The Complaint to Abu Talib

Advances in the spreading of Islam were exasperating and nerve wracking for the non-believers. They tried every possible method but were unsuccessful in dissuading or deterring even a single person from their faith. Nonetheless, no matter what it took, this calling had to be brought to an end. In the end, the non-believers decided to ask his uncle, Abu Talib, to stop our Prophet. Abu Talib was the leader of the Hashimites. They went to him and told him that he needed to talk his nephew out of this calling, this mission that he was after. Abu Talib listened to what they had to say and responded to them in a peaceful and conciliatory manner. The Qurayshi non-believers waited for a period of time, but after seeing that there was no change in our Prophet’s behavior, they went to Abu Talib once more, and said to him,

“O Abu Talib, you are a very important man for us. We asked you to stop your brother’s son. Yet you failed to do what was necessary. Let this be a vow that we will neither endure our ancestors being looked at as lowly nor our gods being ridiculed. Stop him, or else we will make war with both you and him until one of the two sides perishes. If he is to give up on this calling, we promise to give him whatever he pleases. If he desires wealth, we will give him wealth. If he desires to reign, we will make him our emperor. Whatever else it is that he desires, we shall give it to him. So long as he gives up on this mission.

Upon this, Abu Talib came to our Prophet and let him know of what he had been told. He continued, “O my brother’s son, protect yourself and me both. Don’t make me take on more than I can carry.”

Hearing such words from his uncle had hurt our Prophet so. His eyes had filled with tears. He looked at his uncle and said, “O my uncle! I swear to Allah that even if you put the sun in my right hand, and the moon in my left, I will never give up in my calling! Either Allah will spread His religion all throughout the world or I will give up my life for this very cause.”

As our Prophet, who had been deeply saddened, slowly got up to leave, his uncle Abu Talib called him back to his side and reassured him, saying, “O my brother’s son, go and do as you like. I swear to Allah, I will never leave you, and I will never, for whatever reason, hand you over to anyone.”