This is an incident preceding the ḥijrah (migration). When the Muslims had not yet migrated from Makkah Mukarramah to Madīnah Munawwarah, the Makkans brutally persecuted and inflicted hardships upon the Muslims. Sayyidunā Khabbāb رضي الله عنه said: “When the persecution by the Makkans became unbearable, we became helpless and came to complain to the Prophet ﷺ. At that time, he was wearing a mantle and sitting while reclining in the shade of the Kaʿbah. We said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh! Do you not seek help from Allāh Taʿālā for us and supplicate for us? This persecution we face at the hands of the disbelievers, has exceeded the limit. Now, we are in dire need for you to seek Allāh’s help so that Allāh’s help will envelop us and we will be relieved from their persecution and Allāh’s punishment will descend upon them.’” It is as though their patience had reached the limit.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ replied: “Due to the ongoing persecution from the disbelievers, have you become exhausted and distressed so quickly and has your endurance diminished? The condition of the nations before you was such that if a person accepted ʾīmān, the persecutions he faced at the hands of those disbelievers who did not believe in the Prophet were such that they would capture those with ʾīmān, dig a pit in the earth, make him stand in this pit and plaster the soil around him. Half of his body would be under the earth and the other half would remain above. Thereafter, they would bring a saw, place it on his head and split his body into two halves.
Sometimes, a comb with iron teeth would be passed over their bodies due to which their bodies would become mere bones and the skin and flesh would be peeled. In other words, they were persecuted in the most severe manner.
The Prophet ﷺ said: Despite this, the people’s ʾīmān did not waver. They were brutally persecuted and were afflicted with severe hardships. The objective of the ones inflicting these hardships was to make those who accepted ʾīmān renounce it. However, despite such severe hardships, they did not renounce their ʾīmān. They remained extremely firm and steadfast.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Exercise Patience. When the patience of those with ʾīmān is manifested in the face of persecution of the opponents, guidance is decreed by Allāh Taʿālā.”
Thus, he said: “By Allāh! Allāh Taʿālā will allow the matters of the Dīn to reach perfection.” Meaning, he will complete the Dīn until the effect of the peace and security which will be established in the world as a consequence would be such that a rider would ride from Ṣanʿāʾ until Ḥaḍramawt and his life nor wealth would not be in any form of danger. Furthermore, in some narrations it is mentioned that a woman would travel and no danger would affect her. Yes, she would fear the wolves regarding her goats, but she would not fear danger from any human being. However, you all are hastening the matter.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ was encouraging and enjoining the Noble Ṣaḥābah رضي الله عنهم to have patience. There is no need to act in haste regarding the persecution and hardships inflicted by the disbelievers. There is no need to hasten as you have done when you requested me to supplicate to Allāh and said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh! Do you not supplicate to Allāh and seek His assistance?’
Continue enduring the hardships and bearing the difficulties. As a consequence of the persecution which you have faced and the hardships born, guidance will become widespread, and its benefit will be reaped across the entire world.
[Dars Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn Vol.1 Pg.305-308 by Hazrat Muftī Aḥmed Khānpūrī Ṣāḥib حفظه الله ونفعنا بعلومه وفيوضه وصحبته ]