EVENTS
618 CE / The Boycott is Revoked. 9th Year of Prophethood
Important events and incidences that took place
The boycott created much dissent amongst the various Makkan tribes who were connected to the besieged by way of blood relations. It had moreover the undesired and unforeseen effect of drawing further attention to the Prophet and of causing the new religion to be talked of more than ever throughout Arabia.
In the month of Muharram, after nearly three years, the pact was finally broken. From the motivation of by blood relations, there emerged a group of five people who set out to abrogate the pact and declare all relevant clauses null and void. They were Hisham bin ‘Amr who so often would send camels laden with food and clothes for the boycotted, Zuhair bin Abi Umayyah, Al-Mut’im bin ‘Adi, Abu Al Bukhtari and Zam’a bin Al Aswad. They decided to meet in their assembly place and initiated their mission from the very precinct of the Sacred House.
Zuhair, after circumambulating seven times around the Ka’bah, approached the gatherings of people there and reproved them for indulging whilst their relatives from Banu Hashim were suffering under starvation and economic boycott. The other four accomplices then stood up one after the other, in a staged event, showing their support for him and denouncing those who spoke against Zuhair. Although the five tried their best, Abu Jahl hastily tried to dissuade the audience in order to ward of their noble attempts, and began to accuse them of having plotted it all overnight.
Mut’im cut him short by going into the Ka’bah to fetch the document. He came out in triumph with a small piece of vellum in his hand: the worms had eaten the ban, all but the opening words “In Thy Name, O God”.
Most of Quraysh had been virtually won over already, and this unquestionable omen was a final and altogether decisive argument. Abu Jahl and one or two likeminded men knew that it would be in vain to resist. The ban was formally revoked, and a body of Quraysh went to give the good news to Bani Hashim and Bani al-Muttalib.
Although tensions in Makkah were relaxed, after the ban was lifted hostilities against the Muslims still continued. The leaders of the Quraysh continued to try and persuade the Prophet to agree to a compromise; even proposing that they should all practice both religions. Their efforts were in vain as the Prophet could not and would not compromise on matters of faith and clear Divine guidance.
LESSONS & WISDOMS
618 CE / The Boycott is Revoked
A closer look at the events; in search of deeper meanings and drawing lessons
The Arabs were well-known for honoring their tribal ties and so Abu Jahal and his ilk were not always able to enforce the ban. This was because, as tradition held, there could be no interference from an outsider if one clan member wanted to aid his fellow member. Such characteristics of the Arabs made loopholes in the ban that the Muslims could take advantage of.
During the sacred months, when they could leave their retreat and go about freely without being molested, the Prophet frequently went to the Sanctuary. Once after a damning revelation had come down regarding Abu Lahab and his wife. Umm Jamil, the wife, went in search of the Prophet with a stone in her hand. She found Abu Bakr and angrily asked to the whereabouts of ‘Mudhammam’-a way of addressing Muhammed out of revilement- out of shear amazement Abu Bakr was unable to reply for the Prophet was sitting beside him though she was unable to see! – The Prophet would brush aside personal attacks and would cleverly remark to his Companions “Is it not wondrous how God turns away from me the abuse of Quraysh? They revile Mudhammam, whereas I am Muhummed.”
The ban on banu Hashim and banu Muttalib had lasted for almost three years and showed no signs of having any of the desired effects. It had moreover the undesired and unforeseen effect of drawing further attention to the Prophet and of causing the new religion to be talked about throughout Arabia. Such is the worldly fruit of perseverance upon the truth and the rewards of the Hereafter is of a higher degree.
The ban was eventually lifted and Muhammad and the other people were permitted to leave the valley and return home. In the context of this trial to which the Muslims were subjected, the polytheists had a clear opportunity to experience a striking sign of Muhammad’s Prophethood by way of prophecy, but being the evil misers they were, they refrained from belief and continued their fight against the truth.
EDICTS & RULINGS
618 CE / The Boycott is Revoked
Revelation and rulings particular to this year
During the ban, the Quran reminded the Muslims that other Prophets-Joseph, Noah, Jonah, Moses, and Jesus-had also warned their people to reform their relationship with God, and when they refused, their societies had collapsed. These were, in fact, verses of console and encouragement.
In the Quranic chapter al-An’aam, God says:
And thus it is that against every prophet We have set up as enemies the evil forces from among humans as well as from among invisible beings that whisper unto one another glittering half-truths meant to delude the mind. But they could not do this unless thy Sustainer had so willed: stand, therefore, aloof from them and from all their false imagery!
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When the ban was finally lifted the Qurashites concentrated their efforts on trying to persuade the prophet to agree to a compromise. Walid and other chiefs proposed that they should all practice both religions. The Prophet was saved the trouble of formulating his refusal by an immediate answer which came directly from Heaven in a chapter of six verses:
O you who disbelieve!
I do not worship what you worship
and you do not worship what I worship.
Nor will I worship what you worship
nor will you worship what I worship.
You have your faith and I have my faith.
CONTENTIOUS NARRATIVES
618 CE / The Boycott is Revoked
Polemical rebuttals particular to this year
We have not found any contentious narratives particular to this year. If your aware of any such narratives, please select the feedback button below and inform us; quoting any citations.