Fiqh al-Sīrah: Lesson:38 – Date: 22/05/2006 – The boycott of the Prophet peace and blessings of God be upon him by Quraysh – by his Eminence Sheik Rateb an-Nabulsi.

In the name of Allāh, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful

All praise be to God Lord of the worlds, prayers and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, the true to his word, the trustworthy.  O God we know nothing but what you have taught us, you are The Omniscient, The wise. O God, teach us what is useful to us, and make useful to us what you have taught us, and increase our knowledge, and show us the truth as truth and grant us compliance with it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us its avoidance, and let us be of those who listen to what is said and follow the best of it.  And accept us with your mercy among your righteous servants.  O God, bring us forth from the darkness of ignorance and illusion to the lights of enlightenment and knowledge and from the murkiness of desires to the blessings of good deeds.

Esteemed brothers, this is a new lesson from the tradition of the Prophet.  In the previous lesson, I clarified that in the chain of events we are now near the Madinah. However I found that there are many important topics in the life of the Prophet that we skimmed through and that are closely related to our reality.  Therefore I will revisit them in detail to extract the lessons from the sīrah.

Boycott is one of the ways of the oppressors and aggressors:

Today’s topic is the boycott of Prophet Muhammad and his companions by the disbelievers of Qurash and which lasted three years so much so that they were forced to eat tree leaves. Therefore, boycott is not a new concept. It is one of the ways of oppressors and aggressors, because disbelief is one creed.

Believers are believers whatever the time or place and disbelievers are disbelievers whatever the time or place. 

Circumstances that preceded the boycott:

It is important to shed light on the circumstances that preceded the boycott:

Quraysh sent to the Prophet peace and blessings of God be upon him, one of its eminent men to make him an offer, either marry the most beautiful women, be their leader, have a say in every decision they make, or be the wealthiest among them.  Here he said his famous saying to his uncle, “Oh! My uncle, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand, in order that I should give up this mission of mine, I will never do it until God decides whatever He pleases or I die in defence of this truth”

And who said to them, “I did not come to you with what I brought to you to ask for your money, or to gain honour among you, or to rule over you – that was his reply – but God sent me to you as messenger, and He revealed His book to me, and He ordered me to be a bearer of good tidings and warnings, so I conveyed to you the messages of my Lord and advised you, so if you accept what I have brought to you, you have earned your share from this life and the hereafter, and if you reject it then await God’s verdict until He decides between us.”

[The biography of the Prophet]

Conclusions from these stances:

- Man’s decision when it comes to faith is a question of time

The most important deduction from this honourable stance taken by the Prophet prayers and blessings of God be upon him, is that a man has a choice in millions of subjects either to accept or reject, however, when it comes to faith your choice is a choice of time only: you either believe in the right time and reap the fruits of your faith, or you believe when it is too late when your faith is of no use to you, just as Pharaoh believed as he was drowning when he said,

"I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe…"

[10:Yunus, 90]

So God’s reply was,

“Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before”

[10:Yunus, 91]

Therefore, God, exalted be He said what can be interpreted as,

“no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good”

[6: Al-Anaam, 158]

No man on earth, in any of the five continents, of any creed, faith, religion, be it terrestrial or celestial, from any confession or denomination that does not see at death the truth that the Prophets have foretold.

“and We have removed from you your cover, so your sight, this Day, is sharp.”

[50: Qāf, 22]

Believing while drawing your last breath is pointless, and worthless, hence the Prophet said,

“so if you accept what I have brought to you have earned your share from this life and the hereafter, and if you reject it then await God’s verdict until he decides between me and you.”

- All the riches of this worldly life don’t drive a believer away from his faith:

They suggested to him to ask his lord to rid them of the mountains, these black mountains, they suggested to him to ask God to vanish them so that their land becomes a plain. They also asked him to burst some rivers for them and to awaken the dead, then they would believe in him.

" Say, "Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?"

