What makes the disbelievers, disbelieve when the guidance has come to them?
The pagan Arabs use to constantly ask Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to show them a miracle. Allah says in the Quran, "They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that if they were given a sign, they would believe" (6:109). The pagan Arabs said that surely other prophets were granted miracles before -so why not Muhammad (SAW)? But Allah says "Even if I send angels to them, and the dead speak to them face to face, and I gather together all things before their very eyes, they would not believe unless it be my wish. But most of them ignore the truth" (6:111).
Nevertheless, with Muhammad's plea, Allah did grant them a miracle. The moon split in half. When the Quraysh saw the moon split in half they first claimed it the works of a sorcerer -that somehow there eyes where being tricked. So they waited until some passerbys came and asked them if they to saw the miracle, they responded in the affirmative. There the Quraysh had been given a clear proof from Allah -so this must have finally converted them to faith? No, they were insincere. They only asked Muhammad (SAW) to perform a miracle in hopes that they could embarrass him and prove him a liar. Now with a clear proof they still clung to there disbelief.
Even the Prophet's beloved Uncle, Abu Talib, who loved his nephew and spent much of his life protecting him clung to his disbelief. On his death bed the Prophet (SAW) pleaded with his beloved uncle "My uncle, say La illaha illalah. This simple phrase, and if you say it, I'll plead with Allah for your salvation". But two of his pagan tribesmen where there and they rebuked the Prophet saying to his uncle "Will you shun the religion of Abdul Muttalib?" and he was last heard saying "... on the religion of Abdul Muttalib".
He died an unbeliever, but by his struggle to protect his nephew it would seem very plausible that he did believe his nephew to be the messenger of Allah -or did he simply protect his nephew out of love for there family bond? Its hard to tell, what even more difficult is to know is -what did Abu Talib have to lose on his death bed by accepting Allah as the creator and alone worthy of worship?
Maybe his last words offer us some insight. Is it possible that his family ties where more important to him then the reality of the oneness of God? This is not something to be taken lightly, then and now people cling on to beliefs because of their forefathers. Allah refers to these kinds of people in the Quran, those who take on the religion of their fathers though Islam is better for them. How many Christians have been Christians for generation after generation. How many of them could barely express the foundations or fundamentals of their religion yet they cling on to it close to their hearts. How many of their leaders change the words of their holy books? How many Christian know about the life of Jesus? How many Christians know Aramaic or Hebrew so they could better understand their original holy book?
Islam has something to offer the disbelievers. But they must as rational human beings come to terms with what there is to lose. What non Muslims may lose are family ties, close friendships, status, etc. But what there is to gain is greater then what the is to lose. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is regarded by many scholars, Muslim and non Muslim, as one of the greatest men in history. But this was a lonely and harsh struggle to greatness. When he died, he'd conquered his enemies, created a Muslim state, freed the Muslims from there oppression, seen his children grow and marry, watched as the spread of Islam grew abundantly.
This was the end, in the beginning your eyes would come to tears for the struggle Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the early Muslims went through. Former slaves like Bilal were beaten and tortured, others like Khadejah were ostracized unable even to by food, some others were killed. The Prophet (SAW) himself was ridiculed and attempts at his death were many. Children threw stones at him, people cursed him, men threw the insides of animals on him as he prayed, his daughters were divorced by there husbands to spite him.... all because he wanted to invite them to the truth. He did not give up. He adhere to his beliefs despite his loses.
And this is not to say that he was some sort of robot who could feel no harm -no, he triumphed despite his hardship.
Once the prophet went to a people to tell them about Islam and they rejected him. Throwing stones at him until he bleed, his adopted son Zayd tried to protect him and he too became afflicted, blood running down his head. After this ordeal ended, he sat down by a wall and pleaded with Allah what we know call the dua of the oppressed; " O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness and humiliation before the people. You are most merciful, the Lord of the weak and my Lord too. To whom have You entrusted me? To one who does not care for me? Or have you appointed my enemy as master of my affairs? So long as you are not angry with me , I care not. Your favor is abundant for me. I seek refuge in the light of Your face, by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Your anger or Your displeasure descend upon me. I desire Your pleasure and satisfaction. There is no power no might except in You". Soon after this plea Allah begins to give his light to more people. Surrounding tribes begin to except Islam as there way of life and soon Madinah becomes a light of Islam and the Muslims begin to see strength in numbers.
Even this journey to Yathrib (Madinah) was a struggle some had to leave behind the families and property and even there livelihood was affected. This was a difficult transition but they where willing to lose there worldly gains in order to gain something so much better. A life of truth, mercy from Allah, and Insha Allah (God willing) paradise in the next life.
Sacrifice is a part of belief, Insha Allah may we all take the examples of those who where willing to lose some things in order to gain something better.
(Biographical information about the Prophet (peace be upon him) has been taken from the English translation of 'When the moon split: A biography of Prophet Muhammad (saw), words of Allah are taken form the English translation of the Muslim holy book Al Quran)
