met him smiling as usual and said to him:
I have great news for you.
Very sad looking, he kept silent.
Zaynab was amazed, why he is sad.
She said to him: my father is the last prophet sent by God; I believed in him and became a Muslim and so did my mother and my sisters and…
Abul-Aas interrupted her and said: why you did not tell me that you are going to change your faith?
She said: you know my father, was he a liar? Are not your people used to call him the honest and trustworthy man? Also, I am not alone. I have my mother, your aunt, embraced Islam and so did my sisters. Also my cousin Ali and….. (She mentioned some names of his relatives and friends) followed my father too.
He said: I know your father, he is not a liar, and he is not accused. But I do not like people to say that I belied my tribe and left my gods because of a woman. I am not going to change the faith of my forefathers. Do you understand my reason?
She said: certainly I do; you are not obliged to follow my faith although I wish you do. I will always be your sincere wife forever; I will stand beside you and will help you trustfully for all of my life.
Abul-Aas kept his faith.
Zaynab kept her faith and observed Islam.
And they both tolerated their faith’s contradiction and lived together as a happily married couple.
The Religious boycott
The pagans of Mecca boycotted the Muslims from engaging in any contracts with their non-Muslim tribes. For three years the early Muslims lost their wealth to the non-Muslims as they were unable to trade. Their health deteriorated as they were unable to purchase sustenance. They became outcasts of society, traitors to the proud pagan