At the time of prophet s.a.w, there was a man called 'Utbah ibn Rabie'ah. One of the cheif among the Quraisy.
As islam begin to become stronger, and the new religion becomes widely spread, especially with revertion of two significant figures at that time - Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib and 'Umar al-khattab r.ahuma - the quraishite decides to negotiates (or debate, if you like) with Muhammad s.a.w. Its no use to continue with the torment and torture to the muslims.
Well-known as a great debater himself, 'Utbah offered himself to approach Muhammad s.a.w.
This is match-up that was awaited by the Quraisy people, expecting the defeat of Muhammad s.a.w.
Watching from a distance, they eager to see what will happen.
It is an entertainment for them to watch the debate, as we were to a football match.
'Utbah came to Muhmmad s.a.w. and begin uttering his words:
We have seen no other man in Arabia, who has brought such a great calamity to a nation, as you do.and he continued:
You have outraged our gods & religions,
and taxed our forefarthers and wise man with impiety,
and created strife among us!
You have left no stone unturned to estrange the relations with us!
So what really do you want??It seems that 'Utbah have never heard of the messenger's s.a.w call directly. He s.a.w never have spoke or wishes all of this. He just purely calling to the one god!
If you are doing this for the sake of obtaining wealth, we will join together to give you greater riches than any Quraishite has ever possessed!
If ambition moves you, we'll make you our chief.
If you desire kingship, we'll readily offer that!
If you are possessed by a jinn or the power of an evil spirit that haunting you, we'll call in skilful physicians to cure you..
In calm, the messenger smiled and said: "Have you finished. abul-walid?";
and then hearing that all has been said, he spoke forth, and said:
Bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim.Being slowly overwhelmed, 'Utbah went on and attentively listening to the prophet s.a.w until the latter begin to recite Allah's words:
حم ﴿١﴾ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٢﴾ كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣﴾ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا فَأَعْرَضَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ ﴿٤﴾ وَقَالُوا قُلُوبُنَا فِي أَكِنَّةٍ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ وَفِي آذَانِنَا وَقْرٌ وَمِن بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌ فَاعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَامِلُونَ ﴿٥
Haa-mimm.
A revelation from Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful.
A book whereof the verses are explained in detail; an Arabic Quran for people who know.
Giving glad tidings and warnings, but most of them turn away, so they listen not.
And they say: "our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us..." [al-fussilat, 41:1-5]
فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَاعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَاعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ ﴿١٣﴾
But if they turned away, then say: "I have warned you of a Sa'iqa (a destructive explosion or thunder-bolt) like the Sa'qa which overtook 'Ad and Thamud.. [41:13]
putting his hand on the Prophet's mouth, begging him to stop!
From a distance, the people of Quraisy didn't hear what they were talking about.
But they noticed that 'Utbah began to take a step back.
The Quraishites knows about the story of 'Ad and Thamud very well.
'Utbah just cannot take it, being threaten like that.
He then hurriedly returned to his compatriots, with a different expression on his face to the one he went with.
As he reached his companions, they were curious, and asked what happened.
"So how was it? What happened?"
"By Allah!", 'Utbah said, "I have heard words the like of which I have never heard before. By Allah, it is neither poetry nor magic nor soothe-saying. O men of Quraysh! Listen to me! Leave this man alone with what he has! Be considerate towards him and don't interfere."
They then replied, "He has bewitched you with his tongue, Abul-Walid!"
Don't say that he got you too? No way!
And 'Utbah replied, "Say as whatever you like, and do what fits you. This is my opinion on him."
Sort of - I'm leaving..!
* * *
That is how the words of Allah ta'ala has overpowered them.
That is how they, the non-believers, even the enemy of Muhammad s.a.w themselves, were struck by the majesty of the Quran!
SubhanAllah.
And here we claim to be the believers, but not feeling even a little ounce of miracle from the same Quran.
It not the matter of knowing Arabic;
nor the matter of to whom the ayahs were revealed to;
but it about us.
It's about how do we make effort to learn the words of Allah to live accordingly to what He told us to do.
May Allah make us among the rabbaniyyin, those the ones who teaches and learns the quran, continous making on-going efforts inshaAllah.
Reference:
The Sealed nectar (Rahhequl Makhtoum).
Divine Speech Prologue - Nouman Ali Khan [youtube]
