|
Throughout history, the enemies of Islam have sought in
many ways to break the willpower of the Muslim Ummah. The recent economic
blockade against the elected Palestinian government and the Palestinian
people is just one example. Hunger is an efficient weapon, and the scene
of children starving to death is enough to break the strongest willpower.
However, such attempts failed to subjugate the Muslim Ummah. In the early
years of the Islamic call, the Muslims faced an economic and social
boycott that lasted three years. The following article relates the details
of this event.
The following four events of special significance occurred
within less than four weeks:
1- The conversion of Hamzah, the Prophet's uncle and one
of the Quraish tribe's most prominent figures
2- The conversion of `Umar, another influential member of
Quraish tribe
3- The Prophet's refusal to negotiate any sort of
compromise
4- The pact drawn up between the clans of two tribes in
Makkah to protect the Prophet and shield him against any assassination
attempt
The Makkan polytheists had no idea what they could do with
the situation which was slowly destroying their entire way of life. They
had already been aware that if they were to kill the Prophet, then they
would also be killed. Taking this dreadful prospect into consideration,
they grudgingly resorted to a different course that would not imply
murder.
A Pact of Injustice and Aggression
The polytheists of Makkah held a meeting in a place
outside of Makkah, and formed a confederation in opposition to two tribes
of Makkah that supported Muhammad. They decided not to have any business
dealings or intermarriage with them. They vowed that all social relations,
visits, and even verbal contact with Muhammad and his supporters would be
discontinued until Muhammad was given up to them to be killed. The
articles of their proclamation, which called for merciless measures to be
taken against the two Makkan tribes, were recorded by a polytheist and
then hung inside the Ka`bah.
Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, wisely decided to withdraw
to a valley on the eastern outskirts of Makkah. Two Makkan tribes followed
him and hid in the narrow pass for a period of three years. The food
supply was almost gone and the people faced great hardships. The
polytheists would purchase all of the food supplies that entered Makkah to
prevent the people in exile from obtaining them. The two tribes were so
famished that they had to resort to eating leaves and animals skins. Cries
of little children suffering from hunger could be heard in the valley.
The only food supplies that would reach them were smuggled
on a few occasions by compassionate Makkans. During the prohibited months
— when hostilities traditionally ceased betweens enemy tribes — they
would leave their camp to buy food supplies from caravans entering Makkah.
Even then, the food was overpriced and they could hardly afford to
purchase anything.
One Makkan was once smuggling some wheat to his aunt when
Abu Jahl, the Prophet's wicked uncle, intercepted him. Only when another
Makkan intervened was the man able to reach his aunt. Abu Talib, the
Prophet's kind uncle, was very concerned about the personal safety of his
nephew. In an attempt to trick a potential assassin, Abu Talib would ask
the Prophet to lie in his place when everyone was asleep, but when the
others fell asleep, he would order him to change his place and take
another.
Despite all odds, the Prophet kept his faith, and his
determination and his courage never weakened. He continued to go to the
Ka`bah and to pray publicly. He used every opportunity to preach to
outsiders who visited Makkah for business or on pilgrimage during the
sacred months and special festive seasons.
This situation ultimately created dissension among various
Makkan factions who were tied with the exiled people by blood. After three
years of blockade, the pact was broken. One Makkan, who would secretly
smuggle some food to the Muslims at night, went to see a polytheist Makkan
and reproached him for the maltreatment of his uncles in exile. The
polytheist Makkan argued that he had no influence, but agreed to cooperate
with him to form a coalition that would allow the exiled tribes to return
to Makkan.
Sympathetic with the two tribes in exile, many of whom
they were related to, a group of five Makkan tribesmen set out to cancel
the pact, which they declared to be void. They decided to meet in their
assembly place and to begin their mission from the Ka`bah. One tribesman
circumambulated seven times along with his colleagues and then approached
the polytheist Makkans and rebuked them for indulging in luxury while
their relatives were perishing in the valley due to starvation and
economic boycott.
During the confrontation, Abu Talib was sitting in a
corner of the Ka`bah's enclosure. He came to communicate to them that a
revelation had been sent to his nephew Muhammad (peace and blessings be
upon him) that white ants had eaten away the written pact miraculously
leaving only the parts that had the name of Allah written on them.
Abu Talib made an offer: He would be ready to give
Muhammad up to them if his words proved untrue, but if they proved to be
true, they would have to recant and repeal their boycott. The Makkans
agreed to this proposition. When they went to see the parchment, they
discovered that the Prophet's revelation was true and that the entire
parchment had been eaten away by the ants except for the name of Allah. As
a result, the pact was cancelled and Muhammad and the members of the two
tribes were permitted to return home to Makkah.
|
