Basic HTML Version
49
explained in detail; — a Qur'ân in Arabic for people who know. Giving glad tidings [of
Paradise to the one who believes in the Oneness of Allâh (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) and fears
Allâh much (abstains from all kinds of sins and evil deeds.) and loves Allâh much
(performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], and warning (of punishment in
the Hell-fire to the one who disbelieves in the Oneness of Allâh), but most of them turn
away, so they listen not. And they say: Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that
to which you invite us …" [41: 1-5]
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) went on reciting the Chapter while 'Utbah sitting and
listening attentively with his hand behind his back to support him. When the Messenger reached the
verse that required prostration, he immediately prostrated himself. After that, he turned to 'Utbah
saying: "Well Abu Al-Waleed! You have heard my reply, you are now free to do whatever you
please." 'Utbah then retired to his company to apprise them of the Prophet's attitude. When his
compatriots saw him, they swore that he had returned to them with a countenance unlike the one
he had before meeting the Prophet (Peace be upon him) . He immediately communicated to them
the details of the talk he gave a nd the reply he received, and appended saying: "I have never heard
words similar to those ones he recited. They definitely relate neither to poetry nor to witchcraft nor
do they derive from soothsaying. O people of Quraish! I request you to heed my advice and grant
the man full freedom to pursue his goals, in which case you could safely detach yourselves from
him. I swear that his words bear a supreme Message. Should the other Arabs rid you of him, they
will then spare you the trouble, on the other hand if he accedes to power over the Arabs, then you
will bask in his kingship and share him his might." These words of course fell on deaf ears, and did
not appeal to the infidels, who jeered at 'Utbah and claimed that the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
had bewitched him.
In another version of the same event, it is related that 'Utbah went on attentively listening to the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) until the latter began to recite Allâh's Words:
"But if they turn away, they say [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ]: "I have warned you
of a
Sa'iqa
(a destructive awful cry, torment, hit, a thunder-bolt) like the
Sa'iqa
which
overtook 'Ad and Thamûd (people)." [41:13]
Here 'Utbah stood up panicked and stunned putting his hand on the Prophet's mouth beseeching
him: "I beg you in the Name of Allâh and uterine ties to stop lest the calamity should befall the
people of Quraish." He then hurriedly returned to his compatriots and informed them of what he had
heard.
ABU TALIB ASSEMBLES BANI HASHIM ND BANI AL-MUTTALIB:
The new and welcome
changes notwithstanding, Abu Talib still had a deep sensation of fear over his nephew. He
deliberated on the previous series of incidents including the barter affair of 'Amarah bin Al-Waleed,
Abu Jahl's rock, 'Uqbah's attempt to choke the Prophet (Peace be upon him) , and finally 'Umar's
(before conversion) intention to kill Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The wise man understood that
all of these unequivocally smacked of a serious plot being hatched to disregard his status as a
custodian of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and kill the latter publicly. In the event of such a
thing, Abu Talib deeply believed, neither 'Umar nor Hamzah would be of any avail, socially powerful
though they were.
Abu Talib was right. The polytheists had laid a carefully-studied plan to kill the Prophet (Peace be
upon him), and banded together to put their plan into effect. He, therefore, assembled his kinsfolk
of Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib, sons of 'Abd Munaf and exhorted them to immunize and
defend his nephew. All of them, whether believers or disbelievers, responded positively except his
brother Abu Lahab, who sided with the idolaters.
ATTEMPTS MADE TO CHECK THE ONWARD MARCH OF ISLAM:
Having fully perceived that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) could never be desisted from his Call,
Quraish, in a desperate attempt to quell the tidal wave of the Call, resorted to other cheap means
acting from base motives:
Click on View to read this book online under free books www.islamicbulletin.com