Steadfastness in the Face of Severe Persecution
Whilst mentioning about the Companions (ra), Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) stated, “God Almighty enabled some members of the most noble of the households of Mecca to serve [Islam]. Likewise, many from among the poor also rendered extraordinary services for Islam. Hence, you can see that Hazrat Ali (ra), Hazrat Hamza (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Usman (ra) were from among the most noble of households. On the other hand, Hazrat Zaid (ra), Bilal (ra), Samrah (ra), Khubab (ra), Sohaib (ra), Aamir (ra), Ammar (ra) and Abu Fukaihah (ra) were considered to be from more humble backgrounds. In other words, people from noble households as well as less renowned households were chosen to become the servants of the Holy Quran.”
(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 8, p. 176)
At another occasion, he stated, “Hazrat Sumaiyyah (ra) was a bondwoman. Abu Jahl used to persecute her severely so that she may abandon her faith. However, when her firm faith in Islam remained unshaken and he was unable to deter her from her faith, Abu Jahl one day became enraged and pierced her in her groin region as a result of which she was martyred. Hazart Ammar (ra), son of Sumaiyyah (ra), also used to be placed on hot sand and persecuted severely.” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 6, p. 443)
Urwah bin Zubair narrates and it is recorded in history, “Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) was among those weak people of Mecca, who used to be persecuted so that they may revert from their faith.”
Muhammad bin Umar states that those weak and helpless individuals who have been mentioned in the Holy Quran were those who had no other family in Mecca and neither anyone to protect them and they did not possess any power. The Quraish would severely persecute them in the intense scorching heat in the middle of the day, so that they may abandon their faith.
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 187, Ammar bin Yasir, Dar-ul-Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
Similarly, Umar bin Al-Hakam says, “Such cruelties were inflicted upon Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra), Hazrat Sohaib (ra) and Hazrat Abu Fuqaiha (ra) that they were coerced to utter such words, which they did not believe to be true.” However, the enemies tortured them and compelled them to utter such words.
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 188, Ammar bin Yasir, Dar-ul-Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
Similarly, in the narrations we find that Muhammad bin Ka‘b Qurazi relates, “A person told me that he saw Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) wearing a single garment, similar to the form of trousers. He said that he saw bruises and scars on Ammar’s back. He asked him what those were. Upon this, Hazrat Ammar (ra) said, ‘These are the signs of the torture of the Quraish of Mecca, which they would inflict upon me under the scorching sun at the middle of the day.’”
Amr bin Maimoon narrates that the idolaters burnt Hazrat Ammar (ra) with fire. When the Holy Prophet (sa) passed by Hazrat Ammar (ra), he put his hand on his head and said:
يٰنَارُ كُوْنِيْ بَرْدًا وَّ سَلٰمًا عَليٰٓ عَمَّار كَمَا كُنْتِ عَليٰٓ اِبْرَاهِيْم
That is, “O fire! Be cold and become a means of safety for Ammar as you were for Abraham!”
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 188, Ammar bin Yasir, Dar-ul-Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
Then, we find in a narration that Hazrat Usman (ra) bin Affan relates, “The Holy Prophet (sa) and I were passing through the valley of Mecca. The Holy Prophet (sa) was holding my hand. We reached Abu Ammar (ra), Ammar (ra) and his mother while they were being tortured. Hazrat Yasir (ra) enquired, ‘Will we always be treated in this manner?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said to Hazrat Yasir (ra), ‘Be patient!’ He also offered the prayer, ‘O Allah! Forgive Yasir and his family. And indeed You have done so.’”
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 188, Ammar bin Yasir, Dar-ul-Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
In other words, God Almighty had informed the Holy Prophet (sa) that they had been forgiven as a result of the difficult and severe circumstances they were enduring.
In another narration we find that the Holy Prophet (sa) passed by the family of Ammar (ra) while they were being persecuted. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “O family of Ammar! Rejoice, as you have most certainly been promised paradise.”
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 188, Ammar bin Yasir, Dar-ul-Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
In another narration the same incident is mentioned but it states that the Holy Prophet (sa) passed by the family of Yasir.
(Al-Isti‘ab, Vol. 4, p. 1589, Yasir bin Ammar, Darul Jaleel, Beirut)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (ra) relates, “In the very beginning, there were seven people who professed their belief in Islam; the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Ammar (ra) and his mother Hazrat Sumaiyyah (ra), Hazrat Sohaib (ra), Hazrat Bilal (ra) and Hazrat Miqdad (ra). God Almighty had made provisions for the protection of the Holy Prophet (sa) through his paternal uncle, Abu Talib, and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was afforded protection through his tribe.”
It is possible that the numbers mentioned in the traditions are incorrect as it has previously been mentioned that thirty people had already entered the fold of Islam at the time Hazrat Ammar (ra) became a Muslim. Nevertheless, he relates that these were the [seven] people who were at the forefront, and thus were inflicted with many cruelties.
He further relates, “Hazrat Abu Bakr was protected through his tribe. Whilst the others were captured by the idolaters. They would shackle them in steel chains and leave them burning under the sun. They were coerced into following the demands of the idolaters with the exception of Bilal. Bilal had devoted himself for the sake of God. He used to be tortured due to his background. The people of Quraish would hand him over to the children, who would then drag him through the streets of Mecca. However, he would continuously utter the words Ahad, Ahad [Allah is One, Allah is One].”
(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 2, p. 76, Abdullah bin Masud, Hadith 3832, Aalam-ul-Kutub, Beirut, 1998)
The idolaters would torture Hazrat Ammar (ra) by sinking his head into water. They would immerse his head into water and beat him as well as inflicting other forms of torture. This is a similar kind of torture that is inflicted even today to one’s enemy or by certain governments to those who are under accusation of committing a crime. However, Hazrat Ammar (ra) was tortured far greater. In another narration we find that the Holy Prophet (sa) met Hazrat Ammar (ra), who was crying at the time.
The Holy Prophet (sa) wiped away the tears from the eyes of Hazrat Ammar (ra) and said, “The disbelievers captured you and used to sink your head in water, as a result of which you uttered such and such words to them. If they ask you again, you should utter the same words to them.”
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 188, Ammar bin Yasir, Dar Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
The details of this can be found in Seerat Khatam-un-Nabiyeen [The Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets]. In accordance with the narrations, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) states, “Ammar (ra), his father Yasir (ra) and mother Sumaiyyah (ra), were severely tortured by Bani Makhzum, to whom Sumaiyyah was once enslaved. The accounts of this torture are truly harrowing. On one occasion, when these devotees of Islam were being victimised by physical torment, the Holy Prophet (sa) happened to also walk by. The Holy Prophet (sa) looked towards them and compassionately said:
صَبْرًا اٰلَ يَاسِر فَاِنَّ مَوْعِدَ كُمُ الْجَنَّة
‘Be steadfast, O family of Yasir! For Allah has prepared paradise for you in recompense for these very hardships.’