The Straight Path | Islam, The Battle Within

From: "brother_farrukh" <farrukh@ntlworld.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:07:50 -0000

Assalam alaikum,

Zubair was one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace.

Zubair accepted Islam when he was 8 years old and migrated to Medina when he was 18. When he accepted Islam his uncle rolled him up in
a mat then hung him (with the mat wrapped around him) from a tree. He then lit a fire underneath the mat so the smoke of the fire would
go into the mat and choke Zubair all the while telling Zubair to give up Islam. But Zubair refused and kept responding saying `I will never
return to disbelief'.

[Abu Naim in Al-Hilliyah, Vol I, p 89]

What is striking to see is the fear that the pagan Arabs had for those who accepted Islam. The concept of freedom of faith simply did not exist in a
climate where tribal loyalty was the corner stone of society. Accepting a belief which did not adhere to the social themes of the tribe weakened its
structure thus every effort was undertaken in an attempt to discourage people from accepting Islam.

Imagine, the stability of an entire region, Arabia, threatened simply on the grounds of people choosing to recognise that God Almighty is in fact
One, without partners. Of course this distinction meant a move away from an environment where tax revenues were generated from people
visiting Mecca paying homage to the idols which were customarily worshipped meaning that the financial strength and stability of the entire pagan
nation was threatened.

Later, many years after having accepted Islam Hafs ibn Khalid said that an old man came to him when he was in the company of Zubair on a
journey in the desert. Having little water or privacy, Zubair asked him to hang a curtain to separate the two of them so he could bathe.
While Zubair was bathing, he accidently saw that his body was covered in sword cuts and said, `By Allah, I have never seen so many scars
on a person as I have seen on you'. Zubair replied saying `Yes, these scars were the result of protecting Islam and the Muslims with the
Prophet'

[Ibn Asakir in Al-Muntakhab, vol V, p 70]

Ali Ibn Zaid said, `One person who saw Zubair's body told me that his chest was like a sieve having cuts of swords, spears and lances'

[Abu Naim in Al-Hilliyah, Vol I, p 90]

Today with over a billion Muslims in the world, the struggle is not interfaith, it is more between Muslims who corrupt the teachings of Islam,
removing its beauty, from those who are seeking its beauty. How times have changed from protecting faith from pagan idolators who would
attack and abuse Islam, to having to find the beauty of Islam amongst the mess of abused/ confused interpretation.

May Allah Almighty have mercy and help us find the simple beauty of the teachings of Islam such that we may find prosperity, happiness and
success in all that we do, amen.

fi amanillah, wa salam, f