The polytheists unanimously agreed to fight the Da‘wah (Islamic call), which was exposing the vices of their reality, insulting their gods, and belittling their opinions, thoughts and conceptions about Allah The Almighty, life, man and the universe. Hence, they adopted several methods to put an end to the Da‘wah and silence it or at least limit its spread.
First: The Quraysh attempted to stop Abu Taalib from protecting and supporting the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).
The people of the Quraysh went to Abu Taalib and said, “Your nephew has harmed us in our gatherings and our mosque, so forbid him from doing so.” Therefore, Abu Taalib addressed the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saying, “Your cousins allege that you harm them in their gatherings and mosque, so stop doing so.” The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) looked to the sky and said: “Do you see the sun?” “Yes,” was the answer. He then said: “It is impossible for me to stop promoting this issue [and in another narration, ‘…to stop spreading what I have been sent with’] just as it is impossible for you to kindle a flame from it [the sun].” Thereupon, Abu Taalib said, “By Allah, my nephew has never lied, so leave in peace.”
Later on, the Quraysh tried repeatedly to exert pressure on the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) through his family but failed.
The protection provided for the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) by his uncle Abu Taalib and his determination to continue supporting him were circulated, and this truly troubled the Quraysh. Hence, they went to Abu Taalib once again accompanied by ‘Imaarah bin Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah, and said, “O Abu Taalib! We have brought you the smartest and most handsome young man of the Quraysh so that you may make use of his blood money [if he happens to be killed] and strength, and take him as a son in exchange for your nephew, who has run counter to your religion, brought about social discord, and found fault with your way of life, so that we can kill him and rid you of his endless troubles; just man for man.” Abu Taalib's reply was, “This is really an unfair bargain. You give me your son to bring him up and I give you my son to kill him! By Allah, this is something incredible!”
Indeed, one stands astonished before the chivalry of Abu Taalib with the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). He linked his fate with that of his nephew Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and even utilized his position as the leader of the Banu Haashim in joining the Banu Haashim and the Banu Al-Muttalib [both Muslims and polytheists] in a single allegiance to sacrifice their lives in defense of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Abu Taalib provided his nephew with unconditional protection. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) made use of these pre-Islamic traditions in serving Islam. When Abu Taalib saw that the Quraysh were antagonizing the Banu Haashim and the Banu Al-Muttalib, he called them to join him in his stand regarding protecting the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Hence, they all responded to him, with the exception of the enemy of Allah, Abu Lahab.
Abu Taalib praised his people for their courageous and sympathetic stand, referring to the virtues of Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and his status among them to strengthen their determination and encourage them to continue supporting him.
When Abu Jahl tried to violate this protection given to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) Hamzah, may Allah be pleased with him, confronted him, wounding him in the head saying, “Do you insult Muhammad while I am following his religion! Try to revenge yourself on me if you dare!”
It was a unique phenomenon to see the polytheists protecting the one who insulted their gods and belittled their opinions and beliefs. Furthermore, they, in the name of these traditions, were ready to sacrifice their souls and engage in wars in defense of Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).
When Abu Taalib feared that the Arab demagogues could defeat him and his people, he composed a poem seeking refuge with the sanctity of Makkah and his status in it. In this poem, he ingratiated himself with the nobles among his people, yet, he insisted that he would never let Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) down even if the price was his own life.
Abu Taalib sought refuge with Al-Masjid Al-Haraam and all the sanctuaries in it swearing that he would never let Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) down even if blood flowed and battles grew fierce with the other clans of the Quraysh. He also censured the leaders of the Banu ‘Abd Manaaf, who forsook him, by their names. Those leaders included ‘Utbah bin Rabee‘ah, Abu Sufyaan bin Harb, and Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adiyy, the leader of the Banu Nawfal.
