Attempt of Martyring the Holy Prophet in Makkah

Despite the desperate attempts of the Quraysh to stop the Muslims from migrating to Madinah, which included threats, breaking up of families, imprisonment, torture, kidnapping and seizure of properties, ¹ the Muslims were able to reach Madinah safely. This thing worried the people of Quraysh. They feared that if substantial number of Muslims gathered in Madinah, the trade caravans of the Quraysh could be in danger and secondly, the political influence and power of the Quraysh could also weaken. ² Thus, they all decided to meet in Dar Al-Nadwa, the house of assembly which was the home of Qusayy ibn Kilab ³ so that a permanent solution to this problem could be found and the progress of

Muhammad and the Muslims could be hampered. ⁴

Meeting at Dar Al-Nadwa

In this meeting, all the chiefs of the major tribes were invited to ponder on a single agenda, to contain the Holy Prophet by imprisoning, exiling or assassinating. This meeting of the polytheists is described in the

as:

  وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ30, ⁵

  And when the disbelievers were engaged in hatching conspiracies against you to captivate you or slay you or banish you (from the country on the one side), they were plotting intrigues, and (on the other) Allah was planning His strategy (to thwart their intrigues). And Allah is the Best of the secret planners.

The meeting was attended by the following officials: Utba ibn Rabi’a, Shaiba ibn Rabi’a and Abu Sufiyan ibn Harb from Bani Abd Shams Tribe, Tu’aimah ibn ‘Adi, Jubair ibn Mut’im and Harith ibn Amir from Banu Naufal Tribe, Nazar ibn Harith from Abd Al-Daar tribe, Abu Al-Bukhtari ibn Hisham, Zam’ah ibn Aswad and Hakeem ibn Hizam from Banu Asad Tribe, Abu Jahl ibn Hisham from Banu Makhzum Tribe, Sons of Hajjaj, Nabih and Munabbah from Banu Sahm Tribe, Umayyah ibn Khalf from Banu Jumh Tribe and some other important chiefs as well. ⁶ Another pertinent attendant of this meeting was Satan, who had disguised himself as a beautiful old shaykh (respectable man). Ibn Hisham quotes Ibn Abbas and states:

  لما أجمعوا لذلك، واتعدوا أن يدخلوا في دار الندوة ليتشاوروا فيها في أمر رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، غدوا في اليوم الذي اتعدوا له، وكان ذلك اليوم يسمى يوم الزحمة، فاعترضهم إبليس في هيئة شيخ جليل عليه بتلة، فوقف على باب الدار، فلما رأوه واقفا على بابها، قالوا: من الشيخ؟ قال: شيخ من أهل نجد سمع بالذي اتعدتم له، فحضر معكم ليسمع ما تقولون، وعسى أن لا يعدمكم منه رأيا ونصحا، قالوا: أجل، فادخل، فدخل معهم. ⁷

  The people of Quraysh agreed to meet on a certain day at Dar Al-Nadwa. When the day arrived on which they had agreed to meet at Dar Al-Nadwa to discuss what to do about the Messenger of God , that day was named as Youm Al-Zahma or ‘The Day of the Gathering’. On this day, Satan, God curse him, came in the form of a venerable sheikh, dressed in a heavy cloak. He stood at the door of the house and, when the people saw him, they asked who he was. He replied, “I am from Najd, from the highlands, I have heard why you agreed to meet, and I have come to listen to what you say and perhaps offer some comment or advice.” They invited him in and he entered.

Prophet Muhammad should be imprisoned in shackles until he dies, like the poets before him, such as Zuhayr and Al-Nabighah. Upon hearing this, Satan said that this was not a good idea as his companions would liberate him and after that, they would expel the Quraysh from their lands. The other people also agreed with him and stated that another option should be sought. Another person suggested that he should be exiled, so that he stays away from their land. In this manner, they would be saved from his troubles. This option was rejected by the old man from Najd as well. He explained that if he was sent away, he would collect more followers among the Arabs and he would return with an army and take over your lands and kill your chiefs. Then, Abu Jahl gave his opinion that strong young men from each tribe should be shortlisted and each should be given a sword. Then, this group of strong, eminent young men should strike Prophet Muhammad at a same time and kill him. This would depict that his blood was shed by all the tribes and Banu Hashim would not be able to fight against all the Quraysh tribes at once. Therefore, they would be forced to accept the blood money and we will get the comfort which we yearn for. When the old man from Najd heard this, he exclaimed that it was the best opinion, so it was unanimously accepted and the meeting was ended. ⁸

