An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
15. Divine Succour
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nephew and ourselves. We wish you to take a
covenant both from him and from us, that he will
not interfere with us and we will not interfere with
him. If he leaves us to our religion, we shall leave
him to his own religion.” Abu Talib called the
Prophet and told him that these chieftains had come
to offer him a pledge for a pledge. “What is it that
you want of them?” asked Abu Talib. “Just one
thing,” replied the Prophet, then, turning to the
assembled chieftains, he said: “If you accept this
one thing, you will become lords over Arabia; all
Asia shall yield to you.” Abu Jahal then swore an
oath by the Prophet’s father that they would accept
more by far than just one demand on the part of
Muhammad, but, when he heard that the Prophet
demanded that they bear witness to there being no
god besides God, and forsake all that they
worshipped besides Him, he wrung his hands in
dismay and left, saying as he went: “Should we
forsake our gods for one God? What an
extraordinary demand to make! This man is not
going to give anything away, so come, let us adhere
to our religion until God settles this between him
and us.”
