Page 44 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

The Harsh Testing of Muslims in the Meccan Period

The revelation to our Prophet (pbuh) took a full 23 years. During
the first 13 years of this, Muslims lived as a minority in the pagan
society of Mecca and were subjected to very great pressures. Many
Muslims were subjected to physical torture, some were martyred,
the homes and possessions of most were looted and they were con-
stantly exposed to threats and insults. Yet Muslims continued living

without resorting to violence, merely keeping their distance from the
pagans and always calling them to the path of peace.

Yet the aggression of the pagan communities in question was
unending.

The Quraysh, the tribe that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was
born into, initially seemed to regard his prophethood as unimpor-
tant. While continuing not to believe, they made no protest against
the Prophet's (pbuh) call so long as he said nothing against their

idols. When they saw the Prophet (pbuh) however, they attacked
him verbally. They unwisely mocked and belittled Muslims. The
Quraysh "verbal assault" period began in that way.

The Qur'an describes the position in these words:

Those who did evil used to laugh at those who had faith.
When they passed by them, they would wink at one another.

When they returned to their families, they would make a joke of
them.

When they saw them, they would say, "Those people are mis-
guided." (Qur'an, 83:29-32)
Mecca was the center of idolatry. Mecca would fill to overflow-
ing every day with people coming to visit the Ka'aba and the idols
around it, thus earning the Quraysh a good deal of money and pres-

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