As mentioned above, there were some soft-hearted and compassionate people among the Quraish as well. When these people witnessed such cruelties, they would condemn them within their hearts, but they did not have the power to dispute the unanimous verdict of their people. For this reason, they would remain stagnant in the anxiety of their hearts. At last, such circumstances were created by God as these people courageously mustered the strength to step forward in this regard. The details of this are mentioned in the manner that when a time-period of approximately three years had passed on this boycott, one day, the Holy Prophetsa said to his paternal uncle, Abū Ṭālib, “God has informed me that the text of the entire agreement which was written against us has been expunged, except the name of God, and the parchment has been devoured.” Abū Ṭālib reached the Ka‘bah at once where the Chieftains of the Quraish were gathered, and addressed them saying:
“How long will this cruel agreement last? My nephew has told me that God has erased the entire script of this agreement, except His name.1 Go and fetch this agreement so that we may see to which extent my nephew is correct.”
Various others said, “Yes, Yes! Indeed we should see.” Therefore, the agreement was fetched and it had in fact been devoured by ants. Except the name of Allāh in the beginning, no word could be read. At this, among the Quraish there were some who became even more enflamed, but those whose hearts were already developing emotions of justice, mercy and kinship, found an excellent opportunity at hand to raise a voice against this agreement.2 Therefore, among the Chieftains of the Quraish, Hishām bin ‘Amr, Zuhair bin Abī Umaiyyah, Muṭ‘im bin ‘Adiyy, Abul-Bakhtarī and Zam‘ah bin Aswad, mutually proposed that this cruel and merciless agreement should now be ended. At this proposal, these people went to the assembly of the other Chieftains of the Quraish, and one of them addressed the Quraish saying “O Quraish! Is it just that you lead a life of luxury while your brothers suffer days in such hardship? This agreement is cruel and should now be abrogated.” His other associates endorsed him, but Abū Jahl said, “Nay! This agreement shall continue, and none can touch it.” Someone responded, “No, it can no longer continue, for when it was first written, even then we were not at consent.” Amidst this dispute, Muṭ‘im bin ‘Adiyy extended his hand and tore apart this decomposed document. Abū Jahl and his associates stood gazing in disappointment.
After tearing this parchment, these people went to the entrance of the The Valley of Abū Ṭālib armed, and under the shadow of swords, these detainees were escorted out. This incident happened in the tenth year after prophetic commission.3 Therefore, the Holy Prophetsa remained besieged for two and a half to three years, because as it has been mentioned above, the Holy Prophetsa was besieged in the seventh year of prophethood in the month of Muḥarram.
1 It was the custom of the Quraish that they would write the words بِاسْمِكَ اللّٰھُمَّ in the beginning of their writings, and it was only these words that remained of the agreement. (Author)
2 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 273-274, Bābu Naqdiṣ-Ṣaḥīfah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)
* Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 1, p. 101, Bābu Dhikri Ḥaṣri Quraisha Rasūlillāhisa wa Banī Hāshim fish-Sha‘bi, Dārul-Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 1, p. 101, Bābu Dhikri Ḥaṣri Quraisha Rasūlillāhisa wa Banī Hāshim fish-Sha‘bi, Dārul-Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)