Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training – Imagine, guys, the city of Mecca in ancient times, a mysterious movement starting to take root. A major change was about to happen, and at the center of it stood Rasulullah with his followers from Bani Hashim and Muttalib. However, not everything went smoothly. There was scandal, conspiracy, and even severe boycott from the Quraysh tribe, the powerful rulers of the city. Curious about the story behind the scenes? Let’s delve deeper into this epic adventure and uncover the secrets behind the conflict between Rasulullah and the Quraysh. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable historical journey!
Around the seventh year of prophethood, precisely in the month of Muharram, Rasulullah and his companions from Bani Hashim and Muttalib faced a harsh boycott from the Quraysh tribe, who seemed displeased with the Islamic teachings brought by Prophet Muhammad.
This story is truly like ancient political drama! There were prominent figures like Abu Sufyan, Abu Jahl, and Umayyah bin Khalaf who masterminded this boycott. They were busy gossiping and extremely worried about the rapid spread of Rasulullah’s message, which was no small matter.
But there’s more exciting stuff! Before the boycott, some major figures from the Quraysh, like Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib and Umar bin Khattab, had already embraced Islam! Bani Hashim and Muttalib became steadfast allies in protecting Prophet Muhammad. This truly showcases a strong friendship!
However, there was also a bittersweet side. The Quraysh, who couldn’t accept Rasulullah’s message, grew increasingly hostile. They were very upset with the call to abandon idol worship in favor of worshipping Allah. The Quraysh leaders were very anxious that Rasulullah’s message could threaten their prestigious positions in Mecca. Exciting, right? Curious about what happens next? Stay tuned, guys!
According to Ibn Hisham in his book “Sirah Nabawiyah” on page 218, there’s an intriguing detail about why Rasulullah and his community faced such a severe boycott from the Quraysh. Umar bin Khattab and Hamzah happened to embrace Islam and then backed Rasulullah and his companions. Moreover, Islam had already begun spreading among the Quraysh tribes, making the Quraysh eager to stop this spread.
Then, as political tension escalated, the Quraysh tribe gathered in the Bani Kinanah village. They held a serious meeting to draft an agreement that would make Bani Hashim and Bani Abdul Muttalib suffer. As a result, Rasulullah and his companions were completely boycotted, barred from participating in economic activities, trading, and so on.
Here’s the thrilling part, guys! When the Quraysh tribe was busy drafting the boycott agreement against Bani Hashim and Bani Abdul Muttalib, they came up with four strict rules to torment them.
First, the Quraysh tribe imposed a strict prohibition on marrying women from Bani Hashim and Bani Abdul Muttalib. Second, they were also not allowed to marry off their daughters to people from those two clans. Third, they couldn’t sell anything to Bani Hashim and Bani Abdul Muttalib. And fourth, they couldn’t buy anything from Bani Hashim and Bani Abdul Muttalib.
Sheikh Shafiyyurrahman Al-Mubarakfury explains on page 119 that this boycott agreement was taken very seriously, guys! It was written on a single tablet and hung in the Kaaba, containing the consensus and decrees of the Quraysh people to ban and boycott Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib.
What’s even more exciting is that the author of this agreement was named Baghidh bin Amir bin Hashim, a key figure in the Quraysh tribe who was vehemently opposed to the spread of Islam. Incredible, right? This agreement is full of drama and intrigue that will make us even more curious!
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live in constant fear and hunger? Rasulullah and his followers from Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib experienced the most difficult times due to the boycott agreement designed to force them to abandon the teachings of Islam.
The boycott had a clear goal: to make Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib leave Rasulullah and return to their ancestral traditions. And the boycott was no joke! They intentionally isolated Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib from the outside world. The impact? Their food supplies began to dwindle. Worse still, the Quraysh tribe, who ruled the city of Mecca, deliberately blocked food supplies entering the city. If any food managed to get through, the Quraysh would immediately hoard it. As a result, Bani Muttalib and Hashim truly suffered and faced starvation.
Al-Mubarakfury, on page 120, describes:
“They endured severe hardships, resorting to eating dry leaves and leather, and the sounds of their women and children crying from hunger could be heard from behind the settlements of Abu Talib.”
We can’t imagine how severe the suffering of Rasulullah and his followers from Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib was. They reached their weakest point, where they had to eat dry leaves and leather just to survive. How heartbreaking it must have been to hear the cries of their wives and children in pain due to hunger?
There’s one sad story when Hakim bin Hizam, the nephew of the Prophet’s wife, Khadijah, came to Mecca bringing wheat for his aunt. His intention was very kind, right? But, unfortunately, the ruthless Abu Jahl forbade Hakim from bringing the wheat to Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib. They ended up in a fierce argument.
Meanwhile, the Quraysh tribe, who were neighbors to Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib, pretended to be blind and deaf during the boycott. They didn’t care about their suffering, offering no help at all. If anyone got sick or hungry, they remained indifferent and provided no assistance. Terrible, right?
For three long years, Rasulullah and his followers lived in isolation and torture, all because of Rasulullah’s mission. It’s insane, guys, how people could be so cruel. Stay tuned for the next story; it’s going to get even more exciting!
Source:
- https://islam.nu.or.id/sirah-nabawiyah/kisah-saat-rasulullah-diboikot-kaum-quraisy-Cq5IH
- https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/realistic-islamic-pilgrimage_8381163.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=6&uuid=9ed7c18a-b04a-468e-afb9-4b3fe3b7cdaf
