‘Uthman Ibn Mazun who was under the protection of Walid Ibn Al-Mughira, but as he felt
ashamed of being shielded by anyone other than God, he renounced the protection of the
former. Shortly thereafter, he had a heated argument with a polytheist who slapped him so
hard on his face that he lost an eye. Walid Ibn Al-Mughira was present during the incident
afterwhich he told him:‘Uthman, “By God, O son of my brother, your eye was secured
against this injury and you were well-protected.” “Nay, by God,” replied ‘Uthman Ibn
Maz’un (t), “The eye that is still unhurt longs for what happened to the other for God’s
sake. O ‘Abdu Shams, I am here in the vicinity and shelter of one who is exceedingly superior
to you in honor and glory.” (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 370-71)
When ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan accepted Islam, his uncle Hakam Ibn Abi al-As Ibn Umayya tied
him securely with a rope and said, “Have you renounced the faith of your fathers for a new
religion? By God, I will not release you until you abandon this belief.” ‘Uthman (t) firmly
replied, “By God, I will never give it up.” The firmness of ‘Uthman (t) in his conviction ulti-
mately led Hakam to unshackle him.” (Tabaqat Ibn S’ad, Vol. III, P. 37)
Kahbbab Ibn Al-Aratt, a companion of the Prophet (r), related his own story: “Some louts
of the-Quraysh came one day and seized me. Then they kindled a fire and dragged me into
it, while a man kept me down by stomping on my chest." Khabbab then bared his back
which had white leprous-looking spots. (Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, Vol. III, 117)
ILL TREATMENT OF THE PROPHET BY HIS PEOPLE
The efforts of the Quraysh to seduce the Prophet's companions from their religion failed
miserably, nor did they succeed in stopping the Prophet (r) from preaching his religion
fearlessly. The Qurayshites were first annoyed and agitated, and then dismayed by the
expanding community of Muslims, they stirred up against him, calling him a liar, a sorcerer,
a segregator and a poet; they insulted and abused him and started harassing him in every
respect.
Once, when they were assembled at the Ka`bah, the Prophet (r) arrived. The Qurayshites
assailed him in unison. While they mobbed him thus, one of them pulled the sheet of cloth
hanging round his neck, which nearly choked his throat. Abu Bakr, who happened to be
present at that time, separated them from the Prophet (r) by thrusting himself in between
them. And with tears in his eyes he cried, “Would you kill a man simply because he ac-
knowledges that Allah is his Lord?” Hearing this, they shunned the Prophet (r) but fell upon
Abu Bakr dragging him by his hair and beard.
At another time, the Prophet (r) even had to face a worse ordeal throughout the whole
day. Whomsoever he met, whether freeman or slave, cursed or vilified, or tried to hurt him
in any way. He returned to his house and wrapped himself up because of the torments he
had to endure that day. Then it was that God revealed to him the opening verse of the