Sunday, September 13, 2026

Shib-e-Abi Talib: Three Years of Boycott, Hunger, Patience and the Power of Steadfastness

A social boycott

When the disbelievers of the Quraysh came to know that Bani Haashim and Bani Muttalib (with the exception of Abu Lahab) have taken the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم into their protection despite the religious differences, they reached a mutual agreement at Muhassab (located between Makkah Mukarramah and blessed Mina) that, "Until Banu Haashim transfers custody of (Sayyiduna) Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم to them, no one will maintain any ties with them. Nothing will be sold to them, no one will marry or engage with them, and they will not be permitted to move freely."

Having written this agreement, they hung it on the blessed door of the noble Ka'bah. The disbelievers of the Quraysh acted this out strictly,and undertook a complete social boycott of Banu Haashim and Banu 'Abdul Muttalib. Thus, both clans came to join the Muslims in their imprisonment in Shi'b-e-Abi Taalib.

Ate a piece of leather

The situation was now such that whatever grains reached Makkah Mukarramah from outside were all purchased by the cruel disbelievers so that none of them reached the Muslims. When the children imprisoned (in Shi'b-e-Abi Taalib) began to cry from hunger, the cruel disbelievers would laugh at their crying and celebrate. The womenfolk's milk dried up, and the prisoners would remain hungry for days at a time. Sometimes, when the pangs of hunger intensified, they would boil the leaves from the trees and fill their stomachs by eating them.

Sayyiduna Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ narrates that once at night, he found a dried piece of leather from somewhere. He washed it with water, grilled it on a fire, ground it and then drank it mixed with water to satiate the pangs of hunger.

(Ar-Raud-ur-Unuf, vol. 2, pp. 161)

A wonderful termite

When three years had passed in this manner, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ informed His Beloved Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم that the script of the agreement had been eaten by termites such that all that remains was the name of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم informed Abu Taalib of this, who went to the disbelievers of the Quraysh and said, "O' Quraysh! My nephew has informed me in this manner. Bring your agreement. If this turns out to be true, abandon your cutting of relations. If it is false, I will grant you custody of my nephew." They agreed to this, and when the agreement was brought, it was found to be exactly as he had said.

After some discussion, five individuals (Hishaam Bin 'Amr, Zuhayr Bin Abi Umayyah Makhzoomi, Mut'im Bin 'Adee, Abul Bakhtari and Zam'ah Bin Aswad) agreed to rip up this agreement, and it was eventually torn up by Abul Bakhtari. Alas, the disbelievers became more concentrated on their intent instead of becoming remorseful.

(Seerat Rasool-e-'Arabi, pp. 63)

It is mentioned in Subul-ul-Huda, "From those five, Sayyiduna Hishaam and Sayyiduna Zuhayr رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمَا were blessed with accepting Islam."

(Subul-ul-Huda, vol. 2, pp. 414)

Haq ki rah mayn patthar khaye, khoon mayn nahaye Taif mayn

Deen ka kitni mehnat say kaam aap nay ay Sultan kiya

(Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish, pp. 388)

The good character of the Ameer-e-Qafilah persuaded me to travel with Madani Qafilah

Dear Islamic brothers! A great means of acquiring knowledge of the Deen is to travel in the Madani Qafilahs of Dawat-e-Islami. Undertake this Sunnah-inspired journey with the devotees of the Rasool for 12 consecutive months once in your life, 30 days in a year and 3 days every month. To understand the blessings of the Madinah Qafilahs, read this Madani parable.

An Islamic brother of Markaz-ul-Awliya (Lahore) mentions: 25 years of my life had passed but I was unaware of the knowledge of the Deen to the extent that I was even ignorant of the basic rulings of Salah and Sawm. Once, I went to the Masjid to offer Salah and an Islamic brother cheerfully came to meet me. As we spoke, he also invited me to travel in the Madani Qafilah. As I was unaware of the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami, I refused, but the Imam of our local Masjid made individual efforts on me and motivated me such that I became willing to travel in the Madani Qafilah. Intending to travel, I attended the weekly Sunnah-inspired Ijtima', as I would travel in the Madani Qafilah the following morning.

Being engulfed in the love of the world, I was frustrated by spending this amount of time in the Masjid, and was anxious at the thought of spending a further 3 days in the Masjid during the Madani Qafilah. I had intended to sneak out when the Ameer-e-Qafilah came searching for me. Satan whispered to me, "Now you are trapped, this Maulvi will not let you leave!" I thought to myself, "Let's see how he manages to take me in the Qafilah!"

Falling into Satan's trap, I said angrily to my well-wisher, the Ameer-e-Qafilah, "Leave me alone! I don't know you, and I don't want to go in any Madani Qafilah. Stop harassing me and let me go home."

Believe me! I was shocked when, even though I had been rude to him, the Ameer-e-Qafilah began to smile. He didn't reply angrily, but smiled and with great compassion and gentleness began to explain the purpose of the Madani Qafilah to me, and sought my agreement. Seeing his wonderful character, I was convinced to travel with the Madani Qafilah, and set off on this Sunnah-inspired journey with the devotees of the Rasool in the Madani Qafilah.

On the very first day, when I attended the Madani Halqah for teaching and learning, I began to feel extremely remorseful. 25 years of my life had passed but up until this point I did not know the basic rulings of the Deen. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ after spending those 3 days in the company of the devotees of the Rasool and having learnt many rulings of the Deen such as Wudu, Ghusl and Salah, I returned home full of enthusiasm to spread the call to righteousness far and wide and with the crown of the green 'Imamah shining on my head.

The necessity of steadfastness

Dear Islamic brothers! No matter what the field, it is difficult to become proficient without remaining steadfast. The same is true with regards knowledge of the Deen. Even if your Nafs (inner-self) makes you lazy, or Satan sings you countless lullabies to send you into the sleep of negligence, remain alert and aware. Continue to travel and persuade others to travel with the devotees of the Rasool on the Sunnah inspired journey in the Madani Qafilahs of Dawat-e-Islami and keep on acquiring and spreading knowledge of the Deen. You will surely be successful إِنْ شَاءَ الله عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

Umm-ul-Mu'mineen, Sayyidatuna 'Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا has said that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم has said, "The most beloved deed to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is that which is done consistently, even if it is small."

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 394, Hadees 218)

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