Series of Statements by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi During the Nights of the Blessed Month of Ramadan 1441 A.H.

Night 8th

In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful.

Another poet and orator from the pre-Islamic era was a polytheist from the Quraysh tribe known as Abu Gharrah, the teknonym by which he was known. He used to compose poetry against the Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family and deliver speeches against him. When the polytheists prepared to launch the Battle of Badr against the Prophet, blessings of God be upon him and his family, he would go to the villages and surrounding areas of Mecca to recruit forces for war against him. He himself also took part in the Battle of Badr. Along the route from Mecca to Badr, more than four hundred kilometers, he would encourage and incite the people to kill Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family. He would also seek to put an end to Islam and take part in this military campaign against Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, mobilizing the enemies against him.

In the Battle of Badr, some were killed and others were taken prisoner, and Abu Gharrah was among the captives. Even during the battle, as he had done in Mecca, he continued to urge war against Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family. When he was taken prisoner, he was brought before the Prophet, blessings of God be upon him and his family.

According to historical reports, he said to Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family:

 “O Muhammad, I have five daughters who have no one besides me. Please be kind to me and show mercy toward them, and set me free. If you do this, I pledge that I will not compose poetry against you, I will not deliver speeches against you, and I will not incite anyone to fight.

Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, set him free, and he left.

After a short time had passed, the polytheists decided to fight the Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, again, and this time they prepared the Battle of Uhud against him.

History reports that Safwan ibn Umayyah, one of the most influential supporters and backers of this battle, went to Abu Gharrah and asked him to compose poetry and deliver speeches against Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family.

Abu Gharrah said: “I have given Muhammad, my pledge and commitment that I will not compose poetry against him and I will not deliver speeches.”

Safwan assured him, saying: “This time, the matter is finished for Muhammad, and for Islam. In this battle we will defeat him, his companions, and his followers, so he will not be left in a position to call you to account for failing to keep your promise.”

After this conversation, Safwan gave Abu Gharrah money and encouraged him to work against Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family. Abu Gharrah then went to Mecca and, with statements such as: “Islam’s time is over; this is the final war, and a decisive one,” he invited people in the city of Mecca and its surrounding areas to join the fighting, so they could kill Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, and destroy Islam, and he encouraged them to do so.

This story is one example of Safwan ibn Umayyah’s scheming and devilish plotting. Abu Gharrah had pledged to the Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, that he would not act against him. However, Safwan encouraged him again by giving him money and bringing him back into the arena to fight the Prophet. Abu Gharrah also urged a group of others to go to battle against the Prophet.

A Comparison

If we place this story alongside the dozens and hundreds of stories and events concerning those who unjustly called themselves rulers, and considered themselves so, we will see that the difference is like that between heaven and earth: rulers who were hostile to virtue, humanity, and morality. Those who called themselves rulers had thoroughly demonstrated cruelty, despotism, and mercilessness.

Debal Al-Khuzai was a famous poet of the Abbasid era. A book of his poetry remains, preserved in libraries. He is known throughout the world, and some of his poems have been translated into various languages. Debal lived through the reign of Harun, followed by the era of Amin, the period of Mamun, and finally the rule of the Abbasid ruler Mutasim.

On one occasion, he composed two lines of poetry in criticism and condemnation of one of the rulers contemporary with him. He himself explained this and the conditions in which he lived: “For forty years, I have been carrying my gallows on my shoulders.”

By this statement, he explicitly declared that, for the crime of composing two lines of poetry, for forty years, ever since the reigns of Harun, Amin, Mamun, and Mutasim (these Abbasids rulers), he has been living with the expectation that at any moment they will execute him.

Prophet Muhammad Messenger of Mercy

This was the Islam of the claimants to the leadership (of Muslims), whereas the Messenger of God himself, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, was so forgiving that the result of his conduct, as the Noble Quran states, was this:

“And you see people entering the religion of God in multitudes.”

Then the following question arises: what prevented Islam from advancing? Today, we must introduce the radiant, merciful example of the (correct history and) biography of Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, to the whole world. Everyone, according to their capacity and available means, should fulfill this responsibility and under no circumstances be negligent. Let us pay attention that the wars that occur in the world are only for the purpose of killing enemy soldiers and forces. But in Islam it was not like that: wars were not waged with the aim of murdering people; rather, they had a defensive nature. Therefore, we read, and by the testimony of history, that as soon as the aggressors and war-mongers stopped fighting and killing, the Messenger of God, blessings of God be upon him and his family, would also stop the fighting.

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, followed the same approach. When Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, was victorious in battle, it would naturally be expected that he would completely crush and destroy the enemy’s forces. But this was not the case. If the enemy, for any reason, stopped fighting, even if their sword was broken and they no longer had the means of war, Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, would not take action against them.

In those days, it was the common custom and the rule of war to behead prisoners of war. In contrast, Prophet Muhammad blessings of God be upon him and his family treatment of war prisoners was different. He would command the Muslims to treat prisoners with gentleness and to refrain from hurting and mistreating them. In this regard, numerous detailed stories have been recorded in history.

The Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family, was at the height of ethics and at the summit of humanity in his dealings with prisoners. The world and the Muslims, especially the Muslim youth, should become acquainted with these virtues and the grandeur and majesty of the Messenger of God, blessings of God be upon him and his family, and take his luminous example as a model. Proud youth should also study the history of his life and make known to all how he interacted with people, so that the world, to some extent, may awaken. And of course, Islamic countries should also try to become familiar the reforms introduced by the Messenger of God, blessings of God be upon him and his family, and implement them in practice.

Unfortunately, in the last fifty or sixty years, during which I have observed it, the condition of the people has been worsening day by day and becoming more difficult, and this is due to ignorance of, or turning away from, the example of Prophet Muhammad, blessings of God be upon him and his family.

May the conditions of the people improve throughout the world.

May blessings of God be upon Muhammad and his Infallible Family.