[17: al-Isrā', 93]

“Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed”

[18: al-Kahf, 110]

“And I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen”

[11: Hūd, 31]

Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm

[7: al-A'rāf, 188]

“for I cannot harm you or benefit you before Allah.”

Narrated by Abu Huraira, reported by Muslim

- The Prophet’s weakness leads to voluntary belief:

What is the wisdom in the weakness of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him? He would pass by his companion Ammār Ibn-Yāser while he is being tortured without being able to save him. He would say, “Patience O Yāser’s family for you have been promised paradise.”  Had the Prophet been powerful like some of the powerful people on earth, and ordered people to believe in God, they would have believed in their millions, not out of love for God, nor out of longing for His worship, rather out of fear of the Prophet.  God wants faith that comes voluntarily, an initiative that comes from Man without oppression or pressure or force.  Therefore God exalted be He, says what can be interpreted as,

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion

[2:Al-Baqara, 256]

- Tactics of the disbelievers:  challenge.

They asked the Prophet to ask his Lord to send an angel to support him, and to grant him paradises, treasures and gold and silver castles, his reply was,

" Say, "Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?"

[17: Al-Isra’, 93]

They then suggest it or rather challenged him to drop the sky on them as he keeps saying and threatening. The Prophet’s answer was that this was up to God, if he wishes he will do it. They, “didn’t your God know that we will sit with you, ask you, and request things from you, to teach you how to reply to us? What will He do to us?  Let Him do with us what he wants. They then threatened him with all kinds threats and said, “by God, we will not leave you alone, after what you did to us until we kill you or you kill us.”  They tried to tempt him with offers of marriage to the fairest woman in Quraysh, with wealth, but the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, was a man of principle.

- Tactics of the disbelievers: death threats:

Abu-Jahl decided to kill the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. All that bargaining led to nothing.  The Prophet was a man of principle, and his famous words,

“Oh! My uncle, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand, in order that I should give up this mission of mine, I will never do it until God decides whatever He pleases or I die in defence of this truth”

- Compromise is not a solution:

They made him another offer, you worship what we worship and we worship what you worship.  Compromise is not a solution, but a way to freeze the problem. You worship our gods and we worship your god. His reply was unequivocal,

Say, "O disbelievers –1- I do not worship what you worship –2- Nor are you worshippers of what I worship –3- Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship -4- Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship –5- For you is your religion, and for me is my religion -6-"

[109: Al-Kaafiroon]

The truth can bare no compromise. However a believer can coexist with the other.

So as long as they are upright toward you, be upright toward them.

[9: At-Tawbah, 7]

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

[60: al-Mumtahinah, 8]

- Coexistence with the other is necessary:

Coexistence is necessary. You can visit them, congratulate them on the birth of a child, offer them gifts, help them, all these things are permitted. However, giving up your believes to please the other, that is not permitted.

Conformity is not possible rather coexistence.  Therefore, now with the various denominations, confessions, religions, inclinations, groups and faiths we can coexist.  Each individual has his own relation with God and he is free to hold it at the highest rank.  The methodology of God, exalted is He, must be applied on earth, and there is room in the methodology of God for non-Muslims. Indeed, a Muslim always makes room for the other. Among the verses revealed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,

The Byzantines have been defeated –2- In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome -3- Within three to nine years. To Allah belongs the command before and after…

pay attention now,

And that day the believers will rejoice -4- In the victory of Allah …

[30: Ar-Rūm, 1- 5]

Who achieved victory? The people of the Book.  There are common factors between them and us. The companions were even pleased with the victory of the Byzantines over the Persians, the victory of those who worship God in one way or another over those who worship fire.

We have in Islam this notion of relativity, and the proof:

They were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith

[3: Āl Imrān, 167]

The situation is objective and the rule is relative.

- Tactics of the disbelievers: suggesting altering the Qur’ān:

They then suggested to him to alter the Generous Qur’ān. Today we face the same request, omit the verses of the people of the scripture and Jihad and the verses concerning the Jews.  Any agreements between one of our enemies and a Muslim country has on the top of its demands that our Qur’ān must be changed. Those verses at least cannot be included in the curriculum. Qur’ān should not be recited on radio.  They asked him to change the Qur’ān this was God’s reply to them,

Say, [O Muhammad], "It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."

