GENERAL SOCIAL BOYCOTT:
Four events of special significance occurred within less than four weeks
— the conversion of Hamzah, the conversion of ‘Umar, Muhammad’s (Peace
be upon him) refusal to negotiate any sort of compromise and then the
pact drawn up between Banu Muttalib and Banu Hashim to immunize Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) and shield him against any treacherous attempt to
kill him. The polytheists were baffled and at a loss as to what course
they would follow to rid themselves of this obstinate and relentless obstacle
that had appeared to shatter to pieces their whole tradition of life.
They had already been aware that if they killed Muhammad (Peace be upon
him) theblood would surely flow profusely in the valleys of Makkah and
they would certainly be exterminated. Taking this dreadful prospect into
consideration, they grudgingly resorted to a different iniquitous course
that would not imply murder.
The pagans of Makkah held a meeting in a place called Wadi Al-Muhassab,
and formed a confederation hostile to both Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib.
They decided not to have any business dealings with them nor any sort
of inter-marriage. Social relations, visits and even verbal contacts with
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his supporters would discontinue until
the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was given up to them to be killed. The
articles of their proclamation, which had provided for merciless measures
against Bani Hashim, were committed to writing by an idolater, Bagheed
bin ‘Amir bin Hashim and then suspended in Al-Ka‘bah. The Prophet (Peace
be upon him) invoked Allâh’s imprecations upon Bagheed, whose hand was
later paralysed.
Abu Talib wisely and quietly took stock of the situation and decided
to withdraw to a valley on the eastern outskirts of Makkah. Banu Hashim
and Banu Al-Muttalib, who followed suit, were thus confined within a narrow
pass (Shi‘b of Abu Talib), from the beginning of Muharram, the seventh
year of Muhammad’s mission till the tenth year, viz., a period of three
years. It was a stifling siege. The supply of food was almost stopped
and the people in confinement faced great hardships. The idolaters used
to buy whatever food commodities entered Makkah lest they should leak
to the people in Ash-Shi‘b, who were so overstrained that they had to
eat leaves of trees and skins of animals. Cries of little children suffering
from hunger used to be heard clearly. Nothing to eat reached them except,
on few occasions, some meagre quantities of food were smuggled by some
compassionate Makkans. During ‘the prohibited months’ — when hostilities
traditionally ceased, they would leave their confinement and buy food
coming from outside Makkah. Even then, the food stuff was unjustly overpriced
so that their financial situation would fall short of finding access to
it.
Hakeem bin Hizam was once on his way to smuggle some wheat to his aunt
Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) when Abu Jahl intercepted and
wanted to debar him. Only when Al-Bukhtari intervened, did Hakeem manage
to reach his destination. Abu Talib was so much concerned about the personal
safety of his nephew. Whenever people retired to sleep, he would ask the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) to lie in his place, but when all the others
fell asleep, he would order him to change his place and take another,
all of which in an attempt to trick a potential assassin.
Despite all odds, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) persisted in his line
and his determination and courage never weakened. He continued to go to
Al-Ka‘bah and to pray publicly. He used every opportunity to preach to
outsiders who visited Makkah for business or on pilgrimage during the
sacred months and special seasons of assemblies.
This situation ultimately created dissension amongst the various Makkan
factions, who were tied with the besieged people by blood relations. After
three years of blockade and in Muharram, the tenth year of Muhammad’s
mission, the pact was broken. Hisham bin ‘Amr, who used to smuggle some
food to Bani Hashim secretly at night, went to see Zuhair bin Abi Omaiyah
Al-Makhzoumy and reproached him for resigning to that intolerable treatment
meted out to his uncles in exile. The latter pleaded impotence, but agreed
to work with Hisham and form a pressure group that would secure the extrication
of the exiles. On the ground of motivation by uterine relations, there
emerged a group of five people who set out to abrogate the pact and declare
all relevant clauses null and void. They were Hisham bin ‘Amr, Zuhair
bin Abi Omaiya, Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi, Abu Al-Bukhtari and Zam‘a bin Al-Aswad.
They decided to meet in their assembly place and start their self-charged
mission from the very precinct of the Sacred House. Zuhair, after circumambulating
seven times, along with his colleagues approached the hosts of people
there and rebuked them for indulging in the amenities of life whereas
their kith and kin of Bani Hashim were perishing on account of starvation
and economic boycott. They swore they would never relent until the parchment
of boycott was torn to piece and the pact broken at once. Abu Jahl, standing
nearby, retorted that it would never be torn. Zam‘a was infuriated and
accused Abu Jahl of telling lies, adding that the pact was established
and the parchment was written without seeking their approval. Al-Bukhtari
intervened and backed Zam‘a. Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi and Hisham bin ‘Amr attested
to the truthfulness of their two companions. Abu Jahl, with a cunning
attempt to liquidate the hot argument that was running counter to his
malicious goals, answered that the issue had already been resolved sometime
and somewhere before.
Abu Talib meanwhile was sitting in a corner of the Mosque. He came to
communicate to them that a Revelation had been sent to his nephew, the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) to the effect that ants had eaten away all
their proclamation that smacked of injustice and aggression except those
parts that bore the Name of Allâh. He contended that he would be ready
to give Muhammad (Peace be upon him) up to them if his words proved untrue,
otherwise, they would have to recant and repeal their boycott. The Makkans
agreed to the soundness of his proposition. Al-Mut‘im went to see the
parchment and there he did discover that it was eaten away by ants and
nothing was left save the part bearing (in the Name of Allâh).
The proclamation was thus abrogated, and Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
and the other people were permitted to leave Ash-Sh‘ib and return home.
In the context of this trial to which the Muslims were subjected, the
polytheists had a golden opportunity to experience a striking sign of
Muhammad’s Prophethood (the white ants eating away the parchment) but
to their miserable lot they desisted and augmented in disbelief:
- “But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say ‘This is continuous
magic.” [54:2]
|
