When Muhammad – Peace Be upon him – Was Saddened 

 

Published in June 25, 2018

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

 

Introduction: 

1- People are saddened usually because of transient affairs, issues, matters of this temporary world; this does not apply to Muhammad; he was sadden only by instances of those around him linked to religion and the Quranic message as he conveyed it so that people would be guided; this is expected from a prophet sent with the Quran as a mercy to the humankind (see 21:107). Muhammad was not saddened as he bore with his wives patiently and the Quranic revelation has warned him and his wives (see 33:28, 33:34, and 66:1-5); he did not care about worldly matters to feel sorrow over them.  

2- The sorrow of Muhammad was deep-rooted, true, and sincere regarding those who rejected the Quran; God has addressed him about to stop being saddened and He has soothed him and given him solace. 

3- Despite the patience and tolerance of Muhammad, his overwhelming sorrow sometimes wrung his heart; God has told him to adhere to patience through prayers and praising the Lord: "So proclaim openly what you are commanded, and turn away from the polytheists. We are enough for you against the mockers. Those who set up another god with God. They will come to know. We are aware that your heart is strained by what they say. So glorify the praise of your Lord, and be among those who prostrate. And worship your Lord in order to attain certainty." (15:94-99).

4- In the points below, we trace the Quranic verses that contain the Divine command to Muhammad to stop being saddened. 

 

Firstly: when he was saddened by the stance of those who readily returned to disbelief after they believed:

 The so-called penalty for apostasy invented by Sunnite Muhammadans (i.e., to put 'infidels' to death!) never existed during Muhammad's lifetime; he felt saddened because of those who rejected faith and disbelieved in the Quran during his era among his contemporaries. Muhammad never punished anyone for disbelief or for rejecting Islam after embracing it for a while.

Within Meccan verses:   

1- God has said the following to Muhammad: "Had your Lord willed, everyone on earth would have believed. Will you compel people to become believers?" (10:99); this means he urged his contemporaries and beseeched them many times until he was emotionally drained and he suffered; God has told him the following: "We did not reveal the Quran to you to make you suffer. But only as a reminder for him who fears the Lord." (20:2-3).

2- God has commanded him to distance himself and remain away from stubborn ones who rejected faith; he was not responsible for his contemporaries and their (mis)guidance: "Say, "O people, the truth has come to you from your Lord. Whoever accepts guidance is guided for his own soul; and whoever strays only strays to its detriment. I am not a guardian over you." And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until God issues His judgment, for He is the Best of judges." (10:108-109).

3- God has commanded Muhammad not to feel overwhelmed with grief and sorrow over their disbelief and rejection: "What of him whose evil deed was made attractive to him, and so he regards it as good? God leads astray whomever He wills, and He guides whomever He wills. Therefore, do not waste yourself sorrowing over them. God knows exactly what they do." (35:8); "Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief, chasing after them, if they do not believe in this Discourse." (18:6). 

4- God has commanded Muhammad to say to disbelievers that they are free to adhere to whatever they embrace and they should allow him to adhere to his faith: "And say to those who do not believe, "Act according to your ability; and so will we." "And wait; we too are waiting."" (11:121-122).

5- Guidance is an individual responsibility: "Say: "O my people, work according to your ability; and so will I. Then you will know. Who will receive a humiliating torment, and on whom will fall a lasting torment." We sent down upon you the Book for the humankind in Truth. He who follows guidance does so for the good of his soul. And he who strays in error does so to its detriment. You are not their overseer." (39:39-41). 

6- God has told him never to feel grief about those among his companions/contemporaries who died as disbelievers who will enter into Hell on the Last Day: "Whoever disbelieves - let not his disbelief sadden you. To Us is their return. Then We will inform them of what they did. God knows what lies within the hearts. We give them a little comfort; then We compel them to a harsh torment." (31:23-24).  

Within Yathrebian verses:

1- The Quran asserts the principle of never compelling others regarding religion; people are to seek the Truth themselves: "There shall be no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from the wrong way. Whoever renounces Taghut and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handle; which does not break. God is Hearing and Knowing." (2:256). 

2- God has said this about those companions/contemporaries who rush towards disbelief: "That is because God has revealed the Book in Truth; and those who differ about the Book are in deep discord." (3:176). 

3- This meaning is repeated here: "O messenger! Do not let those who are quick to disbelief grieve you - from among those who say with their mouths, "We believe," but their hearts do not believe; and from among the Jews - listeners to lies, listeners to other people who did not come to you. They distort words from their places, and they say, "If you are given this, accept it; but if you are not given it, beware." Whomever God has willed to divert, you have nothing for him from God. Those are they whose hearts God does not intend to purify. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them is a great torment in the Hereafter." (5:41).

4- Inside the Yathreb city-state, Muhammad was a leader who had authority within a city-state based on absolute religious freedom. Hence, the penalty for apostasy is a lie fabricated by Sunnite scholars which has nothing to do with the Quran. This is why the only reaction of Muhammad when he saw disbelievers who rejected the Quran after believing in it initially was to feel sorrow and grief and to voice these sentiments in public.   

