Jahiliyyah - Part 8

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('Jahiliyyah' - traditionally translated " Time of Ignorance " , and used to apply

to the pre-Islamic period in Arabia, but in the Muslim sources its primary

meaning is violent and explosive irascibility, arrogance, tribal chauvinism.

[Muhammad Prophet For Our Time Glossary pg. 217].)

 

 

Jahiliyyah - Part 8

 

(Note: See glossary for 1st paragraph, immediately following it.)

 

(p.84) Abu Jahl now imposed a boycott on the clans of Hashim and al-Muttalib:

nobody could marry into them or trade with them--they could not even sell them

food. All the members of Hashim and al-Muttalib, Muslim and non-Muslim alike,

moved into Abu Talib's street, which became a little ghetto. When Muhammad's

household arrived, Abu Lahab and his family moved out and took up residence in

the district of 'Abd Shams. The purpose of the boycott was not to starve the two

clans, but to bring home to them the consequence of removing themselves from the

tribe. If Muhammad wanted to withdraw from the religious life of Mecca, he could

not continue to benefit from the economy. [69] (p.85) The ban collapsed after

three years. It was especially unpopular among those who had relatives in Hashim

or al-Muttalib, and could not in good conscience allow them to go hungry.

Muslims like Abu Bakr and 'Umar, who did not belong to the proscribed clans,

sent provisions whenever they could. One Meccan regularly loaded a camel with

supplies, led it to Abu Talib's street under cover of night, gave the beast a

thwack on its hindquarters, and sent it lumbering down the alley. On one

occasion, Abu Jahl accosted one of Khadijah's nephews, who was making his way to

the ghetto with a bag of flour. There was soon a fierce argument. Another

Qurayshi joined in, disgusted that Abu Jahl was preventing a man from taking

food to his aunt, and gave him a huge blow with a camel's jaw that knocked him

to the ground.

 

Glossary for 1st paragraph (in alphabetical order):

 

Abu Bakr--A close and trusted friend of Muhammad; one of the first converts to

Islam; the father of 'A'isha, the beloved wife of the Prophet. (Glossary,

p.222).

 

'Abd Shams--The neighborhood of the Qurayshan clan of 'Abd Shams in Mecca.

(Glossary, p.220).

 

Abu Jahl-- " Father of Insolence, " the nickname given by the Muslims to Abu

l-Hakam; the most virulent of Muhammad's early opponents. (Glossary, p.222).

 

Abu Lahab ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib--The half-brother of Abu Talib; an early opponent

of Muhammad. After Abu Talib's death, he became the chief of the clan of Hashim.

(Glossary, p.223).

 

Al-Muttalib--One of the Meccan clans, closely related to the Hashim, Muhammad's

clan. (Glossary, p.223).

 

Abu Talib ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib--Muhammad's uncle, guardian, and protector.

(Glossary, p.223).

 

Hashim--The Meccan clan to which Muhammad belonged. (Glossary, p.224)

 

Khadijah bint al-Khuwaylid--Muhammad's first wife. (Glossary, p.225).

 

Mecca--The commercial city ruled by the Quraysh; the birthplace of Muhammad.

(Glossary, p.220).

 

'Umar ibn al-Khattab--The nephew of Abu Jahl; at first passionately opposed to

Muhammad, but later became one of his closest companions. (Glossary, p.227).

 

 

During this ban, the Qur'an reminded the Muslims that other prophets--Joseph,

Noah, Jonah, Moses, and Jesus--had also warned their people to reform their

behavior, and when they refused, their societies had collapsed, because they

were not acting in accordance with the fundamental principles of the universe.

[70] Unlike animals, fish, or plants, which are natural muslims since they

submit instinctively to these basic laws, human beings have free will. [71] When

they oppress the weak and refuse to share their wealth fairly with the poor,

this violation of God's law is as unnatural as though a fish were to try to live

on dry land. Disaster was inevitable. But the Qur'an continued to urge Muslims

to be patient and not seize this opportunity for a personal vendetta against

their enemies.

 

Some of the Quraysh [Muhammad's tribe, rulers of Mecca] too were anxious for

peace. (p.86) Shortly after the imposition of the ban, a small delegation had

approached Muhammad, led by a venerable elder who was too close to death to be

personally threatened by the Prophet. He suggested a compromise: the whole city

could worship Allah one year and the other gods the next. But Muhammad could not

accept this offer. Instead, the Surah al-Kafirun proposed peaceful coexistence:

 

You who reject the faith (kafirun)

I do not worship what you worship

And you do not worship what I worship

I am not a worshipper of what you worship

You are not a worshipper of what I worship.

A reckoning (din) for you and a reckoning for me. [72]

 

People worship different things; there must be " no coercion in matters of

faith! " (la ikra fi'l-din!) [73] Din meant " reckoning, " but also " religion, "

" way of life, " or " moral law. " Each individual had his or her own din and there

was no need for force or compulsion.

 

In the end, blood loyalty led to the end of the boycott. Four of the Qurayshan

establishment, who had relatives in Hashim and al-Muttalib, solemnly requested

an end to the ban, and despite the angry protests of Abu Jahl, the other chiefs

agreed. There must have been great rejoicing in the Muslim community. When they

heard the news, some of the emigrants came home from Abyssinia, convinced that

the worst was over. But they had been too optimistic. Early in 619, Khadijah

died. (p.87) She was aging, and her health may have been irreparably damaged by

the food shortages. She had been Muhammad's closest companion, and nobody--not

even Abu Bakr or the fervent 'Umar--would ever be able to provide Muhammad with

the same intimate support. The early biographers call 619 Muhammad's " year of

sadness. " Not long afterwards, a second death had even more far reaching

implications. Abu Talib had been ruined financially, and may also have been

physically weakened by the boycott. Later that year, he fell ill and died. And

the new chief of Hashim was Abu Lahab.

 

Muhammad (Prophet For Our Time)

Chapter 2, 'Jahiliyyah', p. 84-87

Karen Armstrong

Harper Perennial - London, New York, Toronto and Sydney

ISBN-13 978-0-00-723248-2

ISBN-10 0-00-723248-9

 

Notes:

 

[69] Aslan, 'No god but God', 46.

 

[70] Qur'an 11:100.

 

[71] Qur'an 2:100, 13:37, 16:101, 17:41, 17:86.

 

[72] Qur'an 109, Sells translation.

 

[73] Qur'an 2:256, Asad translation.