بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Circle 7: Boycott and Sanctions Against Da’wah Carriers and Their Followers
Today we will discuss the third tactic used by the Quraysh against the Prophet’s (saw) da’wah which is: complete boycott of da’wah carriers and their followers.
The Issue of the Document (Swahifah)
When the Quraysh saw that the Companions had sought refuge in Abyssinia and were accorded peace and serenity and Negus expulsion of the Quraysh who came to him, Umar’s embracing of Islam…!!! And his and Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttwalib’s support to the Prophet (saw) and his companions…!!! And the spread of Islam to tribes, they gathered together and conspired between themselves, to write a covenant which will boycott Banu Hashim and Bani Abd al-Muttalib, neither to marry from them nor marry to them, neither to sell to them nor buy from them…!!!
Having agreed on the terms they documented them, and sticking it inside the Ka’abah, as a way of emphasis upon themselves. The Quraysh confined Muslims and members of Banu Hashim in the valley of Abu Talib, and the boycott continued for a period of three (3) years. The sanctions persisted till they resorted to feeding on leaves due to starvation…!!!
The End of the Embargo:
Among the Quraysh there are those who agreed to this boycott and those who detested it. As for those who detested it, they worked hard to end the agreement led by Hisham ibn Amru. Hisham used to communicate with Banu Hashim in the valley sending to them food at night while hiding. He went to Zuhayr al-Makhzumiy and told him: “Oh Zuhayr! Are you contented that you eat, drink, dress up and marry while your uncles are in a situation that you know? Neither is it sold to them nor bought from them, neither are they married from them nor married to them…?!!” Zuhayr replied: “Woe unto me what will I do alone? Were there another person I would have stood behind him to break the agreement”. Hisham said: “You have for you another person”. Zubayr asked: “Who is it?” Hisham replied: “Me”. Zubayr told him: “Look for us a third person”.
Hisham went to Mut’im ibn Adiy and said: “Are you contented that two kinfolks from Bani Abd Manaf are exterminated, while you witness it and concur with the Quraysh in this oppression?” Mut’im replied: “What will I do me alone?” Hisham said: “You have for you a second person”. Mut’im asked: “Who?” Hisham said: “It’s Me”. Mut’im said: “Look for us a third person”. He said: “Already”. Mut’im asked: “Who?” Hisham said: “Zuhayr bin Abi Umayyah”. Mut’im said: “Look for us a fourth person”.
Hisham ibn Amru went to Bakhtariy ibn Hisham and told him the same way he told Mut’im ibn Adiy to which he (Bakhtariy) asked: “Is there anyone who will assist on this?” Hisham replied: “Yes”. Amr asked: “Who?” Hisham replied: “It’s Zuhayr ibn Umayyah and Mut’im ibn Adiy and I am with them”. Mut’im said: “Look for us a fifth person”.
He went to Zam’ah ibn Aws and talked to him, he informed him of their ties and rights. Zam’ah asked: “On this matter that you are calling for is there anyone else?” Hisham replied: “Yes”. He mentioned to him all the others, they agreed to meet at night at “HUJUN” a high mountain in the city of Mecca where they met and agreed upon breaking the agreement, Zuhayr said: “I will be the one to start for you and the first to speak”.
At the break of dawn, they returned to their homesteads and Zuhayr came back dressed nicely, he circumambulated around the Ka’abah seven times, then he faced people and said: ” Oh people of Mecca! Are we to eat and dress up while Banu Hashim is destroyed neither sold to them nor bought from them! By Allah, I will not rest till this oppressive agreement is torn apart”. Abu Jahl who was seated at the corner of the mosque said: “You have lied it won’t be torn apart!!!”
Zam’ah ibn Aswad said: “By Allah, you are the biggest liar we never reviewed this agreement while writing it!!!” Abu al-Bakhtariy ibn Adiy said: “You two have spoken the truth and he who speaks against it is a liar!!! We seek refuge from Allah from this agreement and what is written inside of it!!!”
Hisham ibn Amru reiterated it!!! Abu Jahl said: “This matter has been predetermined at night people negotiated elsewhere far from here”. Mut’im stood up to tear the agreement only to see that termites had eaten it except the words ” BISMIKALLAHUMMA” i.e. By your Name oh Lord.
From this incident, the agreement was abolished, the Prophet (saw) and those among him got out of the valley. Indeed, the Quraysh saw a great miracle among the miracles of his prophethood nevertheless they ignored and persisted in their disbelief upon disbelief.
As Allah (swt) explains:
وَإِنْ يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ
And if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, “Passing magic.”
[TMQ 54:2]
It will continue in UQAB Issue 12… In Shaa Allah.