[10:yunus, 15]

In another verse, and you can rest assured that this is the intention of the other side from the beginning of Human history to the end,

And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you in order to [make] you invent about Us something else; and then they would have taken you as a friend.

[17: Al-isrā’, 73]

All it takes is to agree with them, to abolish a few Islamic laws, to declare that unlawful sex is not a crime as some Islamic countries are being pressurized to do, and to declare that interest is not forbidden and to declare that mixed congregations are a sign of civility.

And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you.

They do not object to your prayer and fasting, they rather encourage you.  They consider it as folklore.  However they object to your economic methodology, to your social methodology. They object to women’s veil, to inflicting a severe punishment on the thief. And they build hope on changing you.

And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you to [make] you invent about Us something else; and then they would have taken you as a friend.

The normalisation of relations comes at the cost of changing what has been revealed to you.

The disbelievers’s schemes fall in the abyss

Be sure that these schemes will never succeed.  They prepared a so-called holy book of twelve chapters for us and named it al-Furqān. Two chapters have been printed and distributed in the Arabic countries on the top students, in some of the verses of this book it says,

“O Muhammad, did you misguide my bondsmen?” He said, “I got misguided so I misguided them.”

These are some of it’s verses that are only worthy of a sarcastic smile:

Those who grind vehemently, and those who knead vehemently.

And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you

And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.74-

Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us a helper. 75

[17:Al-isrā, 74-75]

These are the attempts of people who disbelief from the beginning of humanity and till its end.

to [make] you invent about Us something else, Islam and menstruation, postpartum period, that is not a problem. However Islam and no mixed congregations, Islam and veil, Islam and lawful earning without interest, this is worrying to them.

One of his most vehement enemies, Al-Walīd Ibnul-Mughīra, said, “O people of Quraysh, a matter has befallen you, to which no scheming would work.  You have known Muhammad as a child, the most contented among you, the most truthful among you, the most honest among you, until his hair became grey then he brought to you what he brought to you, you said, a magician and by God he is no magician, for we have seen the magicians and their magic; a priest, and by God he is not a priest, for we have seen the priests and their speeches and we have heard their assonances, and you said, a poet, no by God he is not a poet, we know poetry and we’ve heard all its types, intonations and rhymes. And you have said, a mad man, no by God he is not a mad man, we have seen madness and that is not his illness or ailment.  O people of Quraysh, reconsider your situation, for by God, a grave matter has befallen you.

The reasons for the revelation of the story of the cave dwellers.

The truth is that truth is powerful, even if those upholding it are weak.  The truth is powerful and falsehood is weak even if its supporters are strong.

When they saw the steadfastness of the Prophet in front of all the challenges, his rejection of all the temptations and his firmness in all stages not to mention his honesty, purity and virtuosity, they strongly suspected he was truly a prophet. Hence, they decided to get in touch with the Jews, to inquire about the Prophet peace and blessings of God are upon him. They took the advice of the person who spoke above and asked him and a few others to go to the Jews in Madinah. They went and their priests said, “ask him about three matters, if he replies he is a sent prophet because the Jews,

know him as they know their own sons.

[2:Al-Baqara, 146]

If he replies he is a sent prophet, if not he is a liar. Ask him about a group of youth from the past, what was their story, for it is an amazing story. Also, ask him about a man that travelled to the east and west. What was his story? Ask him about the soul?

So upon returning to Makkah, Al-Walīd ibnul-mughīra said, “we brought you a way to settle what is between you and Muhammad.”  And he recounted what the Jews said. The people of Quraysh asked the Prophet about the three matters. A few days later the chapter of al-Kahf was revealed, about the group of youth.

They were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

[18: Al-Kahf, 13]

The answer about the soul was also revealed,

And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."

