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Persecution begins 
The persecution of the Muslims was a terrible phase in early 
Islam. There were numerous heart-rending incidents in which 
Muslims were tortured and often killed by the Quraysh. The 
collective memories of the early Muslim community catalogued 
the injuries and casualties suffered by its members, and in this 
biography of the Prophet of Islam it is fitting that we mention the 
lives and deaths of his most ardent followers, those who 
recognised the truth of his message and died believing in Allah 
and His Messenger . 
Bilal bin Rabah was the slave of Umayya bin Khalaf. 
Incensed at his slave’s assertion of spiritual independence, 

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Umayya would hand him over to the street urchins after tying a 
rope around his neck. As they would drag him, Bilal would 
reiterate “One! One!” in reference to the Oneness of God. 
Umayya would also bring Bilal out at noon and throw him on his 
back on the burning sand or stone with a heavy rock on his chest. 
Then he would say to Bilal, “Now, by God, you will lie here till 
you either die or deny Muhammad and worship Lat and Uzza.” 
Bilal endured the affliction, reaffirming his faith in Allah by 
calling out “One! One!”
Finally, the torture ended when Abu Bakr saw Bilal as he 
was passing by. His wealth was now a tool with which to earn 
Allah’s pleasure, and he purchased Bilal and freed him. 
Amir bin Fuhayrah , was another early believer who 
endured beatings so merciless that he lost his senses and did not 
know what he was saying. 
Aflah, also known as Abu Faqih, was the slave of Banu 
Abdul Dar. He was usually taken out in the scorching heat at 
noon in fetters and forced to lie naked, with a heavy stone on his 
chest. Often the agony rendered him insensible. On one occasion, 
the pagans tied a rope around his feet and neck and dragged him 
about until he nearly died. He was finally rescued by Abu Bakr , 
who, unable to see a fellow Muslim suffer so, bought him out of 
bondage. Aflah was among the early Muslims who later migrated 
to Abyssinia.
Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt , a well known Companion of the 
Prophet , was bought by a woman of Banu Khuzaa named 
Umm Anmar bint Sabaa’. He was a blacksmith, and to make 
Khabbab renounce his belief in the Prophet , Umm Anmar 
would brand him on the back with his own tools. Others would 
also join in the torture. They would twist his neck, pull out his 
hair, and even throw him on the burning coals. A rock would be 
placed on him so that he could not move. Miraculously, 

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Khabbab’s faith grew stronger with each attempt to drive him 
back to disbelief. 
Zinira (may Allah have mercy upon her), was a Roman slave 
girl who embraced Islam. When the pagans found out that she 
had become Muslim, they tortured her until she went blind, and 
gloated that the wrath of their gods Lat and Uzza had caused her 
to go blind. It was Allah Who had blinded her, she told them; and 
if He so willed, He could restore her eyesight. The next morning 
she awoke to find her vision completely restored. Her tormentors, 
however, were not convinced of the miracle and claimed this was 
nothing more than Muhammad’s sorcery.
Umm Abis (may Allah have mercy upon her), was a slave of 
Banu Zahra. She suffered at the hands of her master, Malik 
Aswad bin Abd Yaghuth, who began to torture her when she 
accepted Islam. Malik was a sworn enemy of the Prophet and 
used to ridicule him relentlessly. 
A slave of Amr bin Mu’mil from Banu Adiy embraced Islam. 
Her torturer was none other than Umar bin Khattab, who at that 
point was still an unbeliever. Umar, famous for his strength, 
would beat her until she was exhausted. Then he would stop, 
informing her that he was stopping not out of mercy, but out of 
fatigue. “Your Lord will also treat you accordingly,” retorted the 
slave girl. 
Among the slaves who embraced Islam were also Nahdiya 
and her daughter . These two were the slaves of a woman of 
Banu Abdul Dar. Mother and daughter suffered punishment on 
account of their faith until Abu Bakr bought them from their 
mistress and set them free, just as he had done with Bilal, Amir 
bin Fuhayrah and Abu Faqih . His use of his wealth in this 
manner earned him reproof with his father, Abu Quhafa, who 
told him, “I notice that you are freeing weak heads. Had you freed 
strong men, they would stand you in good stead.” In reply, Abu 
Bakr said, “I seek but the pleasure of Allah.” Through the 

