The Boycott of Banu Hashim: Quraysh’s Social and Econom Siege
Quraysh then adopted a new strategy against the Prophet Muhammad ď·ş and his supporters: a complete social and economic boycott of Banu Hashim.
They gathered and wrote a document declaring that they would neither marry from Banu Hashim nor allow marriages with them. They would not trade with them, buy from them, speak with them, visit their sick, or attend their funerals.
This boycott became a severe trial for Banu Hashim. They suffered greatly from hardship, hunger, and deprivation as Quraysh attempted to force them to abandon their protection of Muhammad ď·ş.
The siege continued for nearly three years. It only ended when some members of Quraysh felt sympathy for the suffering of Banu Hashim and decided to oppose the injustice of the agreement. They tore up the document and restored communication with the clan.
The Death of Abu Talib and Khadijah: The Year of Sorrow
In the tenth year of the Prophet’s mission, Muhammad ď·ş lost two of his greatest supporters and sources of strength: Abu Talib and Khadijah.
Khadijah was the first woman to accept Islam. She supported the Prophet ď·ş with her strong character, wealth, social position, and unwavering kindness. Whenever he faced difficulties, she provided him with comfort, encouragement, and strength.
Abu Talib, meanwhile, was the shield that protected the Prophet ď·ş. His position and influence among Quraysh prevented many attacks from reaching Muhammad ď·ş. Among the words attributed to him was:
“By God, they will never reach you with their entire force until I am buried beneath the earth.”
Abu Talib died at the age of eighty-seven. Most historians believe that he passed away without publicly accepting Islam. However, some scholars have cited reports attributed to Al-Abbas that Abu Talib said verses on his deathbed, including:
Based on such reports, some researchers have suggested that Abu Talib may have believed in Muhammad’s message but did not openly declare it.
The death of Abu Talib occurred only three days before the death of Khadijah, according to some historical accounts. Their loss marked one of the most difficult periods in the Prophet’s life, later known as the Year of Sorrow.
The Prophet’s Suffering After the Death of Abu Talib and Khadijah
After the deaths of Abu Talib and Khadijah, the Prophet Muhammad ď·ş faced some of the harshest persecution from Quraysh.
Ibn Ishaq reported that when Abu Talib passed away, Quraysh inflicted upon the Prophet ď·ş forms of harm that they had previously avoided while his uncle was alive. Among the strongest opponents of the Prophet were Abu Lahab, his uncle, as well as Al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As and Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt. Many of them were close neighbors of the Prophet and would deliberately harm him by placing filth near him, especially during his prayer and while he was eating.
The wife of Abu Lahab played a major role in this hostility. She used to place thorns at night near the Prophet’s doorway, hoping to hurt him when he left early in the morning for prayer. The Qur’an mentioned her actions in a special chapter, Surat Al-Masad.
Quraysh’s abuse also reached the point where they would throw harmful objects and dirt upon the Prophet ď·ş while he was praying in the mosque. On one occasion, some of them attempted to strangle him and nearly killed him, until Abu Bakr intervened and shouted:
“Would you kill a man simply because he says: My Lord is God?”
Abu Bakr then defended the Prophet ď·ş and rescued him from their attack.
On another occasion, while the Prophet ď·ş was teaching his companions in the mosque, Quraysh became enraged and attacked them. Both the Prophet ď·ş and Abu Bakr suffered severe physical abuse during this assault.
The Prophet’s Search for a New Path After the Loss of His Supporters
After the deaths of Abu Talib and Khadijah, and after Quraysh had intensified their persecution beyond all limits of human dignity and noble conduct, the Prophet ď·ş realized that remaining in Mecca had become increasingly difficult.
Therefore, he began planning to spread the message of Islam beyond Mecca, hoping to find another place where the call to worship God could continue in safety and freedom.
Seeking a New Home for Islam: The Journey Beyond Mecca
After the persecution in Mecca intensified, the Prophet Muhammad ď·ş began searching for a place where he could continue conveying the message of Islam in an environment that was more accepting and secure.
He started visiting different regions, presenting the principles of the new faith to their people and inviting them to worship God alone. Yet this stage was also filled with hardship and disappointment. Many people responded by saying:
“If there had been any good in his message, his own people and relatives would have accepted it first.”
Among the most difficult experiences the Prophet ď·ş faced was his journey to Ta’if. He went there seeking support and invited some of the city’s leaders to believe in the oneness of God. However, they rejected his call and refused to treat him with respect. Instead, they encouraged their servants and foolish people to insult him, shout at him, and throw stones at him.
Despite this painful rejection, the Prophet ď·ş did not lose hope. During this moment of extreme hardship, he turned to God and said:
“O Lord, if You are not angry with me, then I do not care.”
Calling the Tribes During the Pilgrimage Season
After the experience of Ta’if, the Prophet ď·ş turned his attention toward the Arab tribes who came to Mecca during the pilgrimage season.
He began meeting delegations from different regions, presenting himself to them and explaining his message, the principles of the new religion, and the call to worship God alone.
Ironically, Quraysh’s attempts to stop the spread of Islam contributed to its growth. They sent representatives among the visiting tribes, warning them against Muhammad ď·ş and accusing him of being a magician, a madman, and other false accusations.
However, these warnings had an unexpected effect. They encouraged many visitors to seek out Muhammad ď·ş themselves, wanting to see the person behind this new movement and discover whether Quraysh’s claims were true.
Instead of people avoiding him, they began searching for him, secretly and openly.
They came expecting to find a person without reason, but discovered someone known for wisdom and clarity. They came expecting deception, but found a message far removed from magic and superstition.
When they listened to the Qur’an, heard Muhammad’s words, and learned about his teachings and vision, many were deeply moved. Gradually, hope began to emerge, and the message of Islam started spreading beyond Mecca.
The miraculous nature of the Qur’an and the principles of the Islamic message became among the most important reasons that attracted people to the new faith.