[17: Al-Isrā’, 85]

And he answered their queries about Thul-Qarnayn

and We gave him to everything a way -84- So he followed a way –85-

[17: Al-Kahf, 84-85]

They challenged him, blackmailed him, negotiated with him, made some concessions.  He is a man of principles. Therefore, after many desperate attempts, they decided to boycott him.  Before boycotting him, they suggested to Abu-Tālib to hand him to them so that they kill him. When he refused, they decided to boycott him and his companions and whoever supports him, that is to say the tribe of Bani Hāshem.

Economic, social and media boycott.

Now the lesson entitled “Boycott”

The creed of disbelief is one, a disbeliever is a disbeliever, a believer is a believer. They gathered at the foot of the mount of Banu Kinanah in a place in the valley of Mahsab and there they made a pact against banu Hāshim and Banul-Muttalib, not to intermarry or trade or socialize or mix or visit or talk to them.

The most severe boycott inflicted on the people of Iraq does not equal 1 per thousand of what Quraysh did to the Prophet.

All this so that they hand them the Prophet to kill him. They wrote a document that carries pacts and agreements never to accept any peacemaking with banu Hāshim, nor would they feel any pity towards them until they hand them Muhammad to be killed.

Ibnul-Qayyim said: it was written by Mansūr Ibn-Ikrimah Ibn-Āmer Ibn-Hāshem, it was also said that it was written by an-Nadir ibnul-hāreth. The truth is that it was written by Baghīdh (hated) which is a name that fits its carrier, Ibn-Āmer Ibn-Hāshem.  The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, invoked God against him and his hand was paralysed. The document was hanged inside the ka’bah.

Today, it is necessary that you hold election. In Palestine, this was done. It has to be under our supervision. They sent an ex president who monitored the elections. You have to declare the results, they declared them. When the winner was the side they did not approve of, they boycotted it. Today’s boycott bears great similarities to that endured by the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him.

The document was hanged inside the Ka’bah. The tribes of banu Hāshim and banu Muttalib supported the Prophet except for Abu-Lahab. They were besieged in the mountain path of banu Tālib.  It was said that it was in the night of the first of Muharram of the seventh year after the revelation, there were also different accounts. The siege lasted three years and became severe. The Prophet peace and blessings of God are upon him said that he was harmed for upholding the word of God like none has been harmed, and he was threatened for upholding the word of God, like no one has been threatened, and that thirty days and nights would pass without him or Bilal eating anything except what Bilal could smuggle under his armpit.

A few years ago, while circumbulating the Ka’ba, I saw a weak handicapped man carried on a stretcher. I looked at him, a man in his eighties, a bunch of bones shaking. Unfortunately, I see Muslims today like that person, totally resigned, inert, silent, effortless, unproductive, and this is an unbearable negative attitude.

This is why this boycott took place. However the companions of the Prophet stood fast. The siege was tightened. The supplies of wheat were cut off to the point that they had to eat tree leave.  The disbelievers bought any food or merchandise that entered Makkah. The besieged were so exhausted that they ate tree leaves and hide.

We seek refuge in God from famine.  An old bone with remains of dried meat, was a great feast for the hungry.  They locked up some people in some Islamic countries, so they ate each other’s skin, they drank their own urine.  Man is needy, needy for a glass of water.

Once, Harūn ar-Rashīd said to his minister, or his minister asked him, “O Commander of the faithful, how much would you pay for this glass of water if you had no water?” He said, “half my throne.” He said, “If you cannot pass urine, (what would you pay to be relieved)”, He said, “the other half of my kingdom.” Some graces are only appreciated by those who have lost them.

Is there a glass of water to drink? Is there a piece of bread to eat? Is there a medicine to take? Is there a home to shelter you? Is there food to feed you?

Therefore this was the ultimate trial.  However, every trial the Muslim endures is followed by a treat from God. And every hardship a believer goes through brings him closer to God.

He even used to hear the whimpering of the hungry  women and children.

