The very first attempt made by the Quraish, was to deprive the Holy Prophetsa of the sympathy and protection of Abū Ṭālib, for they knew that as long as Abū Ṭālib sided with the Holy Prophetsa, action could not be taken against him without disturbing intertribal relationships. Abū Ṭālib was the chieftain of the Banū Hāshim, and despite being an idolater, was a guardian and protector to the Holy Prophetsa. As such, in light of intertribal politics to raise a hand against the Holy Prophetsa in his presence, was equivalent to declaring war against the Banū Hāshim, for which the rest of the Quraish, was not yet willing. Therefore, their initial scheme was that they sent a friendly delegation to Abū Ṭālib to convince him to stop his nephew from the propagation of Islām. As such, Walīd bin Mughīrah, ‘Āṣ bin Wā’il, ‘Utbah bin Rabī‘ah, Abū Jahl bin Hishām and Abū Sufyān, etc., who were all among the chieftains of the Quraish, approached Abū Ṭālib and kindly said “You are revered amongst our people. For this reason we request you to prohibit your nephew from the propogation of this new religion, or relinquish your protection of him and leave us and leave him that we may judge between ourselves.” Abū Ṭālib spoke to them in great tenderness, and continued in an attempt to cool their rage, and ultimately sent them back calm.1
1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 200, Bābu Mubādāti Rasūlillāhisa Qaumahū wa mā kāna minhu, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)