The
Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S calls his close relatives
to Islam
In obedience
to Allâh’s Commands, Muhammad [pbuh] rallied his kinsmen
of Bani Hashim with a group of Bani Al-Muttalib bin ‘Abd
Munaf. The audience counted forty-five men.
Abu Lahab immediately
took the initiative and addressed the Prophet [pbuh]:
"These are your uncles and cousins, speak on to the point,
but first of all you have got to know that your kinspeople
are not in a position to withstand all the Arabs. Another
point you have got to bear in mind is that your relatives
are sufficient unto you. If you follow their tradition,
it will be easier for them than to face the other clans
of Quraish supported by the other Arabs. Verily, I have
never heard of anyone who has incurred more harm on his
kinspeople than you." The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] kept
silent and said nothing in that meeting.
He invited
them to another meeting and managed to secure audience.
He then stood up and delivered a short speech explaining
quite cogently what was at stake. He said: "I celebrate
Allâh’s praise, I seek His help, I believe in Him, I put
my trust in Him, I bear witness that there is no god to
be worshipped but Allâh with no associate. A guide can
never lie to his people. I swear by Allâh, there is no
god but He, that I have been sent as a Messenger to you,
in particular and to all the people, in general. I swear
by Allâh you will die just as you sleep, you will be resurrected
just as you wake up. You will be called to account for
your deeds. It is then either Hell forever or the Garden
(Paradise) forever."
Abu Talib replied:
"We love to help you, accept your advice and believe in
your words. These are your kinspeople whom you have collected
and I am one of them but I am the fastest to do what you
like. Do what you have been ordered. I shall protect and
defend you, but I can’t quit the religion of ‘Abdul-Muttalib."
Abu Lahab then
said to Abu Talib: " I swear by Allâh that this is a bad
thing. You must stop him before the others do." Abu Talib,
however, answered: "I swear by Allâh to protect him as
long as I am alive."
[Fiqh As-Seerah p.77,78]
