Seerah 11: Boycott of Shib Abi Talib & Year of Sorrow

The leaders of Quraysh were relentless and unwilling to accept the Prophet’s (saw) call.  They were determined to rid themselves of this obstacle and contrived a plan to the the Prophet Muhammad (saw).  Abu Talib assembled his kinfolk of Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Mutaalib to defend his nephew.

The leaders of Makkah formed a confederation hostile to both Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib. They decided not to have any business dealings with them nor any sort of inter-marriage. Social relations, visits and even verbal contacts with Muhammad (saw) and his supporters and would discontinue until the Prophet (saw) was given up to them to be killed. 

Abu Ta1ib wisely and quietly took stock of the situation and decided to withdraw to a valley on the eastern outskirts of Makkah. Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib, who followed suit, were thus confmed within a narrow pass (Shi'b Abi Talib). The Muslim faced great hardship with little food or provisions.

Again the leaders of Quraysh failed as the situation ultimately created dissension amongst the various Makkan factions, who were tied with the besieged people by blood relations. The proclamation was abrogated, and Muhammad (saw) and the Muslims were permitted to leave Ash-Sh'ib and return home.

The situation deteriorated further in what has become known as the year of grief, the tenth year of the Message. First, his uncle Abu Talib passed away and within a few months, Khadijah (ra), the wife of the Messenger (saw) died.

The speaker reflects on the great harships faced by the Propet Muhammad (saw) from the Meccan Period and provides us with learning and guidance on a path forward in the climate we live in today.