Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
10. The Prophet in Makkah
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thing on their minds. The Prophet talked to them at
length, then went away in distress. Ibn Hisham
takes up the story:
The Prophet returned to his home sad and
disillusioned, for the hopes that he had for his
people when they called him had been
dashed. He had seen how far people were
from accepting his message.
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When the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, lay dying,
people came to him and asked him to settle matters
between his nephew and themselves before he died.
“Take an undertaking from him on our behalf, and
one from us on his behalf, so that he should have
nothing to do with us, nor us with him,” they said.
Abu Talib called his nephew, and asked him what
he wanted of the people. The Prophet replied that
he just wanted them to testify that there was none
worthy of being served save God, and forsake all
other objects of worship. His people, however, were
unwilling to accept this. When everyone went
away, Abu Talib said to his nephew: “You know, I
don’t think it was anything very difficult that you
asked of them.” On hearing his uncle’s words, the
