Episode Summary
The 11th year of Nabua is identified as Aam ul-Huzn, or the Year of Sorrow, a period where the Prophet faced unprecedented aggression following the death of Abu Talib. Without his uncle's protection, the Prophet became 'open season' for the Quraysh, who abandoned all decency to mock and physically assault him daily. This episode details the severe trials at the Haram, including an attempted strangulation and the dumping of camel entrails, as well as the interventions of Abu Bakr and a young Fatimah. Amidst these hardships, Allah provided divine consolation through Surat An’am and Surat Al-Hijr, acknowledging the Prophet's suffering and ultimately delivering justice against five primary mockers. The narrative also captures the Prophet's immense mercy when he prayed to alleviate a severe famine he had previously requested as a punishment for his people.
Key Highlights
- The Prophet's physical protection died with Abu Talib, making him a target for daily harassment by Quraysh leaders.
- Abu Bakr intervened during an attempted strangulation in the Haram, citing the same defense used by a believer in the family of Firaun.
- A young Fatimah rushed to her father's aid to remove heavy camel intestines that had pinned him to the ground during prayer.
- Jibril indicated five specific mockers who were 'taken care of' through painful and various divine punishments.
- A severe drought and famine led Makkans to eat carrion and wool dipped in blood out of sheer desperation.
- The Prophet displayed incredible mercy by praying for rain to save his tormentors after they begged for relief.
- Allah explicitly acknowledged that the Prophet’s chest was 'tightened' by the ridicule he faced and prescribed praise and prostration as a remedy.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Year of Sorrow: Open Season in Makkah
The 11th year of Nabua was known as Aam ul-Huzn, or the Year of Sorrow. The Prophet noted that the Quraysh had not been personally or physically aggressive with him until Abu Talib passed away, but once his protection was gone, the Prophet became ‘open season’. Leaders like Walid bin Mughira, Abu Jahl, and Umayyah bin Khalaf abandoned all decency, mocking and taunting the Prophet as he walked through Makkah. At this time, the Prophet was a single father, raising a very young Fatimah on his own while dealing with daily harassment from these hacks.
2. Divine Consolation and the Fraternity of Prophets
As the Prophet suffered from this mockery, Allah revealed verses from Surat An’am to acknowledge his pain. Allah reminded the Prophet that he belonged to a fraternity of messengers who were ridiculed before him, and that those who jeered them would eventually be ruined and tormented in this life and the next. These stories were related to the Prophet so that he might find comfort in the experiences of past messengers who were rejected as liars but remained steadfast and patient until Allah’s help arrived.
3. Physical Assaults and the Bravery of Abu Bakr and Fatimah
In the Haram, Abu Jahl and other leaders challenged each other to bother the Prophet while he prayed. In one incident, Abu Jahl used his scarf to strangle the Prophet until Abu Bakr intervened, knocking Abu Jahl to the ground and repeating the words of a believer from the family of Firaun who defended Musa. In another separate event, Abu Jahl dumped camel intestines on the Prophet’s back during sujood, pinning him to the ground under the weight. The Prophet’s young daughter, Fatimah, entered the masjid and bravely pushed the innards off his back while screaming at the Quraysh leaders.
4. Divine Justice: The Fates of the Five Mockers
Upset by the treatment of his family, the Prophet looked to the sky and made dua, leading Jibril to descend and offer help. Jibril pointed out five specific men—Walid bin Mughira, Aswad bin Mutallib, Aswad bin Abdi Yahud, Al Hadith bin Aithar, and Al A’as bin Wa’il—declaring they had been ‘taken care of’ on the Prophet’s behalf. Shortly after, Walid bin Mughira bled out after an arrow accidentally hit his leg, and Aswad bin Abdi Yahud died from an infected boil on his head. Aswad bin Mutallib went blind and died in agony, feeling as though thorns were being pushed into his eyes, while Al Hadith died from a disease that caused yellow water in his belly and constant vomiting. Al A’as bin Wa’il succumbed to an infection from a thorny branch wound.
5. Famine, Drought, and Prophetic Mercy
In his distress, the Prophet prayed for a seven-year drought similar to the one during the time of Yusuf. The resulting severe famine exhausted all resources, forcing the Makkans to eat carrion and wool dipped in blood. A delegation including Abu Sufyan approached the Prophet, begging him—as a mercy to mankind—to ask his God to alleviate their suffering. Demonstrating extreme mercy, the Prophet made dua for his enemies, and it immediately rained for seven straight days.
6. The Moving Clouds and Hardened Hearts
When the Makkans complained that it was raining too much, the Prophet made a specific dua: “O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us”. The clouds immediately began to break open and move outside the urban area to the pastures and valleys. Despite this miracle, Abdullah bin Mas’ud noted that the Quraysh went right back to business, continuing their disbelief and tormenting the Prophet. Allah warned that while the punishment was removed for a time, a Day of Reckoning or the Day of Badr was still coming.
7. Acknowledging the Tightened Chest
Allah continued to console the Prophet through Surat Al-Hijr, telling him to declare his command and turn away from the polytheists. Allah noted that if they disrespected Him by associating partners, they would naturally disrespect His messenger. Most importantly, Allah stated, “We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say,” acknowledging that the Prophet’s chest became tightened and disturbed by their words. Instead of telling him to just have more faith, Allah validated his pain and prescribed that he exalt his Lord with praise, prostrate, and worship until death.