However, since the cause of their displeasure remained existent, rather, continued to progress day by day, and austere verses in the prohibition of polytheism were being revealed, it was not long before these people once again gathered before Abū Ṭālib and said:
“Now the matter has reached its limit and we are referred to as impure, foul, the worst of creation, foolish, and the children of Satan. Our gods are referred to as the fuel of hell and our ancestors are described as those who think not. Therefore, we can bear no more, and if you cannot renounce your protection of him, then we are also compelled, for we shall fight you, until one party of the two is destroyed.”
The matter had now become very sensitive for Abū Ṭālib. He became very frightened and called upon the Holy Prophetsa at once. Upon the arrival of the Holy Prophetsa, he said to him:
“O my nephew! Your words have now truly enflamed the people and it is nigh that they destroy you and me as well. You have declared their wise men foolish; their ancestors have been described as Sharrul-Bariyyah. Their venerable gods have been named the firewood of hell and Waqūdun-Nār1, and they themselves have been ascribed impure and foul. I tell you in good faith that you should restrain your tongue from such offensive language and forsake this undertaking, for I have not the power to fight all the people.”
The Holy Prophetsa understood that now the steadfastness of Abū Ṭālib had also been put to test, and among worldly means, the greatest support of the Holy Prophetsa was about to crumble under the weight of opposition. But the Holy Prophetsa exhibited no discontent in the least. With great composure he said:
“This is not abusive language, rather it is the truth asserted upon its correct place, and it is for this purpose that I have been commissioned, that I may show them their evils and invite them towards the right path. If I must die in this cause, I delightedly accept my fate. My life is devoted in this cause, and I shall not abstain from the expression of the truth by fear of death. O Uncle! If you are worried on account of your weakness and distress, then by all means relinquish your protection of me. I shall never refrain from the conveyance of divine injunctions. By God! If these people put the sun on my one hand and the moon upon the other, even then I shall not refrain from the fulfillment of my responsibility. I shall continue my work until God completes it or I die in this endeavour.”
The Holy Prophetsa was delivering this address while his countenance conspicuously exhibited the zeal of truth and serenity. When the Holy Prophetsa completed his address, he set off immediately and desired to leave, but Abū Ṭālib called upon him from behind. When the Holy Prophetsa turned back, he noticed that Abū Ṭālib’s eyes were filled with tears. At that time, Abū Ṭālib addressed the Holy Prophetsa weeping, and said, “My nephew, go then and engage in your work. Until I live, I shall stand by you with my full power.”2
1 The fuel of hell (Publishers)
2 * Izālah-e-Auhām, By Ḥaḍrat Mirzā Ghulām Aḥmadas (The Promised Messiah & Mahdi), Rūhānī Khazā’in, Volume 3, pp. 110-111
* As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 200-201, Bābu Mubādāti Rasūlillāhisa Qaumahū wa mā kāna minhu, pp. 200-201, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)
* Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az-Zarqānī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)