One advantage of the fact that Islam started in Makkah was that Muhammad, God’s Messenger (peace be upon him), could approach people beyond his immediate area without having to travel to meet them. The pilgrimage to the Kaaba, the house of worship in Makkah, continued ever since it was built by the two prophets, Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them). As groups of pilgrims came from all over the Arabian Peninsula to offer the pilgrimage, the Prophet visited them in their quarters and put his message to them. He did this year after year, not allowing negative response to weaken his resolve. Some of those Arabs gave him very hostile response, while others sounded more receptive.
One report mentions that the Prophet continued to do this for ten years, starting at the time when the message of Islam went public. This means that in the first three years when the Prophet approached individuals in private he did not speak to anyone other than his immediate people in Makkah. As God commanded him to declare his message, he now began to go to those pilgrims, at their camping places, asking them to give him a pledge of protection so that he would deliver God’s message. In return they would earn admittance into heaven. But none was willing to give him support.
“He would ask about the tribes in their different quarters. Eventually he arrived at the quarters of the Amir ibn Saasaah clan, but they gave him the worst hostile response he met. When he left them, they chased him throwing stones at him from behind.”
“He then went to the clan of Muharib ibn Khasafah. There he saw a very old man who was estimated to be 120 years of age. The Prophet explained to him the message of Islam, asking him for support in delivering God’s message. The old man said: ‘Man! Your people know you better. By God, anyone who takes you back to his people, his would be the worst return of all pilgrims. Spare us your trouble.’”
Abu Lahab, the Prophet’s uncle who was most hostile to him, was watching nearby. As the Prophet left, Abu Lahab said to the old man: “If only all the pilgrims were like you, he would have abandoned this religion of his. He is no more than an apostate and a liar.” The old man said: “You certainly know him better, as he is your flesh and blood, being your nephew. Perhaps he suffers from some mental touch. If so, we have someone with us who may be able to cure him.” Abu Lahab did not reply to this suggestion. He continued to follow the Prophet and whenever the Prophet spoke to people, Abu Lahab would accuse him of being a liar, and would encourage the people to reject him.
This report tells us clearly that the Prophet never despaired, and never disdained to talk to anyone. Even an old man who might have been over a hundred years of age was to him a valuable person, if he would only listen to his message. As a human being, Muhammad could not tell who would give him the right response, or when such a response would come. Therefore, he went on with his advocacy efforts, trusting that God would grant him support when he did his best to deliver His message.
We have already mentioned that the clan of Amir ibn Saasaah gave the Prophet a hostile response. Yet they were initially willing to listen. When the Prophet addressed a group of them, he asked them about their strength and whether they were respected by other tribes. They said: “No one is pursued when he is with us, and no group encroaches on our property.” He said to them: “I am God’s Messenger. Would you extend your protection to me if I come to you, so that I could deliver God’s message to others. I will not force anyone of you to follow me.” They asked him why his people did not protect him, and he told them in all honesty: “They have been the first to deny me and chase me.” The group said to him: “But if you come to us, we will neither expel you nor believe in you. We will extend our protection to you until you deliver your Lord’s message.”
The Prophet then went down to speak to them in more detail, as they continued to buy and sell. Then a man called Bayharah ibn Firas came over, and asked them about the stranger who was with them. They explained to him the situation and that they promised Muhammad their protection. Bayharah said: “No one present in this pilgrimage season would go back with worse than you take to your people. This will ensure that the whole of Arabia will join ranks to fight you. His own people know him better. Had they known him to bring any good, they would have been delighted to support him. Would you take an abandoned idiot whose own people have expelled him and rejected his message, giving him a home and support. No wisdom have you shown this day.” Bayharah then spoke to the Prophet saying: “Go to your own people, man. By God, had you not been a guest of my people, I would have killed you.” The Prophet mounted his she-camel. As she was rising, Bayharah pricked her side and she jerked, throwing the Prophet off her. Apparently two people helped Bayharah in his attempt to insult and injure the Prophet.
Duba’ah bint Amir ibn Qurt, a woman from this tribe who lived in Makkah and had accepted Islam was visiting her tribal relatives when this happened. She cried out: “You, the Amir clan! Will this be done to God’s Messenger at your quarters, and none of you come forward to him with support?” Three of her cousins responded well. They rose to defend the Prophet. Each one of them held one of the three who assaulted him and floored them. They sat on their chests and slapped them hard on their faces.
The Prophet prayed God to bless the three who defended him and to expel the other three. The latter were always held in contempt until they died. The three who defended the Prophet all accepted Islam later. They all ended as martyrs, fighting for the cause of Islam.
