The Beginning of PersecutionThe Prophet of God (r) preached Islam openly in the streets of Makkah, yet the Quraysh
remained cool and indifferent to him; neither did they turn against him nor did they ever
feel that their Religion was at stake. They did not even care to refute the Prophet (r) but
when he started talking critically of their gods, they felt offended and decided to rebuke
him. Muhammed (r) would have been at the mercy from the radicals of the merchant’s
republic of Makkah, but Abu Talib, the Prophet's (r) uncle, continued to treat him kindly
and stood up in his defense. And, the Prophet (r), equally determined to actively propagate
his new faith, continued to call the people to Islam. Nothing could stop the Prophet (r) from
preaching the commands of his God, in the same way that nothing could also dissuade Abu
Talib to waive his protection from the nephew he so loved more than his sons.
ABU TALIB’S ANXIETY
The Prophet (r) was now the much-talked about problem among the Quraysh. They con-
ferred and consulted one another how to face the danger that the Prophet (r) with his
sweet tongue portended before them. At last, the leading men of the Quraysh approached
Abu Talib and said to him, “O Abu Talib, you are old and we hold you in high esteem. We
had asked you to restrain your nephew but you did nothing. By God, we cannot tolerate any
longer that our fathers should be denounced, that we should be labeled ignoramuses and
frivolous and our gods insulted. Either you must stop him or we will fight both of you, until
one of us perishes.” (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 256-66)
The old leader of Makkah remained deep in thought, distressed at the rift with his people
and their hostility but he was nither willing to desert his nephew surrender give him to his
enemies. He went for the Prophet (r) and said, “Son of my brother, your people came to
me and threatened me with dire consequences if you continue to preach your religion.
Spare my life and yours and do not impose on me a burden greater than I can bear.” The
Prophet (r) thought that his uncle was no longer willing to shield him, that he intended to
give him up. He answered, “O my uncle, by God, if they were to place the sun in my right
hand and the moon in my left, and ask me to abandon this course, I would not turn from it
until God makes it victorious or I perish therein.”
Tears flowed from the eyes of the Prophet (r). With a heavy heart, he got up to depart.
But, Abu Talib could not bear to look at his nephew’s sorrow. Before he had reached the
threshold, Abu Talib cried out, “Come back, my nephew.” And when he returned, Abu Talib
said, “Go where you please and say what you will. By God, I will never deliver you to your
enemies.” (Ibn Hisham Vol. I. pp. 265-66)