Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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“Go forth into my kingdom; I shall not extradite you at
all.”
Then he turned to the Makkans and said:
“Go away, I cannot give up these people. They are
following the true faith.”
With the passage of time, the Makkan chiefs became more and
more bitter. They felt that it was Muhammad’s clan, the Banu
Hashim, headed by Abu Talib that was responsible for all this
misery and that if they had given up Muhammad, all his activities
could have been stopped without delay. They made it known to the
Banu Hashim that if they did not surrender Muhammad to them,
they would have to suffer the consequences.
The tribes of Makkah entered into an agreement. They agreed
to cut off all dealings with the Banu Hashim. No one was to sell
anything to them. The agreement was signed and hung up in the
sacred Kabah. This was the seventh year of prophethood.
This period of boycott was one of great hardship for the Banu
Hashim and the Muslims. While this ban was in force, Abu Talib,
the chief of the Banu Hashim, had to take refuge in a narrow valley,
which came to be known as Abu Talib’s Pass. For three years, the
Prophet and all his relatives lived in this valley. Many of the
Muslims joined them. All supplies to the valley were cut off. The
Banu Hashim had to live on the leaves and roots of trees.