 

Secondly: when he was saddened by the not being given tangible miracles so that more people would be guided:

1- The Quran is the only and permanent miracle of Islam which will remain till the end of days for all humanity; this is a shift away from tangible miracles granted to previous prophets sent for certain nations when human beings (within their mentalities) were not mature enough. 

2- God has refused to grant Muhammad tangible miracles to please Arabs of Arabia who demanded such miracles; God mentions in the Quran reasons of such refusal.

2/1: Tangible miracles granted to prophets of previous, ancient nations did not guide most of them; hence, no miracles would have convinced the stubborn Arab disbelievers during Muhammad's lifetime. 

2/1/1: We read these verses about Arab disbelievers who ridiculed the Quran and demanded tangible miracles like the ones granted to ancient prophets: "And they said, "A jumble of dreams," and, "He made it up," and, "He is a poet," "let him bring us a miracle, like those sent to the ancients." None of the towns We destroyed before them had believed. Will they, then, believe?" (21:5-6).

2/1/2: Arab disbelievers swore they would believe if they witnessed a tangible miracle; God refutes their stance here: "They swear by God, with their most solemn oaths, that if a miracle were to come to them, they would believe in it. Say, "The miracles are only with God." But how do you know? Even if it did come, they still would not believe. And We turn away their hearts and their visions, as they refused to believe in it the first time, and We leave them blundering in their rebellion. Even if We sent down the angels to them, and the dead spoke to them, and We gathered all things before them, they still would not believe, unless God wills; but most of them are ignorant." (6:109-111).

2/1/3: Arab disbelievers demanded to see angels descending upon them; God refutes them in the following verses. 

2/1/3/1: To see angels is to see the angels of death and one dies; if God would sent angels as messengers, they would be sent within a human form as men to be seen: "And they say, "Why was an angel not sent down to him." Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and they would not have been reprieved. Had We made him an angel, We would have made him a man, and confused them when they are already confused." (6:8-9). 

2/1/3/2: People will see angels only when the angels of death come to take their souls and angels will be seen also on the Last Day; there is no escape at all from both situations: "And they said, "O you who received the Remembrance, you are insane." Why do you not bring us the angels, if you are truthful?" We do not send the angels down except with reason, and they will not be held back." (15:6-8). 

2/1/4: Arab disbelievers demanded to see God and the angels; seeing the angels will be frightful for them when they die and when they are thrown into Hell: "Those who do not expect to meet Us say, "If only the angels were sent down to us, or we could see our Lord." They have grown arrogant within themselves, and have become excessively defiant. On the Day when they see the angels-there will be no good news for sinners on that Day; and they will say, "A protective refuge."" (25:21-22).

2/1/5: God has refused to how them tangible miracles demanded by them: "And they said, "We will not believe in you unless you make a spring burst from the ground for us. Or you have a garden of palms and vines; then cause rivers to gush pouring through them. Or make the sky fall on us in pieces, as you claim, or bring God and the angels before us. Or you possess a house of gold. Or you ascend into the sky. Even then, we will not believe in your ascension, unless you bring down for us a book that we can read." Say, "Glory be to my Lord. Am I anything but a human messenger?"" (17:90-93).

2/1/6: God says it is impossible that they would be guided even if they saw tangible miracles: "Even if We opened for them a gateway into the sky, and they began to ascend through it. They would still say, "Our eyes are hallucinating; in fact, we are people bewitched."" (15:14-15).

2/1/7: Tangible miracles cause destruction of those who reject them; this is why God did not give one to Muhammad; the people of Thamood were destroyed as they rejected and killed the miracle of the she-camel given to their prophet, Saleh. God says in the Quran: "Nothing prevents Us from sending miraculous signs, except that the ancients called them lies. We gave Thamood the she-camel, a visible sign, but they mistreated her. We do not send the signs except to instill reverence." (17:59). 

2/2: Another reason is that the Great Miracle of the Quran is enough: "And they said, "If only a miracle from his Lord was sent down to him." Say, "Miracles are only with God, and I am only a clear warner." Does it not suffice them that We revealed to you the Book, which is recited to them? In that is mercy and a reminder for people who believe." (29:50-51).

3- Muhammad who was keen on guiding them desired that a tangible miracle would be granted to him; he was saddened because no miracles were given him to show them to the disbelievers; God told him the following about those Quran haters and that no miracles would be granted to him; He told Muhammad that he will not be able to show miracles to them against God's will: "We know that what they say grieves you. It is not you they reject, but it is God's Verses that the unjust ones deny. Other messengers before you were rejected, but they endured rejection and persecution until Our help came to them. There can be no change to God's words. News of the messengers has already reached you. If you find their rejection hard to bear, then if you can, seek a tunnel into the earth, or a stairway into the heaven, and bring them a sign. Had God willed, He could have gathered them to guidance. So do not be of the ignorant." (6:33-35).

