The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

82 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
put there and take it to his door, saying, "0 Banii 'Abd Manaf, what kind of
protection is this?" Then he would throw it out into the street.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "When Abn Talib became sick and Quraysh learned of his
serious state, they noted how Hamza and Wmar had accepted Islam and how the
prestige of Muhammad had spread through the Quraysh tribes, so they decided
to go to Abn Tab to get him to reconcile his nephew to them. Otherwise, they
concluded, he might subvert their authority completely.
"Al-'Ahbas b. 'Abd Allah h. Ma'bad related to me, from a member of his
family, from Ibn 'Abbzs, who said, 'When they went to Abii Talib and spoke to
him, the Quraysh leaders, including Wtba b. Rabi'a, Shayba h. Rabi'a, Abii Jahl
b. Hish-, Umayya b. Khalaf and Abii Sufyau h. Harb, along with others, said,
"0 Abn Tdib, you know what standing you have with us, and that your serious
condition, of which yon are aware, greatly concerns us. Yon also know of the
dispute between us and your nephew. Would you now call him and reach a
compromise by which he will do us no harm nor we him; let him tolerate our
religion and we will his."
"'Abii Talib sent for him and when he came, he told him, "0 Nephew, these
leaders of your people have gathered to reach a compromise with you and yon
with them."
"'The Messenger of God (SAAS) replied, "You all just need to say one word,
uncle, and through it you can rule the Arabs and have the non-Arabs subject to
you."
"'"Oh yes, I swear by your life," answered Abii Tdib, "along with ten words
more!"
"'He told him, "Say, 'There is no god but God.' And repudiate whatever gods
you worship besides Him!"
"'Those present clapped their hands and commented, ''0 Muhammad, do
you want to make all the gods into one? How strange."
"'Then they said to one another, "This man is not going to give us any part
of what we want. We should leave and continue in the religion of our fathers
until God decides between us and him." They then dispersed.
"'At that Abn Talib said, "I swear, nephew, I don't think you asked anything
excessive."
"'The Messenger of God (SAAS) had high hopes of him now and said to him,
"0 Uncle, if you were to say it I would intercede for you on Judgement Day."
'"Recognizing the eagerness of the Messenger of God (SAAS), Abii Taib
replied, "0 Nephew, I swear that were it not for fear of the curses there would
be on you and your relatives after me, and the fact that Quraysh would think that
I had only said it out of fear of death, I would say it. I will not say it only to please
you thereby."
"'When death approached Abii THlib, al-'Ahb% saw that he was moving his
lips and so he put his ear close to hear. Then he said, "0 Nephew, I swear my
brother did say the word you asked of him!"