In Search of Truth

Part 1

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Hazrat Usman (pbuh) were born in two branches of Quraish dynasty. The Quraysh clan split into two factions or tribes because of internal dispute; Hashimi clan and Umayya clan. The root cause of conflict was wealth. Ultimately the leadership was divided as follows - the ownership and supervision of the Kaaba and the money earned during the Hajj (visiting the gods) season would be owned by the Hashimi clan. And the country's defense - administration and the ownership of the war assets would be in the hands of the Umayya group.

The Umayya received revenue from city rule was negligible compared to that of the Kaaba. The Umayyad clan fell far behind the Hashimi’s in wealth. But they made great strides in politics, diplomacy and education through military department and administration. That time, the Umayyas, to solve the economic problems, jumped into business. By making use of diplomatic experience, they were able to make great progress in business and money making, in addition, they were able to build good relations with the outside world.

Discrimination, disputes, violence and hatred between the Umayya and Hashimi groups increased day by day. And it came to an extreme point during the time of one of the most powerful leaders of the Hashimi clan, the father of eleven children, Abdul Muttalib. Abdul Muttalib's sons Abdullah and Abu Talib were father to Muhammad (PBUH) and Hazrat Ali (RA) respectively. Six or seven years after that, Hazrat Usman (RA) was born to Urdi, the Affan clan wife of the Umayya dynasty. Just as Muhammad (PBUH) lost his father Abdullah and was brought up under the shelter of his uncle Abu Talib in his childhood, Hazrat Usman (RA) lost his father Affan and took the shelter of his uncle Hakam when he was a teenager.

A group of libertarians with free thinking and opposing ideology and liberal philosophies emerged when Arabia was at the zenith of decadence with Umayya and Hashimi due to self-conflicts, tribal conflicts, polytheism, and ownership of religious places. Those were called Hanifi at that time. Waraqa bin-Nofel and Zayd bin-Umar were the founding members of that 'Hanafi' group. Members of the 'Hanafi' faction included the Meccan-born Obaidullah bin Jahs and Usman bin Al-Hurayith, among them was Waraqa bin Naufal, a cousin of Muhammad's (PBUH) first wife Hazrat Khadijah (PBUH) and Muhammad's (PBUH) 'Propagator of Islam', giving Muhammad (PBUH) religious indoctrination; It was known that he was also the catalyst for the marriage of Khadija and Muhammad (PBUH).

The Hanifi clan openly declared distrust of the once dominant 'pagan religion' of Mecca. As a result, many of them had to leave the country due to the wrath of the Quraish clan. Obaidullah bin Jahs fled for his life to the neighboring Christian kingdom of Abyssinia and converted to Christianity there; His wife Umm Habiba was later married by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and Usman bin Al-Huayrith also moved to the Byzantine Empire to save his life from the Quraish; He also converted to Christianity there.

Waraqa bin-Nofel and Zayd bin-Umar were the most beloved of Muhammad (pbuh). Those two people later became the first and main helpers in the discovery of the new religion 'Islam' by Muhammad (PBUH). Waraka bin-Nofel was an expert on the Judeo-Christian scriptures of the Torah, Psalms and Injil, and Zayd bin-Umar was a poet and writer. The poetic form, rhythm and diction of the Qur'an were largely borrowed from Zayd bin-Umar.

In 610 AD Muhammad (PBUH) announced his new religion 'Islam'. A fire broke out in the city of Makkah. The Umayya party felt insulted by the declaration of this new religion of the Hashemite Muhammad (pbuh), and the people of Muhammad's (pbuh) own tribe were worried about the end of paganism, fearing that the way of huge income from the Kaaba house for the sake of the gods and goddesses would be closed

Meanwhile, Hazrat Usman (R.A.) became well-known in the country and abroad as a result of making great progress in business with the help of his uncle Hakam. One day he met Abu-Bakr (R.A.), a merchant of Makkah, through business sources. Usman (RA) loved Rokeya, the first daughter of Muhammad (PBUH) and wanted to marry her. But when he heard that Rokeya's marriage had taken place elsewhere, Usman (RA) was very sad.

Muhammad (pbuh) first married Khadijah, a forty-year-old, twice-married, extremely wealthy woman, as preplanned to declare his new religion Islam. Muhammad (pbuh) knew very well that without power and money his new religion would die in infancy; As was the case with the Hanifis. So he married his two daughters Rokeya and Umm-Kalsum to two non-Muslim brothers named Atiba and Utba Ibn Abu Lahab.

The marriage of the two daughters of the Prophet was certainly not according to Islamic law; Because neither Abu Lahab nor his two sons were followers of Islam, they could not even accept the religion, fearing that was a threat to the religion of their forefathers. So Atiba and Utba, hearing the news of Muhammad's (PBUH) new religion, not only expressed their intense hatred towards the Prophet, but also divorced his two daughters and threw them out of the house. Muhammad (pbuh) was deeply saddened but could not do anything, except curse them (note 'Surah Lahab' of Qur'an Sharif).

Muhammad (PBUH) heard about 'Usman's desire' thru Abu Bakr because of the divorce of the two daughters of the Prophet. Muhammad was also waiting for such an opportunity. The plan to acquire power had failed but that time the opportunity to acquire money could not be missed. Muhammad (pbuh) agreed to give his daughter in marriage to Usman if he accepted the condition of accepting the newly preached Islam. Uthman (RA) happily accepted Islam and became romantically involved with Rokeya. All the dreams of uncle Hakam, to complete the marriage of Usman in state honor by playing drums and music, were shattered. Usman (ra) was not allowed to go to the palace of Taif with the bride.