 

Thirdly: when he was saddened by their taking allies/saints/deities besides the Lord God:

 Words and stances of polytheists grieved Muhammad; they never revered God the Only Saint and Ally; God has told Muhammad the following: "So let their words not sadden you. We know what they conceal, and what they reveal." (36:76); we provide some details in the points below.

1- God says the following about Himself: "Or have they adopted allies besides him? But God is the Ally, and He gives life to the dead, and He has power over all things." (42:9); "It is He who brings down the rain after they have despaired, and unfolds His mercy. He is the Ally, the Praised." (42:28). 

2- Allah is the Only Lord God, Saint, and Ally worshiped and sanctified by monotheists, as per these verses.

2/1: "Say, "Shall I take for myself an ally other than God, Originator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds and is not fed?" Say, "I am instructed to be the first of those who submit." And do not be among the polytheists." (6:14).

2/2: " Say, "God knows best how long they stayed." His is the mystery of the heavens and the earth. By Him you see and hear. They have no ally apart from Him, and He shares His Sovereignty with no one. And recite what was revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. There is no changing His words, and you will find no refuge except in Him." (18:26-27).

2/3: God says the following about misguided polytheists who assume that they are guided: "Say, "Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in their works?" "Those whose efforts in this world are misguided, while they assume that they are doing well." It is they who rejected the Verses of their Lord, and the encounter with Him. So their works are in vain. And on the Day of Resurrection, We will consider them of no weight." (18:103-105).

3- Polytheists take up allies/saints from among dead human beings. 

3/1: Those dead 'saints' or allies are dust inside tombs who are unaware of anything linked to the world of the living people: "Those you call upon besides God are servants like you. So call upon them, and let them answer you, if you are truthful. Do they have feet with which they walk? Or do they have hands with which they strike? Or do they have eyes with which they see? Or do they have ears with which they hear? Say, "Call upon your partners, then plot against me, and do not wait." "My Ally is God, He Who sent down the Book, and He takes care of the righteous ones."" (7:194-196). 

3/2: These verses  are also about those dead saints/allies: "Those they invoke besides God create nothing, but are themselves created. They are dead, not alive; and they do not know when they will be resurrected." (16:20-21).

3/3: Polytheists assume that such allies draw them nearer to God: "We sent down to you the Book with the Truth, so worship God, devoting your religion to Him. Is not to God that sincere religion is due? As for those who take allies besides Him, "We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to God." God will judge between them regarding their differences. God does not guide the lying disbelievers." (39:2-3); "Is God not enough for His servant? And they frighten you with those besides Him. Whomever God sends astray, for him there is no guide." (39:36); "Say, "Is it other than God you instruct me to worship, you ignorant ones?"" (39:64).

4- The following points are about the allies of God mentioned in the Quran:

4/1: They are those who have led a life of piety, good deeds, and monotheistic faith and the angels of death bring them glad tidings of Paradise as they are allies of God because of their faith and deeds: "Unquestionably, God's allies have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. Those who believe and are aware. For them is good news in this life, and in the Hereafter. There is no alteration to the words of God. That is the supreme triumph. And let not their sayings sadden you. All power is God's. He is the Hearer, the Knower. Certainly, to God belongs everyone in the heavens and everyone on earth. Those who invoke other than God do not follow partners; they follow only assumptions, and they only guess." (10:62-66).

4/2: Those who die as disbelievers/polytheists are told about their torment in Hell by the angels of death: "Those wronging their souls while the angels are taking them away - they will propose peace: "We did no wrong." Yes you did. God is aware of what you used to do." Enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein forever. Miserable is the residence of the arrogant ones." (16:28-29); this is in contrast about pious believers when they die: "Those who are in a wholesome state when the angels take them - will say, "Peace be upon you; enter Paradise, for what you used to do."" (16:32); "Surely, those who say: "Our Lord is God," and then go straight, the angels will descend upon them: "Do not fear, and do not grieve, but rejoice in the news of Paradise which you were promised. We are your allies in this life and in the Hereafter, wherein you will have whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you call for. As Hospitality from an All-Forgiving, Merciful One."" (41:30-32). 

4/3: This being informed by the angels of death occurs since the era when Adam and his wife descended on earth; this will go on until the end of days: "We said, "Go down from it, all of you. Yet whenever guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance - they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve." (2:38).

4/4: Those good souls who are brought glad tidings by the angels of death are pious monotheists of all eras and sects who performed good deeds: "Those who believe, and those who are Jewish, and the Christians, and the Sabians - any who believe in God and the Last Day, and act righteously - will have their reward with their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve." (2:62); "Those who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians - whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and does what is right - they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve." (5:69). 

 

Lastly:

 If Muhammad were resuscitated or brought back to life in our modern era to see the polytheism of those who worship and deify mausoleums, imams, saints/allies,  historical figures etc. and those who worship and deify him despite the existence of copies of the Quran with everyone, he would surely be saddened beyond measure.