The Prophet Muhammad Pocket Guide

The tribes of Makkah entered into an agreement. They agreed to cut off all dealings with the Banu Hashim. No one was to sell anything to them. The agreement was signed and hung up in the sacred Kabah. This was the seventh year of the prophethood. This period of boycott was one of great hardship for the Banu Hashim and the Muslims. While this ban was in force, Abu Talib, the chief of the Banu Hashim, had to take refuge in a narrow valley, which came to be known as Abu Talib’s Pass. For three years, the Prophet and all his relatives lived in this valley. Many of the Muslims joined them. Since all supplies to the valley were cut off, the Banu Hashim had to live on the leaves and roots of trees. Finally, certain kind-hearted Makkan leaders took pity on the Banu Hashim. The agreement was annuled and the Banu Hashim could come back to their homes. But soon after this, Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle, died. His health had deteriorated during the three years of hardship. Although Abu Talib had not accepted Islam, as head of his clan he had protected the Prophet from his opponents. After his death, Abu Lahab, another uncle of the Prophet, became head of the Banu Hashim. He was the most bitter enemy of Islam and the Muslims. He made it clear to the Quraysh that the Prophet Muhammad no longer enjoyed his clan’s protection. In those days, it was impossible for an individual to survive without the protection of his clan. Khadijah, the faithful wife of the Prophet, also died soon after the ban was lifted. Both these deaths took place in the 10th year of the prophethood. The Prophet Muhammad said, “Mary, the daughter of ‘Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and Khadijah is the best amongst the women (of this nation).” The loss of Abu Talib and Khadijah saddened the Prophet, for they had been great sources of strength to him. It was their deaths that made the enemy bold enough to persecute him. One day when the Prophet was praying in the Kabah, Abu Jahl put a piece of cloth round his neck and twisted it hard. He would have strangled the Prophet had not Abu Bakr rushed to his help in time. The Journey to Ta’if Day by day, the situation worsened. So the Prophet decided to go to Ta’if, a neighbouring town, 40 miles from Makkah to spread the teachings of Islam. He spoke to the leaders of the town and invited them to accept Islam. They paid no heed to his message. They were such evil people that they did not stop at that. When the Prophet was leaving the town in a dejected state, he was chased by street urchins instigated by these chiefs. They abused him and threw stones at him as he walked out of town. They continued to pelt him with stones until he escaped under cover of the darkness of the night. He stopped on the way in an orchard to rest. He was badly hurt, bleeding profusely. Yet he only prayed for the guidance of his assailants. He did not curse them. In all humility he addressed God in these words: “Oh, my God! To You I complain of the feebleness of my strength, of my lack of resources and of my being unimportant in the eyes of people. Oh, Most Merciful of all those capable of showing mercy! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my own Lord. To whom do You entrust me; to an unsympathetic folk who would sullenly frown at me, or to an alien to whom You have given control over my affairs? Not in the least do I care for anything except that I may have Your protection for myself. I seek shelter in Your light — The light that illuminates the Heavens and dispels all sorts of darkness, and which controls all affairs in this world as well as in the Hereafter. May it never be that I should incur Your wrath, or that You should be displeased with me. I must remove the cause of Your displeasure until You are pleased. There is no strength nor power but through You.”