It was a great victory for the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) to win his uncle over to his side. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) succeeded in making use of tribal traditions to win the protection of his clan against any assault. He was given freedom of movement and thought, which indicates that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) fully understood his reality. This is a very important lesson for Islamic callers to deal with their environment and societies, and to make use of laws and traditions in serving the Religion of Allah The Almighty.
Second: The attempt to defame the call of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).
The Makkan polytheists attempted to defame the call of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and hence, the Quraysh organized a propaganda war against him with the aim of defaming him. This war was led by Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah, who met a group of the Quraysh when the Hajj season was due. He was a man of some standing, and he addressed them in these words, “The time of the Hajj season has come round again, and representatives of the Arabs will come to you, and they must have heard about this fellow of yours. Therefore, agree upon one opinion without dispute so that none will belie the other.”
They replied, “Give us your opinion about him.”
He said, “No, you speak and I will listen.”
They said, “He is a soothsayer.”
He said, “By Allah, he is not, for he has not the unintelligent murmuring and rhymed speech of the soothsayers.”
“Then he is possessed,” they proposed.
“No, he is not that,” he said, “We have seen possessed people, and there is no choking, spasmodic movements or whispering [in Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )].”
“Then he is a poet,” they said.
“No, he is no poet, for we know poetry in all its forms and meters.”
“Then he is a sorcerer.”
“No, we have seen sorcerers and their sorcery, and there is no blowing and no knots.”
“Then what are we to say, O Abu ‘Abd Shams?” they asked.
He replied, “By Allah, his speech is sweet, his root is as a palm-tree whose branches are fruitful, and everything you have said would be known to be false. The nearest thing to the truth is your saying that he is a sorcerer who has brought a message by which he separates a man from his father, or from his brother, or from his wife or from his family.”
Allah The Almighty revealed the following verses about Al-Waleed (which mean): {Leave Me with the one I created alone. And to whom I granted extensive wealth. And children present [with him]. And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life]. Then he desires that I should add more. No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. I will cover him with an arduous torment. Indeed, he thought and deliberated. So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. Then he considered [again]; Then he frowned and scowled; Then he turned back and was arrogant. And said, “This is not but magic imitated [from others]. This is not but the word of a human being.” I will drive him into Hell.} [Quran 74:11-26]
This story shows that the propaganda war that was waged against the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was not conducted haphazardly; rather, the leaders of the disbelievers ran this war precisely and in accordance with the same rules that are adopted in psychological and ideological war in modern times. These rules include choosing the suitable time (they chose the time when people gather during the Hajj season), agreement and avoiding discrepancy in addition to many other rules that guarantee that their campaign would be organized, influential and fruitful. In addition to choosing the right time, they chose the right place to reach all the delegations that would come to Makkah.
This tradition also shows the greatness of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and his ability to affect his audience through the Quran. Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah was one of the key leaders of the Quraysh, yet the Quran affected him, and he acknowledged its greatness despite the fact that it is natural for such a leader to be arrogant and haughty. However, he did so in response to the call of reason.
This organized propaganda war failed to besiege the Da‘wah of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ); rather, he succeeded in breaking the siege imposed by the enemies who did not think it was sufficient to alienate the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) from the inhabitants of Makkah and defame him before them. They began receiving those who would come to visit Makkah to poison their minds, and prevent them from even listening to his words so as not to be affected by his call, because the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was very successful in his Da‘wah and in affecting whoever listened to him.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) would impress whoever sat with him with his demeanor and solemnity, even before he spoke to them. However, when he spoke, he would captivate his audience with his eloquence that was rooted in sound logic, passion that was full of love, purity and a sincere intention to guide the Ummah (Muslim nation) in accordance with the Divine revelation.
There are many examples that prove the success of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) in breaking the tough siege that the leaders of Makkah tried to impose on him such as his stand with Dhimaad Al-Azdi, ‘Amr bin At-Tufayl Ad-Dawsi, Abu-Tharr and ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah, may Allah be pleased with them.
