Tria/s, Elet'alion, and Hoper^67Among the Quraysh, many tho ught that this boycott was unnecessary,
if not useless. Some of course were linked to the clan by kinship ties,
which were impossible to forget or disown. There were numerous
attempts to put an end to the banishment in the co urse of those three
years, but they never succeeded because a number of ke y figures, such as
Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl, refused to discuss the matter. Finally, change
came through the initiative of a few individuals seeking allies in each of
the clans. While tbe people were gathered ncar tbe Kaba, one of them
addressed the others, objecting to the boycott on the Banu Hashim;
anotber man in tbe crowd joined him, then another, then a fourth. Abu
Jahl attempted to intervene, but the assembly, many of whom were of the
same opinion but dared not speak out, v,ras overwhelmingly opposed to
the boycott. One of the members of the group who had initiated this lit-
tle uprising went into the Kaba, took hold of the text stipulating the boy-
cott decision, and tore it up. The hard-liners felt there was no point in
resisting, and the ban was lifted. T he relief was palpable in the two clans
excluded, so intolerable had the situation become.
The Year of Sorrow
For several montbs after the boycott ended, the situation improved for
the small Musum community. Tbey again were able to develop ties of
friendship and working relationships with the Quraysh people. Tbe
Prophet continued to convey his message, and the visibility sought by
Umar ibn al-Kbattab had become an everyday reality in Mecca, altbough
the insults and persecutions had not stopped.
Things were soon to change dramatically, however. Kbadijah, the
Prophet'S wife, died shortly after tbe boycott was lifted. She had been
IV[uhammad's wife, companion in faitb, and most reliable support for over
twenty-five years, and God called her back to Him nine years after the
beginning of the mission, in 619 CEo The Prophet's grief was very deep:
he had, at a very early stage, received from the Angel Gabriel the news of
his wife's election, and be knew that Khadijah's presence by his side had
been one of tbe signs of God's protection and love. In the light of her
presence and of the role sbe played in his life, one can grasp the multiple
possible meanings in a verse that was to be revealed mucb later, which