Pakistan Pakistan International School Jeddah( English Section)

Session -2020-2021

Islamiyat -Y8
Persecutions against the followers

Q: (a) Describe the persecutions against the followers of the Prophet (SAW) when he began
preaching openly. [10]

(a) Give an account of the persecutions faced by the early converts to Islam in Makkah.
May/June 2013 [10]

a) Give an account of the difficulties experienced by the early Muslim community in Makkah.
October/November 2016 (2058)

Outline
 Secret Preaching – Few Years
 Converts - Khadija, Zaid, ‘Ali, Abu Bakr, ‘Uthman, Zubair ibn Awwam, Talha, Bilal, Abu
Ubaida, and Abu Salamah.
 Preaching To Relatives - (Surah Shura 26:214)
 Mount Al Safa Call – Public Preaching
 Quraysh’s Rejection
 Muslims’ Persecution
 Migration to Abyssinia
 Shib-i- Abi Talib Boycot
 Migration to Madinah
 Explanation
SECRET PREACHING
 Few years the Prophet (SAW) preached secretly.
o The main ones Khadija, Zaid, ‘Ali and Abu Bakr, ‘Uthman, Zubair ibn Awwam, and Talha.
Other: Bilal, Abu Ubaida, Abu Salamah.
 Prayer was established morning and evening.
 Practice their faith in secret
 Often praying in the mountains.

PUBLIC PREACHING
 After the revelation to preach relatives (Surah Shura 26:214)
 The Prophet (SAW) took to Mount Safa
 Islam publicly to Quraysh to follow
 Rejected him and feeling threatened of new message
 Persecute the Muslims
 Those who had no protection were easy targets and faced worst persecution.
 Bilal was severely beaten by master Umayah bin Khalaf
 Ammar bin Yasir, his parents were made to lie on the burning sand – both his parents were martyred
 Uthman in Affan was wrapped in palm leaves and set fire to by his uncle
 Abu Bakr (RA) on one occasion stood up to deliver sermon in masjid was beaten badly by
Quryash,almost died
 Zinnira was persecuted, lost her eyesight, taunted by disbelievers - Lat and Uzaa took it.
 Talha and Zubair bin al Awwam (RA) were dragged on streets and suffocated
 Abu Zarr Ghaffari (RA) was attacked by a crowd of non-believers - fell down senseless
 Mus’ab ibn Umayr (RA) lived life of comfort & luxury but when accepted Islam was tortured by
mother’s relatives, till he escaped & migrated to Abyssinia
 Khabab bin Arat (RA) was put on heated stones and made to lie on burning coal with a rock on his
chest.
 Severity of the persecutions:
 Prophet (SAW) told the believers to meet secretly at Dar al-Arqam,
 Where they would learn about their new faith.
 Prophet (SAW) allowed some people to migrate to Abyssinia in 5th Year of Prophethood
 Later a social and economic boycott was imposed on the Muslims
 They were to live in Shib-i- Abi Talib, where they faced great hardships for many years.
 Later, they migrated to Madina
 Marking Scheme
Part a
a) Give an account of the difficulties experienced by the early Muslim community in Makkah. October/November
2016 (2058) [10]
Ans. For the first few years the Prophet (pbuh) preached the message in secret. Initially only a handful of Muslims
accepted Islam, the main ones being Khadija, Zaid, ‘Ali and Abu Bakr, who in turn brought many people to Islam
including, ‘Uthman, Zubair ibn Awwam, and Talha. Other early converts were Bilal, Abu ‘Ubaida, Abu Salamah.

Prayer was established morning and evening. They would pray and practice their faith in secret, often praying in the
mountains.

After the revelation to warn his nearest relatives (26.214), the Prophet (pbuh) took to Mount Safa and invited the
Quraysh to follow Islam publicly. They rejected him and feeling threatened by the new message, because they could not
dissuade the Prophet (pbuh) from preaching it, they started to persecute the Muslims.

Those who had no protection were easy targets and felt the worst of the persecution.

Bilal was severely beaten by his master Umayah bin Khalaf; ‘Ammar bin Yasir, and his parents, were made to lie on the
burning sand – both his parents were martyred; ‘Uthman in Affan was wrapped in palm leaves and set fire to by his
uncle; Khabab bin al-Arat was made to lie on burning coal with a rock on his chest.

Due to the severity of the persecutions, the Prophet (pbuh) told the believers to meet secretly at Dar al-Arqam, where
they would learn about their new faith. Also because of the persecutions, the Prophet (pbuh) allowed some people to
migrate to Abyssinia. Later a social and economic boycott was imposed on the Muslims and they were to live in Shib-i-
Abi Talib, where they faced great hardships for many years.

Good answers will be able to present their narratives in a clear and comprehensive and give depth to the above points;
candidates should not write about the Prophet’s (pbuh) persecution.

(a) Give an account of the persecutions faced by the early converts to Islam in Makkah. May/June 2013 [10]
Ans. Candidates should give a detailed narrative of the persecutions faced by the first Muslims in the years after the
Prophet started preaching Islam.

Good answers will be able to name key figures involved in the persecution, and the names of the Muslims who were
being persecuted, stating that it included slaves and those without tribal protection. They could talk about the type of
difficulties they faced, e.g. the physical torture, and give an account of the persecutions. They could also mention the
migration to Abyssinia and the social and economic boycott.

Good answers will be able to present their narratives in a clear and comprehensive manner without confusing details.

Answers about the Prophet’s persecution will not be credited.

 Part b
Q. What can these stories teach Muslim in their everyday life today?
 Commitment to the faith of Islam and the Holy Prophet SAW
 Endurance, unshaken faith, sincerity and Sacrifice
 “ Be sure ,we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the
fruits of your toil,but give glad tidings to those who patiently preserve.: (2: 155)
 Patience and Perseverance
 Sacrifice
 Steadfastness and Determination
 Unity
 Loyalty to the Leader
 Muslims today should keep strong hope in Allah,s Help
 REF,” So Verily with every difficulty ,there is relief.: ( 94:5)
 Failures should be associated with Allah,s decree and will
 Despite best efforts setbacks in everyday life..eg Excelling in studies and career
 ____________________________________________________________________
(b) How are these accounts relevant to Muslims now? May/June 2013 [4]

Answers should reflect on the accounts the candidates have given in part (a) and be able to put their answers in a
modern context. They may be able to say e.g. that these stories tell Muslims to remain patient in times of difficulty, but
the better answers will be able to show depth and understanding, e.g. Muslims facing hardships now should look at
these examples to compare the difficulties they faced/these examples allow Muslims to reflect on how they behave in
times of difficulty or oppression. These stories can be a source of encouragement and comfort if Muslims can see that
the first generation of Muslims went through these hardships. Better answers will be able to give definite examples from
the lives of Muslims or the world they live in.

Better answers will refer to (a) but not repeat the description

(b) Drawing from this account, what advice could be given to Muslims now living in fear of persecution?
October/November 2016
[4]
Ans. Candidates can give a number of answers, but should qualify their answers with reasoning.

Simply stating that e.g. Muslims should be steadfast and patient is not enough for the higher levels.

They could say, e.g. that living in a situation where their family may not want them to practice their faith, to pray, fast
or wear hijab, they can try to conceal their faith and practice it where they can and in secret.

Or they could say that if they are being persecuted by the wider community for their beliefs, they could migrate to a
safer place where they would be accepted and allowed to live in freedom. It is not going to be an easy journey, but the
early Muslims did not go back on their decision.

These are some examples, other relevant answers should be credited.