Seerah: EP48 – Boycott in Makkah & its Annulment

12/19/21 • 76 min

Qalam Seerah: Life of the Prophet (pbuh)

Episode 48: Boycott in Makkah & its Annulment

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Boycott in Makkah

The Quraysh resolved to become harsher in their opposition to Islam. They felt the only solution was to kill the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Abu Talib gathered Banu Abu Muttalib and rallied them to protect Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), even if they disagreed with what he said. He advised they all move to a valley owned by him on the outskirts of Makkah, called Shib Abu Talib. This was to protect the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and show solidarity.

Quraysh started a complete social boycott of Banu Abdul Muttalib: they would not marry, sit, talk, visit or do business with anyone from the group, until they agreed to hand over the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) for execution. They wrote a physical agreement that was non-negotiable.

The boycott lasted 3 years- the conditions were so severe and eventually the suffering of these people became so dire, you could hear the children screaming from the pangs of hunger. Many died due to starvation and sickness. The general sentiment in Makkah was an increasing intolerance of what was going on- they started to discuss this wretched agreement and how inhumane it was against people they loved.

Abu Talib lived 3 years on high alert. Every night, he would make the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) switch sleeping places. Sometimes he would be so nervous, he stay up all night long, or he fixed a rotation that someone would stay up guarding the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). After making him switch, he sometimes would still come in the middle of the night and make him switch again.

Abu Lahab had decided he was not with Abu Talib and the family and joined the Quraysh. He suffered a horrible ending to his life. He became senile, suffered a stroke and lost control of his bodily functions. His family made him live in a shed separately and servants were made to care for him. He would scream and cry all night. He died alone and the servants were asked to dispose of his remains- they left him to be consumed by wild dogs.

A compassionate nephew of Khadija (RA) and her servant took some food towards the valley. They ran into Abu Jahl and he was upset by what he saw: he threatened to beat and humiliate them for trying to help the outcast group. Khadija’s (RA) nephew tried to reason with him, but Abu Jahl refused to listen. A third man arrived and a brawl started amongst the group as they started to attack Abu Jahl. Hamza (RA) came along with some believers and broke up the fight, saving Abu Jahl. They did not want any blame for the death of Abu Jahl, as well as recognising the need to stop senseless violence.

Episode 48: Boycott in Makkah & its Annulment

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Boycott in Makkah

Previous Episode

Seerah: EP47 – Christian Delegation Accepts Islam in Makkah

Episode 47: Christian Delegation Accepts Islam in Makkah

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

The Christian Delegation

The prominence of the Muslims in and around the Arabian peninsula was increasing. A Christian delegation from the an-Najd region, in the northern part of Arabia, came to explore the message of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in his 5th year of Prophethood. Consisting of 20 men, they had a long conversation with the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Once they had asked everything they wanted, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked for permission to speak: he presented the message of Islam to them, as well as reciting Quran. The whole delegation attested to the truth of the message. They reported their priests had told of their scriptures detailing the imminent arrival of a warner, and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) fit that description.

When returning home, they encountered Abu Jahl with a group of Quraysh. He was irate that more people were joining Islam and cursed the group. He accused them of being the most foolish delegation, apostating from their religion and cheating their tribe at home. The delegation left expressing greetings of peace, as they did not want to reciprocate his ignorant behaviour.

In light of these events, the following ayahs were revealed:

28: 51 And We have [repeatedly] conveyed to them the Qur’an that they might be reminded. 28:52 Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it – they are believers in it. 28:53 And when it is recited to them, they say, “We have believed in it; indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [submitting to Allah ].” It is amazing the effect a few ayahs had upon the delegation. Their lives had changed forever and they became propagators of Islam. This was because they came to the message already in submission. Certain things are a reality e.g. the Quran is the basis of an Islamic revival within the hearts of individuals and communities. This has certain prerequisites, however, which we sometimes overlook. It is our responsibility that we come to the Quran with an open mind and heart to benefit maximally from it. We must reassess ourselves if we find we are reading the whole Quran without it impacting our character and actions in the slightest. 28:54 Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured and [because] they avert evil through good, and from what We have provided them they spend. 28:55 And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.”

Now the Quraysh leadership were highly agitated: extreme action was needed to deal with this ever expanding message of Islam.

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Seerah: EP49 – Aftermath of the Boycott – Consolation & Support from Allah

Episode 49: Aftermath of the Boycott – Consolation & Support from Allah

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

This episodes recounts the multiple times Allah supported the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) by sending down revelation to guide him through difficult situations.

1) 1) During the boycott, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) missed visiting the Ka’ba: the confrontations started again when he returned. Abu Jahl told the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to stop cursing their idols, or they would curse his deity. However, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) never cursed their idols profanely- he just said not to worship them.