A few days later, bearing the burden of censure and humiliation, Usman traveled with his bride to the neighboring Christian state of Abyssinia with the newly expelled Muslim clan from Mecca. In the poor country of Abyssinia, Usman (R.A.) tried hard to earn a living but failed. During eight long years of endless suffering in Abyssinia, news came to Rokeya one day in 619 A.D. that the once renowned woman of Arabia, possessed of endless wealth, mother Khadijah had fallen ill in extreme poverty and died without treatment. Bereavement not only broke Rokey's mind, but also her body; She fell ill.

In 622 AD, Muhammad (PBUH) fled towards Madinah with Abu Bakr (RA) in the dark of night fearing his death by the Quraysh. In the history of Islam, this event is called 'Hijrat'. At that time Muhammad (pbuh) was fifty-three years old and his preaching had been going on for thirteen years. On his arrival in Medina, Muhammad prepared to reveal the political goal of Islam hidden behind his so far ascetic garb. Tasbih in one hand and a sword in other hand!

A few days later, when Rokeya was on herr deathbed, Muhammad (pbuh) with three hundred and thirteen followers of his thirteen-year-old army, was fighting on the edge of Badr, about sixty miles southwest of Medina. Muhammad (pbuh) stopped a group of Quraish merchants from Syria to Makkah. Through the courier, the Quraysh of Mecca learned that it was not possible to rescue the merchant group from the hands of Muhammad without war. The first battle in the history of Islam took place at the edge of Badr. Muhammad himself was in charge of the commander on behalf of the Muslims. The desert of Badr was stained with the blood of seventy fresh souls. And among that blood, young Islam found the wonderful taste of living and flourishing. Commander Muhammad (PBUH) won the battle by killing seventy people and capturing many more. When Muhammad (pbuh) returned home to Medina with his proud army as a conqueror, Rokeya was no more in the world.

The Battle of Badr ensued enthusiasm and hope and were transmitted towards the realization of his pre-planned (expansion of wealth and power). Muhammad (pbuh) concentrated on organizing another war.

Bereaved of his wife, Usman (R.A.) devoted himself fully to business after a few days. Usman (RA), well-known in business, made great progress overnight using his past experience. By that time, Umm-Kalsum, the second daughter of Muhammad (pbuh), who was divorced as a teenager, was a young woman. Usman (RA) fell in love with Kalsum. Proposed marriage to the Prophet. The proposal of Usman (ra) who was incomparable in terms of wealth and appearance was accepted.

Just a year after the first battle, Muhammad's (pbuh) second battle with the Quraish took place in the desert of Uhud, six miles northeast of Medina, in the third year of the Hijri. That time baby Islam not only drank blood, but also tasted the nectar of war-gained wealth. The victorious Muslims in three consecutive battles (Badr, Ohud, Ahzab) gained a lot of wealth and were able to capture many children, youths, men and women of the enemy side. Muslims realized that war is an unimaginably profitable business.

The defeated Quraish were terrified. Islam created terror throughout the Arab world. In the sixth Hijri, Muhammad (pbuh) attacked the Jews of the Bani-Muttalik tribe with a large army. The Jews suffered greatly in that war. Many of their women were captured by the Muslims.

The Bani-Muttalik tribe or the Quraysh merchants on their way home from Syria did not attack Medina. Evidence that Muhammad (pbuh) with troops used to carry out 'offensive' attacks on unarmed camel caravans in the dark of night to plunder wealth was also found in many hadiths.

That time, Muhammad (pbuh) organized the conquest of Makkah with fourteen hundred soldiers in order to test the psychology and strength of the Quraish. Six miles from the city of Makkah they reached the valley of Hudaybiyyah and did not advance further. Although it was too late, the Meccans saw the ferocious political face of Muhammad hidden behind the 'ascetic-hermit' garb.

Upon receiving the news of the arrival of Muhammad (pbuh) with fourteen hundred soldiers, the Quraish made all preparations in advance. As the messenger of Muhammad (PBUH), Usman (RA) met the leaders of Quraish and said that they did not come to fight, they came to visit the Kaaba. The blood stain of Badr had not yet dried from the hearts of the Quraish. Usman (RA) was imprisoned. The Muslims got angry on hearing the news. They put their hands on Prophet’s hand and took a death oath that they would not return without conquering Makkah. For the time being, the two sides were saved from a serious disaster by the intervention of some tribal leaders who came from different areas on the occasion of Hajj (to see the gods and goddesses). They were able to establish a treaty between the two parties, known historically as the 'Treaty of Hodaibiya'.

In the Arab world, under the leadership of Muhammad (pbuh), a large unopposed Muslim force with monopoly power arose. They finally captured the city of Mecca on January 11, 630 AD without a fight. From Badr to the Battle of Tabuk, Muhammad (pbuh) commanded at least nine battles in the ten years. He gave his last historic speech in 632 AD at the Maidan of Arafat. Two months after this speech, the Messenger of Allah (?) Muhammad (PBUH) left this world at the age of 63 years.

Translated from the works of https://www.facebook.com/russel495