The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXII No. 27 Page 27 “La Ikraha Fiddin” There is no Compulsion in Religion (Al Baqara :255) Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl (RA) Ikrimah was twenty-eight years old when Rasulullah (S) made his mission public. Ikrimah’s lineage was one of the most noble of the Quraish, and he belonged to one of the wealthiest families. His father, the notorious Abu Jahl, had a very strong influence on Ikrimah. Allah, the Most High tested the faith of the believers through the torments of Ikrimah’s father, and the believers remained firm in spite of him. Abu Jahl tormented, insulted and killed Muslims at any and every opportunity and without conscience. Ikrimah, under his father’s influence, developed the toughest opposition to the Prophet (S). Like his father, he tortured the Muslims as much as he could, carrying out his father’s wishes. Abu Jahl led the armies of the Quraish to the Battle of Badr. He prepared for the battle by slaughtering camels, drinking wine and listening to music. On the day of Badr, Abu Jahl was the leader and ‘Ikrimah was his right hand man. When he was leaving for Badr, Abu Jahl had sworn by the goddesses Lat and ‘Uzza that he would not return alive to Makkah unless he defeated the army of Rasulullah (S). But Lat and ‘Uzza were only idols with no real power, and so his prayer to them was useless. Abu Jahl was killed in that battle and his son witnesed him being killed. From that day, Ikrimah adopted a new attitude toward Islam. The need for revenge Ikrimah ibn Abu Jahl went to Uhud, and he took with him his wife, Umm Hakim, to be with the other Quraishi women whose relatives were slain at Badr. They stood behind the lines beating drums and urging the warriors to fight, so that no one would think of running away. Khalid ibn al-Walid led the right flank of the Quraishi army, and Ikrimah led the left flank. These two warriors led the Quraish to victory that day over the Muslims. Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, the Quraish chief, said, “This is for the day of Badr!” They felt they had gotten their revenge against the Muslims. At the Battle of al-Khandaq (the Trench), the Quraish besieged Madinah. They were stopped by the trench which no one could cross. It was a long siege and Ikrimah grew impatient. He looked for some place in the ditch that was narrow enough to leap and raced his horse towards it. He managed to cross and was followed by a few others. One of them was killed and Ikrimah had to turn and jump back across to save himself. On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Quraish knew they could not stand up to the Muslims any longer. They decided to let Rasulullah (S) enter unopposed. However, Ikrimah and some others went against the consensus of Quraish. They attempted to block the progress of the Muslim forces. Khalid ibn al-Walid, who had become a Muslim and had gone over to the army of the Prophet (S), defeated them in a small battle. Ikrimah escaped being caputured, slipped out of Makkah, disguised, and headed south towards Yemen. While entering Makkah, the Prophet (S) made sure to request that the non-Muslims or former enemies of the Muslims be shown kindness and that they should not be harmed. And he went on to perform Salah (prayer), after which he took a few moments to rest. He then made his way to the Kabah sanctuary, where he destoyed the idols within or surrounding the sacred builing. He then proceeded to perform Tawaf around the Kabah. After Muhammad’s (S) act of ridding the idols and exclaiming the glory and oneness of the Creator, the people of Quraysh started to leave their houses and gather in front of the Kabah to hear Prophet Muhammad (S) speak. He began by teaching them about Islam and quoted from the Quran: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” (Qur’an 49:13) When we look back at when Prophet Muhammad (S) conquered Makkah, his beloved homeland, we are humbled by the extent of his mercy and forgiveness. The Quraish were completely vulnerable and at his disposal; he had every right to seek revenge on them for what they did to him. Even though the Quraish exiled him from his homeland, tortured and killed his friends and companions, and made his life full of suffering, he forgave them. How many Muslims today would be so forgiving like the Prophet (S)? The Prophet (S) granted his forgiveness to his former enemies, those who wanted to destroy his belief, his reputation, and life. So here we see his mercy for mankind, which Muslims can only attribute as a gift from Allah, The Giver of all things. As we read in the Qur’an: “We have not sent thee (Muhammad), but as a Mercy for all creatures.” (21:107) Muslims can learn from this act of selflessness by Muhammad (pbuh). It exposed the true aim of his mission as a messenger of God, which was to establish Islam (literally meaning ‘peace’ and ‘submission’), for mankind. A religion not based on vengefulness and war and confusion, but of freedom from strife, God awareness and submission to the One. It teaches that for a society to flourish and achieve the best of its ability, forgiveness must be a main concern. STORIES OF THE SAHABA “Insulting the dead hurts the one who is alive and does not reach the dead.”
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