In the tribal structure of Arab Peninsula, the barbaric acts of cruelty and bloodshed were on acme. Human rights were trampled upon and human dignity was devalued. Violence, aggression and hostility were their daily practices which they enjoyed the most. Perhaps, people burst with crazy laughers while watching the blood oozing from the slaughtered bodies of innocent humans or listening to the scream of the weak slaves under the whips of their masters. Torturing one in the worst possible way and drinking their blood could hardly cool their fierce feelings. People roared with madness and spree of brutalizing and killing. Everyone was struggling to survive the perilous darkness of inhumanity with the giant nightmare haunting their minds. Certainly, morality and humanity were the words that they did not ever hear in their life. Hence, they were all empty of moral codes and human feelings.
A strong need was being felt for a human to break the chains of slavery, to humanize the society and to moralize the people of the desert. The emergence of a savior was an urgent need to alleviate the mental and physical pressures being suffered by the salves and the weak. One was supposed to end the cruelties and evils and to bring fundamental changes not only in the cultural and political structures but also in the frames of people’s minds. Yes, one had to come with human worldview and new ideas to change the mentality of the violent creatures of that land. A messenger had to come with strong miracles so as to inspire religious faith and ethics in them. A messenger who also needed a keen sword for there were stubborn bullies living that breaking the habits of hurting and harming was impossible for them.
Finally one came with a burning candle in his hands. People started puffing from all around so as to put that off for they were used to darkness the same as owls or bats. They started animosity with him such as threatening, accusing, abusing, pelting stone to him, calling him mad and magician, etc. Whoever joined him was punished seriously.
The slaves who were under severe tortures started embracing his religion with strong faith. It was highly surprising for them that the messenger preached equal rights based on humanity rather than color, race or gender. A poor three-member-family lived here. They were the slaves, the father, Yasir, the mother, Somayyah and the son, Ammar. This family converted to Islam. The three slaves had to suffer the torture of their master and the pagans of Makah. They were taken in the scorching desert of Makah, laid down on the hot sand and heavy stones were put on their chests asking them to express their hatred from the religion of the messenger. Torturing became the daily activity of their master, Abojahl. To the unmitigated chagrin of their master, they never breathed a single word to express blasphemy against the new religion they had just embraced. The more they were tortured the stronger their faith grew. Yes, the three black slaves who had no supporter or nation in Makah and their messenger was in a state who couldn’t help them either, did not succumb to the painful whips. The three bloody statue of faith victoriously resisted the daily lashes and punishments.
Whenever they saw their messenger, they tried to seem normal and resist more than ever before. They struggled to wear the façade of cheer so as not to sadden their Prophet much. But the soft heart of the merciful Prophet was melting for them. The Prophet was smoldering with pain and resentments when seeing the view. Finally, the torturers, Abojahl, Abolahab, etc. were tired of torturing and decided to end. One day, the Prophet came to see and console them as usual. When he approached, he did not hear the screams of the tortured slaves. He saw Ammar with tearful eyes in a sad silence. Yes, but the torturers were not there. Oh no! Yasir and Somayyah were put in pool of blood with the spear on their chests. They were not moving for they were not alive anymore. The torturer speared them before their son, Ammar. But why Ammar was left alone? Prophet approached him. His head was hanged. The Prophet asked him that why he is silent and ashamed. No, he couldn’t look to the eyes of Prophet. He stammered that a word was uttered by him against his faith unintentionally while their parents were speared. Prophet consoled him mercifully and forgave him for the word.
Bilal, a black slave was also tortured in the desert of Makah for embracing the religion which preached equality between slave and master. His head was pushed inside a pot of hot water as long as he could hardly breathe. Then he was asked to utter against the religion and God. Soon after being able to breathe, he was saying, “One, one! Needless, needless.” This way he confessed to the oneness of God against his master’s will. Being full of rage, his master was continuing his action and lashing him severely, however, he was resisting with firm determination and strong faith in his heart.
Unbelievable, the black slaves who were not considered human grew such strong faith that sought the satisfaction of their God at the cost of their masters’ rage! Of course, they were not the yes-men of yesterday rather they could say “no” to their masters boldly. They decided to be the history makers not as a slave but as free believers. Yes, the slaves shook hands with the messenger and supported him to keep his candle ablaze. They broke the chains of slavery and turned strong believers overnight! The slaves turned stubborn human against the inhumanity of their masters, however, their masters continued to remain stubborn inhuman. Strange, in this religion whosever heart was filled with faith in oneness of God was called human but those who had a lot of money and high social position in that land without of the faith was not considered human. Yes, the hearts and minds were more important for that religion than the appearance. That religion was Islam.