The leaders of the Quraish tribe conducted a meeting in which they agreed upon a plan. They decided that in order to stop further spread of Islam, every tribe should join in the campaign against the Holy Prophet (sas) and his followers. In addition, elders of each tribe should force such of its members, who had embraced Islam, to renounce it. They thought that by this device Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would be deserted by his followers and being left alone, would not be able to carry on his mission. Moreover by adopting this method there would be no chance of an inter-tribe enmity as the converts will be dealt with within each tribe.
This plan was put into practice accordingly. The result was that the individual Muslims were exposed to all manners of persecution at the hands of their fellow tribesmen. The senior members of their own family treated many such Muslims cruelly.
Abu Taalib came to know of this plan. In order to save the Holy Prophet (sas) from any maltreatment, he called upon Banu Haashim and Banu Muttalib clans of the Quraish tribe and persuaded them to resolve that they would safeguard Muhammad (sas) in every way.
All agreed with the exception of Abu Lahab, who was a bitter enemy of Islam and was determined to stop its message.
The Holy Prophet (sas) was thus protected to a large degree by the guarantee of Banu Haashim and Banu Muttalib.
The hostile clans of the Quraish tribe knew that they could not harm the Holy Prophet (sas) as long as he enjoyed the protection of Banu Haashim and Banu Muttalib. As they failed to achieve their purpose, they were frustrated. They resolved that a complete boycott of Muhammad (sas) and his followers should be enforced. They included Banu Haashim and Banu Muttalib clans in the ban as they had provided a guarantee of protection to the Holy Prophet (sas).
An agreement was written. The chiefs of Quraish and Banu Kanaanah tribes put their signatures to it and it was hung on one of the walls of the Ka‘bah. According to the agreement any contact with the Muslims and those who sided with them was totally forbidden. No provisions were sold to them. The ban was enforced rigorously. Moreover inter-marriages between Banu Haashim and Banu Muttalib with the rest of the Quraish tribes were prohibited. The Makkans said that they would lift the ban only when those two clans denounce the Holy Prophet (sas) and hand him over to them.
In pursuance of this agreement, the Holy Prophet (sas) along with a small band of Muslims together with the people of Banu Haashim and Banu Muttalib, with the exception of Abu Lahab and his family, were compelled to retire to a narrow valley called Shi‘b Abi Taalib. This was a small enclosure that belonged to Abu Taalib. The supply of food and all other necessities of life were cut off.
The boycott imposed terrible sufferings upon the besieged, particularly the women, children and the old people. Even when the foreign merchants came to Makkah with their commodities, Quraish would not allow them to sell anything to the besieged. The cries of hungry children were audible outside. Many a time these people were forced to feed themselves on the leaves of thorny bushes, which were growing in the valley.
Many hearts were moved at the sight of such hardships and they tried to supply food to their relatives in spite of the threats. Sometimes they succeeded but most often they failed miserably.
It is related that once Hakeem bin Hizaam, grandson of Khuwailid, carried some provisions to deliver to his aunt Khadijah (ra), but he was spotted by Abu Jahl, who blocked his way. There was a brief scuffle but Abu Jahl did not allow him to go further so Hakeem returned heavy hearted.
The blockade went on for about three years. As a result the health of Hazrat Khadijah (ra) and many other notables deteriorated. One day the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to his uncle Abu Taalib that God had revealed to him that the document written by the Quraish leaders against them had been eaten into by worms. He told him that all writing except the name of Allah had been badly damaged.
Abu Taalib went to the Ka‘bah and addressed the people belonging to the Quraish tribe who happened to be there and said to them, ‘How long would you continue to conform to the conditions of your brutal agreement. My nephew had told me that God had destroyed the whole of the document except His own name. Let us examine the document and find out whether my nephew is right.’ Someone brought the document and they found that with the exception of the name of God with which it began, the worms had damaged the rest of the writing.
Observing this, five chiefs of the Quraish tribe, namely Hishaam bin ‘Amr, Zaheer bin Abu Umayyah, Mut‘am bin ‘Adi, Abul Bakhtaari and Zam‘ah bin Aswad, felt that this agreement should be terminated. They went to other Quraish chiefs. One of these five said to them, ‘Do you consider it right that you should pass your days in comfort while your brethren are forced to live in misery and distress. This pact is cruel so it should be done away with.’
All of them agreed to put an end to the boycott. Abu Jahl, however, protested. He said, ‘This pact will continue and no one can terminate it.’
Addressing Abu Jahl, one of them said, ‘This agreement is not binding any more. Even when it was written, we did not agree to it.’
While this heated discussion was going on, Mut‘am bin ‘Adi seized the document and tore it to pieces. Thereafter he, along with other chiefs, proceeded to the Shi‘b Abi Taalib with drawn swords and told the besieged that the boycott was over and that they could return to their homes.