NO PREMATURE ACTION

After he received prophethood, the Prophet of Islam lived for thirteen years in Makkah where the majority of the Makkans opposed him, tormenting him in every possible way. Through his persistent efforts to convey the message of Islam, however, about two hundred men and women accepted the faith. These Muslims would say to the Prophet again and again that they wanted to engage in jihad against this oppression. But the Prophet always exhorted them to exercise patience. For instance, when Umar Farooq asked for the Prophet’s permission to wage jihad against the oppression of the Quraysh, the latter replied: O Umar, we are small in number. (Sirah Ibn Kathir, Vol. 1, p. 441)

During the last days in Makkah about two hundred people in Madinah embraced Islam. When these people learned that the Prophet and his companions were being targeted for oppression, they too asked for the Prophet’s permission to wage war against the oppressors, but the Prophet gave them the same reply:

Show patience, for I have not been given permission to do battle. (Al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah by Al-Qastallani, Vol. 1, p. 199)

Despite being subjected to all kinds of injustice and oppression for a period of fifteen years, the Prophet unilaterally adopted the path of patience and tolerance. Then for the first time, on the occasion of the battle of Badr, the Prophet went out along with his companions to encounter the enemy. He took this step only when he had received God’s clear promise that He would send His angels to the aid of His Messenger. (Quran, 8:9)

The way of the Prophet of Islam was not to retaliate immediately against any act of oppression. He felt that, despite injustice and oppression on the part of the enemy, the way of patience and avoidance of clashes should be adopted. Practical steps were to be taken only when it was certain that they would yield the desired result.