rejected and attacked.
• The people:
  • Mocked him and drove him out.
  • Ordered children and fools to stone him until his feet bled.
• He took refuge in a garden and made a heartfelt prayer to Allah:
  

  “O Allah, if You are not angry with me, then I do not care…”

8. Assassination Plot and Migration to Medina

• As Islam began to spread in Yathrib (Medina), Quraysh plotted to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ.
• They planned to strike him as a group to avoid tribal blame.
• Allah protected him, and he migrated secretly with Abu Bakr to Medina.
• This marked the beginning of a new chapter for Islam.

Summary of His Suffering
Throughout his early mission, the Prophet ﷺ endured:

• Verbal abuse and mockery
• Physical harm and attempts on his life
• Torture of his followers
• Social boycott and isolation
• Personal loss of loved ones
  Despite all this, he remained steadfast, patient, and full of mercy—committed to his mission until Allah granted him victory and the message of Islam spread throughout the land.