Food was only smuggled. They could only leave the small pass between the mountains to buy what they need in the sacred months. They used to buy from the convoys coming to Makkah from the outside but the people of Makkah used to raise the prices so that they are unable to buy.

Stories from our everyday life

Every person takes a stance. A religious institute lacking space. A land was bought, and half its price was paid. The prices then went up. The institute received a threat from the seller: either you pay the sixty million within ten days or the contract is void and you will not be able to reclaim the payment you’ve made. This is a stance. He wanted to take advantage of the rise in land prices. He put an impossible condition, 10 days. With God’s mercy, the money was delivered on time. However, this stance will be remembered on the Day of Judgment.

Another stance: A very poor man working in a school, his salary is 4000 Syrian pounds. He has eight children. He inherited a land a month ago.

The land was suitable for building a mosque. A good man from al-Mīdān wanted to build a mosque in that place. He had someone check: the land was suitable, the location was perfect, the area was suitable, the geometric shape was suitable, the price was suitable. He then invited the beneficent man to see the land. He liked it and signed a 2 million Syrian pound bond, half the price.  The owner of the land asked the man when he intended to pay him the full amount. He replied, “after the transfer”, he asked, “what transfer?”  He said, “you have to go to the ministry of religious endowments, to transfer the land, because it is going to become a mosque, then you take the remaining sum” He said, “this land will become a mosque?” the man said, “and what is wrong with that?” the owner said, “I sell a land that is to become a mosque! By God, I would be ashamed before God. By God, it is worthier of me that I offer it to God.” And he tore the check and gave the land away. And its Minaret is the second tallest here.  When this man stands before God on the Day of Judgment: a poor man, his income 4000, eight children, deprived, a two rooms dilapidated house, and he receives four millions, and feels ashamed before God to sell a land that will become a Mosque.  If this man stands before God on the Day of Judgment, and the other man stands “you have only ten days. You either pay or the contract is void. You will not get back the down payment you’ve made.”

“Say, ‘Each works according to his manner’”

 [17: al-Isra’, 84]

We were once invited to the inauguration of a mosque in Ya’fūr.  We were greeted by the person who financed this mosque. He had invited many damascan scholars and I gave a speech. He was very hospitable. As I left the mosque, I noticed on the western side on the other side of the road a nightclub. I heard it had all the sinful things that were not known in this country, and that the owner perished within seven days of the opening. It occurred to me then that on the Day of Judgment if the one who built a mosque to please God stood side by side with the one who built a nightclub, what a difference. Therefore, the Almighty said,

Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal

[32: As-Sajda:18]

Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals? (35) What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge? (36)

[68: Al-Qalam, 35-36]

Then is he whom We have promised a good promise which he will obtain like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those presented [for punishment in Hell]?

[28:Al-Qasas, 61]

"Are those who know equal to those who do not know?"

[39: Az-Zumar, 9]

 By Allah, for those who know to be equal to those who don’t know and those who do good to be equal to those who harm, and liars to be equal to honest people, and the trustworthy to be equal to the traitors, this equality would not only be contradictory to the divine justice, it would also contradict the existence of God. Rest assured, if you are an honest believer, then by God, the disappearance of this universe is more bearable to God than to see you treated as the debauched are treated.

“Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal”

“Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?-35-

What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?-36-”

[68: Al-Qalam, 35-36]

Or do those who commit evils think We will make them like those who have believed and done righteous deeds - [make them] equal in their life and their death? Evil is that which they judge.

[45: Al-Jathya,21]

Then is he whom We have promised a good promise which he will obtain like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those presented [for punishment in Hell]?