While they were trying to implement their plan, Gabriel (Jibrail) came to the Holy Prophet , told him not to sleep on his bed and conveyed the plan of the

to him. Then, he told Prophet Muhammad that had granted him the permission to migrate to Madinah. ⁹ Hence, the Holy Prophet asked Ali to sleep on his bed that night while wearing his green cloak. In the meantime, Abu Jahl, along with his accomplices, surrounded the house, waiting for Prophet Muhmmad to sleep so that they could attack him. While they were waiting outside his door, Abu Jahl addressed his accomplices and said that (Prophet) Muhammad claims that if you follow his teachings then, you will become kings of the Arabs and non-Arabs. Then, in the afterlife, you will be given gardens akin to those of Jordan. However, if you don’t, then you will be killed and will be burned in hell fire in the afterlife. At that moment, Prophet Muhammad took a handful of dirt and said: Yes, I do say that and you are one of them (people of hell fire). Then, Allah Almighty took the eyesight of Abu Jahl and his group and Prophet Muhammad stepped outside while reciting Surah Yasin (verses 1-9) and started sprinkling dirt over their heads. Every single accomplice of Abu Jahl, including him had dirt thrown on their heads. ¹⁰

Then, Prophet Muhammad left and went where he wanted to go. When he had gone, another person came to Abu Jahl and asked him about what was he waiting for, when he said ‘Muhammad’ (), the person angrily replied God Damn you! Muhammad came out and went, and before leaving he put dirt on each of your heads, don’t you see what has happened to you? They checked their heads and found dirt upon it, then they went inside the house and found Ali covered by Prophet Muhammad’s cloak and sleeping on his bed. They thought, it was Muhammad so they waited till morning. When Ali rose from the bed next morning, they were in shock and said that whatever told to them last night was true. ¹¹ The people of Quraysh, despite their planning and help from Satan, failed in their attempt to bring any harm to the Holy Prophet as he was protected by Allah Almighty. Next day, Prophet Muhammad visited Abu Bakr and both made preparations to migrate to Madinah.

 

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• ¹ Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee (2005), The Noble Life of the Prophet (Peace be upon Him), Dar Al-Salam, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Vol. 1, Pg. 616-626.
• ² Safi Al-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri (2010), Al-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, Dar ibn Hazam, Beirut, Lebanon, Pg. 179.
• ³ Abul Fida Ismael ibn Kathir Al-Damishqi (1976), Al-Seerat Al-Nabawiyah le-ibn Kathir, Dar Al-Ma’rifat lil Taba’at wal-Nashr wal-Tawzi, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 2, Pg. 227.
• ⁴ Akbar Shah Najeebabadi (2000), The History of Islam (Translated by Translation Department of Darussalam), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pg. 138.
• ⁵ Holy Quran, Al-Anfal (The War Booty) 8: 30
• ⁶ Abd Al-Malik ibn Hisham (1955), Al-Seerat Al-Nabawiyah le-ibn Hisham, Shirkah Maktabah wa Matba’ Mustafa Al-Babi, Cairo, Egypt, Vol. 1, Pg. 481.
• ⁷ Ibid.
• ⁸ Abd Al-Rahman ibn Abdullah Al-Suhaili (2000), Al-Raudh Al-Unf fi Sharha Al-Seerat Al-Nabawiyah, Dar Al-Ihya Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 4, Pg. 124-125.
• ⁹ Muhammad ibn Saad Al-Basri (1990), Tabqat Al-Kubra, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 1, Pg. 176.
• ¹⁰ Muhammad ibn Yusuf Al-Salihi Al-Shami (1993), Subul Al-Huda wal-Rashad fi Seerat Khair Al-Abad, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 2, Pg. 232.
• ¹¹ Abul Fida Ismael ibn Kathir Al-Damishqi (1976), Al-Seerat Al-Nabawiyah le-ibn Kathir, Dar Al-Ma’rifat lil Taba’at wal-Nashr wal-Tawzi, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 2, Pg. 230.