Quraish set up a council under Abu Lahab to crush the new faith. Believers without powerful clans are tortured: Bilal is laid on burning sand under rocks until Abu Bakr frees him, and Yasir and Sumayyah, the parents of ‘Ammar, are killed, Sumayyah becoming the first woman martyr of Islam.
As the book dates it: from the beginning of the 4th year of Prophethood, worsening into the 5th
Who was there
- BRBilal bin RabahAn Abyssinian slave tortured for his faith and freed by Abu Bakr; the caller to prayer who gave the adhan from the Ka’bah’s roof.
- AY‘Ammar bin YasirAn early believer tortured in Makkah along with his parents.
- SSumayyah‘Ammar’s mother, killed for her faith; the first woman martyr of Islam.
- YYasir‘Ammar’s father, who died under torture in Makkah.
- ABAbu Bakr as-SiddiqThe Prophet’s close friend, who believed on the very first day of the call, hid with him in the cave of Thawr, and led the prayer in his last days.
- AJAbu JahlThe bitterest enemy of the Muslims in Makkah, who planned the assassination attempt and was killed at Badr.
- ALAbu LahabThe Prophet’s uncle and one of his fiercest enemies; Surah al-Masad was revealed about him.
- UKUmayyah bin KhalafBilal’s master, who tortured him for his faith.
- KKhabbab bin al-ArattAn early believer who suffered torture, and who was reciting the Qur’an at the house where ‘Umar found his sister.