The Boycott [Part 17]

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The Qurayshi boycott of the Muslims came about when the influential uncle of the Prophet, Hamzah bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib, accepted Islaam. He was well-respected and was known for his bravery and courage. So this was seen as a minor victory for the Muslims, thus led to Qurayshi backlash.

The Quraysh tribe all stemmed from their great grandfather who was called Abdul-Manaf. 

Abdul-Manaf had four children: Hashim, Mutallib, Nawfal and Abdu-Shams.

These then became heads of the sub-tribes that formed Quraysh.

Banu Hashim had a strong allegiance with Banu Mutallib and Banu Nawfal had a strong allegiance with Banu Abdu-Shams.

So it was this that pivoted around the formation of the boycott. Because the Prophet was from Banu Hashim, Banu Nawfal and Banu Abdus-Shams agreed that they will boycott Banu Hashim and because of their allegiance - Banu Mutallib as well.

The boycott meant that they will not trade with them, not inter-marry with them and not even speak or social with them. It was a complete cut-off of the two opposing tribes (except for Abu Jahl who was from Banu Hashim), until Banu Hashim and Banu Mutallib either stop the Prophet from preaching or they hand him over for them to persecute him (as he has always been under the broader security of the Quraysh up until this point).

Banu Nawfal and Banu Abdus-Shams made this allegiance and wrote the details of the covenant on a parchment and placed it within the Ka’bah. The man responsible to write the document was a man called an-Nadr bin al-Haarith. The Prophet supplicated against him and he was later paralyzed in the hand that he wrote the covenant with.

This boycott continued for three years until one day a group of the Quraysh wanted to look over the document again and found that ants had eaten away the parchment leaving nothing behind except for phrases of Dhikr of Allaah. This signaled the end of the boycott.

Abu Talib wrote poetry throughout this ordeal praising Banu Hashim and Banu Mutallib and the Muslims within them.

Commentary

- Abu talib wrote poetry in which he described the Prophet as being a sincere warner and how he came with the best of religions. Unfortunately, he died a Kaafir but the Prophet will be granted permission to intercede for him and his punishment will be reduced. Ibn Hajar has a chapter in his book al-Isaabah in which he refutes the claims that Abu Taalib he died a Muslim. All of this shows that no matter how close we may think we are to guidance, we will never get it without the Mercy of Allaah – so its upon us all to ask for steadfastness.

-In this incident, there is also proof that the religion can and will be aided by those who are pious and those who are non-pious alike.