[28: al-Qasas, 61]

The harsh effects of the unjust boycott:

Note this: he used to hear the whimpering of their hungry women and children. Nothing reached them except in secret. Hakīm Ibn-Hāzem used to, at times, take wheat to his aunt Khadijah, may God be pleased with her. He was once stopped by Abu-Jahl who held on to him to stop him had it not been for the intervention of Abu al-Bukhturah, who enabled him to carry the wheat to his aunt Khadijah. Sneaking… Smuggling… with great difficulty.  Abu Tālib used to fear for the Prophet’s life (peace and blessings of God be upon him), because they were negotiating on his killing, the matter had reached the stage of killing. Therefore, when people were about to sleep, Abu Tālib used to order the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to lay down in his bed so that people see him, then when they were asleep, he would ask one of his children to take the Prophet’s place and take him to sleep in somebody else’s bed. Tight security measures, because they wanted to kill him.

The Muslims and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to go out in the pilgrimage season to meet the people and preach Islam, and we mentioned before what Abu-Lahab used to do.

This boycott, this Islam that has reached you, reached you at a dear price, therefore preserve it.

A conclusion and lesson: preserve graces by being constantly grateful for them.

This situation lasted two or three years. When Iraq became under economic sanctions, inflation reached 23 folds what it was. The highest salary was that of an army general or a university professor, five thousand Dinars. The Dinar was equivalent to 250 Syrian pounds ($5). Then, the highest salary in the country became the worth of plate of eggs. The five thousand Dinars became the price of a plate of eggs. They were forced to work as taxi drivers and tobacco sellers on the streets.

She said, “Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled.”

(27,an-Naml: 34)

Ask Allah to preserve the graces he bestowed upon us in this land, the blessing of a roof over our heads, the blessing of food and beverage.

A man in this mosque came to me and said what happened in Iraq is beyond belief. I said, “how?” He said, “Before the invasion, you used to shut your store and come back in the morning to find it shut. Now you come back and find that it has been opened and ransacked. You send your daughter to school she comes back at noon, now she is kidnapped. No water or water from a polluted river, no liquid petrol, you wait ten hours in the petrol station. No electricity, drugs are sold on the streets.”

"Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.”

Pray to God in the middle of the night to preserve the graces He has bestowed upon us.

Finally the Document was ripped and the sanctions were lifted:

Two or three years passed in this state, and in the month of al-Muharram on the 10^th year after the revelation of Islam, the pact was broken and the siege was lifted because the people of Quraysh were torn between supporting and opposing to this document. There was disagreement and those who disapproved of the document strived to break it.

There is an amusing anecdote related to the breach of this document:

The story of the revocation of the document:

The man behind this was Hisham Ibn-Amr, of Banu Āmer Ibn-Lūay, and he used to visit Banu Hāshim in the mountainous path under the cover of the night carrying food to them. He went to Zuhayr Ibn-Abi-Umayyah al-Makhzūmiy whose mother was Atikah Bint abdul-Muttaleb.

As a matter of fact, I can never forget the memorable stance of the head and leader of the Ghatafān army in the battle of the Trench. He came to fight the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him. He was sitting in his tent, his name was Nu’aym.  He reasoned with himself saying, “O Nu’aym, you are a reasonable man, why did you come here? To kill this pious man? What did he do? Did he shed blood? Did he ransack wealth? Did he cause dishonour? Where is your brain, Nu’aym?” So he stood up and headed to the Muslims’ camp and went into the Prophet’s tent, the Prophet said, “Nu’aym?” he said, “Nu’aym” The Prophet told him, “what brought you here?” He said, “I came to declare my Islam.” That is an army leader that came to fight the Prophet, only to become our master Nu’aym Ibn-Mas’ūd.

It is almost unbelievable that God chose this man to carry the means of the Muslims’ victory in the battle of the Trench. He told him, “Order me what to do.” He said, “you are one” He said, “what should I do” He (the Prophet) said, “go and stir mistrust among the enemy lines”

With unprecedented shrewdness, he caused discord between Quraysh and Bani-Quraydha. Then the hurling wind blew and turned their pots upside down and ripped their tents and put out their fires.

