CALLING THE CLOSET KINSPEOPLE:

CALLING THE CLOSET KINSPEOPLE:

In obedience to Allâh's Commands, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) rallied his kinsmen of Bani

Hashim with a group of Bani Al-Muttalib bin 'Abd Munaf. The audience counted forty-five men.

Abu Lahab immediately took the initiative and addressed the Prophet (Peace be upon him): "These

are your uncles and cousins, speak on to the point, but first of all you have got to know that your

kinspeople are not in a position to withstand all the Arabs. Another point you have got to bear in

mind is that your relatives are sufficient unto you. If you follow their tradition, it will be easier for

them than to face the other clans of Quraish supported by the other Arabs. Verily, I have never

heard of anyone who has incurred more harm on his kinspeople than you." The Messenger of Allâh

(Peace be upon him) kept silent and said nothing 7in that meeting.

He invited them to another meeting and managed to secure audience. He then stood up and

delivered a short speech explaining quite cogently what was at stake. He said: "I celebrate Allâh's

praise, I seek His help, I believe in Him, I put my trust in Him, I bear witness that there is no god to

be worshipped but Allâh with no associate. A guide can never lie to his people. I swear by Allâh,

there is no god but He, that I have been sent as a Messenger to you, in particular and to all the

people, in general. I swear by Allâh you will die just as you sleep, you will be resurrected just as you

wake up. You will be called to account for your deeds. It is then either Hell forever or the Garden

(Paradise) forever."

Abu Talib replied: "We love to help you, accept your advice and believe in your words. These are

your kinspeople whom you have collected and I am one of them but I am the fastest to do what you

like. Do what you have been ordered. I shall protect and defend you, but I can't quit the religion of

'Abdul-Muttalib."

Abu Lahab then said to Abu Talib: " I swear by Allâh that this is a bad thing. You must stop him

before the others do." Abu Talib, however, answered: "I swear by Allâh to protect him as long as I

am alive."

ON MOUNT AS-SAFA: After the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) became sure of Abu

Talib's commitment to his protection while he called the people unto Allâh, he stood up on Mount

As-Safa one day and called out loudly: "O Sabahah! * " Septs of Quraish came to him. He called

them to testify to the Oneness of Allâh and believe in his Messengership and the Day of

Resurrection. Al-Bukhari reported part of this story on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas 9May Allah be

pleased with him). He said: "When the following verses were revealed:

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"And warn your tribe [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ] of near kindred." [26:214]

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) ascended Mount As-Safa and started to call: "O Bani

Fahr! O Bani 'Adi (two septs of Quraish)." Many people gathered and those who couldn't, sent

somebody to report to them. Abu Lahab was also present. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"You see, if I were to tell you that there were some horsemen in the valley planning to raid you, will

you believe me?" They said: "Yes, we have never experienced any lie from you." He said: "I am a

warner to you before a severe torment." Abu Lahab promptly replied: "Perish you all the day! Have

you summoned us for such a thing?" The verses were immediately revealed on that occasion:

"Perish the two hands of Abi Lahab..." [111:1].

Muslim reported another part of this story on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Alah be pleased

with him) — He said: "When the following verses were revealed:

"And warn your tribe [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ] of near kindred." [26:214]

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) called all the people of Quraish; so they gathered and

he gave them a general warning. Then he made a particular reference to certain tribes, and said: "O

Quraish, rescue yourselves from the Fire; O people of Bani Ka'b, rescue yourselves from Fire; O

Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) , rescue yourself from the Fire, for I have no

power to protect you from Allâh in anything except that I would sustain relationship with you."

It was verily a loud suggestive Call stating unequivocally to the closest people that belief in his

Message constituted the corner-stone of any future relation between him and them, and that the

blood-relation on which the whole Arabian life was based, had ceased to exist in the light of that

Divine ultimatum.

SHOUTING THE TRUTH AND THE POLYTHEISTS' REACTION:

The Prophet's voice kept reverberating in Makkah until the following verse was revealed:

"Therefore proclaim openly (Allâh's Message — Islamic Monotheism), that which you are

commanded, and turn away from Al-Mushrikûn (polytheists)." [15:94]

He then commenced discrediting the superstitious practices of idolatry, revealing its worthless

reality and utter impotence, and giving concrete proofs that idolatry per se or taking it as the media

through which an idolater could come in contact with Allâh, is manifest falsehood.

The Makkans, on their part, burst into outrage and disapproval. Muhammad's (Peace be upon him)

words created a thunderbolt that turned the Makkan time -honoured ideological life upside down.

They could ill afford to hear someone attaching to polytheists and idolaters, the description of

straying people. They started to rally their resources to settle down the affair, quell the onward

marching revolution and deal a pre-emptive strike to its votaries before it devours and crushes down

their consecrated traditions and long standing heritage. The Makkans had the deep conviction that

denying godship to anyone save Allâh and that belief in the Divine Message and the Hereafter are

interpreted in terms of complete compliance and absolute commitment, and this in turn leaves no

area at all for them to claim authority over themselves and over their wealth, let alone their

subordinates. In short, their arrogated religiously-based supremacy and highhandedness would no

longer be in effect; their pleasures would be subordinated to the pleasures of Allâh and His

Messenger and lastly they would have to abstain from incurring injustices on those whom they

falsely deemed to be weak, and perpetrating dreadful sins in their everyday life. They had already

been fully aware of these meanings, that is why their souls would not condescend to accept this

'disgraceful' position not out of motives based on dignity and honour but rather because:

"Nay! (Man denies Resurrection and Reckoning. So) he desires to continue committing sins."

[75:5]

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They had been aware of all these consequences but they could afford to do nothing before an honest

truthful man who was the highest example of good manners and human values. They had never

known such an example in the history of theifolks or grandfathers. What would they do? They were

baffled, and they had the right to be so.

Following careful deliberations, they hit upon the only target available, i.e. to contact the

Messenger's uncle, Abu Talib and request him to intervene and advise his nephew to stop his

activities. In order to attach a serious and earnest stamp to their demand, they chose to touch the

most sensitive area in Arabian life, viz., ancestral pride. They addressed Abu Talib in the following

manner: "O Abu Talib! Your nephew curses our gods; finds faults with our way of life, mocks at our

religion and degrades our forefathers; either you must stop him, or you must let us get at him. For

you are in the same opposition as we are in opposition to him; and we will rid you of him." Abu Talib

tried to appease their wrath by giving them a polite reply. The Prophet (Peace be upon him),

however, continued on his way preaching Allâh's religion and calling men hitherto, heedless of all

their desperate attempts and malicious intentions