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following verses that were revealed, Allah indicated that Abu Bakr 
had succeeded in his undertaking: 
“I warn you all of a fire blazing fiercely. None shall enter it 
except the most wretched, those who deny and turn away. 
However, the God-fearing will be saved from the fire, those who 
spend their wealth in order to purify themselves, who spend 
without seeking a reward in return. They seek only the 
counternance of their Lord, the Most High. Verily, soon they will 
be pleased.” (92: 14-21) 
Not all the salves who became Muslim were ransomed. Some 
succumbed to their injuries, while others were forced to recant in 
public although they remained believers at heart. Ammar bin 
Yasir and his parents belonged to the Banu Makhzoom tribe, of 
which Abu Jahl was a chieftian. Led by Abu Jahl, various people 
from the tribe would take Ammar and his family to Abtah and 
leave them in the scorching sun. The Prophet saw their plight 
and exhorted them to stand fast in faith, saying, “Patience, O 
family of Yasir, patience. Your destination is Paradise. O Allah! 
Forgive my family of Yasir.” And stand fast they did. Yasir, 
Ammar’s father, bore the torture until his death. 
Summayah bint Khayyat (may Allah have mercy upon her) 
the mother of Ammar, was a slave of Abu Hudhayfah 
Makhzoomi. This frail old woman died and attaied the honour of 
being the first martyr in Islam when Abu Jahl struck a lance at her 
genitals. 
As for Ammar, the torture became unbarable for him. The 
polytheists would make him wear a coat of mail and put a heavy 
red stone on his chest. Overpowered by distress, he uttered 
whatever the polytheists bade him say. However, at heart he 
remained full of faith. Ammar was remorseful at his bodies 
betrayal of his heart and soul. With the revelation of the following 
verse, however, Ammar and all the believers were heartened, for 
Allah assured them that He looked at believing hearts, not at 

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tongues weakened by torture: “Those who renounce faith in Allah 
and open their hearts to disbelief – except for those believers who 
were forced to recant outwardly – will earn Allah’s wrath and a 
great punishment.” (16: 106) 
While some form of hostility from the community at large 
was only to be expected, it was strange that even the immediate 
families of the new Muslims joined in the persecution. Love 
vanished in the face of allegience to their idols. When Mus’ab bin 
Umayr accepted Islam, his privileged lifestyle ended. His 
mother refused to give him food and drink and turned him out of 
her house. Defenseless and shunned by the one who had given 
birth to him, he was brutally tortured, and his skin was peeled off 
like the slough of a snake by his tormentors. 
Suhayb bin Sinin Rumi was another Muslim who was 
tortured to the extent that he lost control over what he said, and 
babbled anything his tormentors had him utter. 
In the eyes of the Quraysh, slaves who became Muslim were 
rebels to be tortured to death. Their low social status left them 
vulnerable to all kinds of abuse. Nevertheless, not even wealth or 
social standing guaranteed complete immunity to anyone who 
became Muslim. Uthman bin Affan was a well-to-do person in 
the community, but he too was tortured in various ways. Once his 
uncle wrapped him up tightly in a mat and burned incense from 
below. 
Abu Bakr and Talha bin Ubaydullah were also harrassed. 
Naufal bin Khuwaylid, and it is said, Uthman bin Ubaydullah, 
trussed both of them with the same rope so that they could not 
pray and practice their new faith. However, both Abu Bakr and 
Talha were found praying, the rope having been mysteriously 
untied. Since both of them had been fastened with the same rope, 
they came to be called Qarayn, which means “joined together.” 
Abu Jahl, who is referred to several times in the Qur’an for 
his implacable hatred of Islam and his arrogance, was one of the 

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prominent Makkans who had made it his mission to fight Islam 
and its followers. His hate and ire grew every time he heard of 
someone becoming Muslim. If the new Muslim held a high 
position in society, Abu Jahl would rebuke him and threaten him 
with the loss of his property and honour. If someone from a 
lower station accepted Islam, Abu Jahl would beat him severely 
and incite others to do the same. As a general policy, the 
polytheists persecuted any new Muslim, often to the point of 
death, especially if the new convert belonged to a weaker section 
of tribal society. If, however, they saw a prominent person accept 
Islam, the proceeded more cautiously, as only polytheists of the 
same social status could challenge the convert.