And sufficient was Allah for the believers in battle

[33: al-Ahzāb, 25]

[Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you, and when eyes shifted [in fear], and hearts reached the throats and you assumed about Allah [various] assumptions. –10- There the believers were tested and shaken with a severe shaking.-11-

[33: al-Ahzāb, 10-11]

But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

[2: al-Baqarah, 216]

So Hishām went to Zuhayr, he said, “Zuhayr, (a moment of clear thinking), Zuhayr, how can you be satisfied eating an drinking while your family relation (on your mother’s side of the family) in the state you know?” He said, “what do you suggest I do, I am just one man?” He said, “By God, if I had another man supporting me I would work on abolishing it (the pact)”  He said, “You have found your man” He said, “who?” He said, “I am the second man” Zuhayr Said, “we want a third” He went to Mut’im ibn-Adiy and reminded him of his kinship to Banu Hāshim and Banu Abdul-Muttalib

The sons of abd-Manāf. He admonished him for approving the injustice caused by Quraysh. Mut’im said, “What am I to do, I am just one man” he said, “you found a second” He said, “who?” He said, “me” He said, “we have become three” he said, “indeed” Zuhair said, “We want a fourth” so he went to Abu al-Bukhtariy ibn-Hishām and said to him what he said to Mut’im. He said, “is there anyone to support us in this?” He said, “yes” He asked, “who?” He said, “Zuhayr Ibn-abi-Umayyah, Mut’am ibn-Uday and I are with you.” He said, “we have become five” So he went to Zam’a ibnul-Aswad ibnul-Muttalib ibn-Asad and talked to him and reminded him of their kinship and rights, so he said, “is there anyone to support us in this?” He said, “yes” and named the men. They agreed to work together on abolishing the pact and Zuhayr said, “I will be first to start talking”

The next morning they went to their assembly place. Zuhayr went and circumambulated the Ka’ba seven times then said, “O people of Makkah, do we eat the food, wear the cloths, and Banu Hāshim are on the brink of death? No buying or selling between us and them? By God, I will not sit until this unjust parchment that tears the ties of kinship is torn up.”

If in this nation there aren’t those who stand in the face of injustice, then there is no good in us, this is a profound lesson. Abu Jahl, standing nearby, retorted, “Liar, by God it would never be torn.” Zam’a said, “By God, you are the liar, we did not give our approval when it was written!” Al-Bukhtariy intervened, “Zam’a said the truth, we do not approve of what is written in it or uphold it.” Al-Mut’im ibn-‘Adiy, “You are both right and whoever says otherwise is a liar. We are innocent of this pact and its content before God”Hishān ibn-Amr also second what they said. Abu Jahl said that this was a set up and that the issue had been concocted in another place (before putting it to the people here).

Meanwhile, Abu Tālib 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 and blessings of God 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 God. He contended that he would be ready to give Muhammad, peace and Blessings 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 God). 

In the name of God they commit injustice! There are people now who commit injustice and say, “God granted me success in this” How did God grant you success? Is it in the name of God that we commit injustice?

The proclamation was thus abrogated, and the Prophet, peace and Blessings of God be upon him and the other people were permitted to leave the narrow mountainous path. The polytheists witnessed a striking sign of his Prophethood but they were as God said about them,

[54: al-Qamar, 2] 

Each trial is followed by a treat

They turned their backs at this verse and persisted in their disbelief.

In brief, al the threats of boycott we hear from time to time, to let the Palestinian people die of hunger are not new to the history of Muslims, but God stands by his bondsmen,

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

[3:Āl Imrān, 139]

Every trial is followed by a treat and every hardship is followed by a leap of faith,

And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

[12: Yussuf, 21]

And they had planned their plan, but with Allah is [recorded] their plan, even if their plan had been [sufficient] to do away with the mountains.-46- So never think that Allah will fail in His promise to His messengers. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution.-47-

[14:Ibrāhīm, 46-47]

And if you are patient and fear Allah , their plot will not harm you at all.

[3:Āl Imrān, 120]

Then God Almighty says what can be interpreted as,

“Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allah . So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome.”

[8:al-Anfāl, 36]

All praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds