Due to the increased pressure and torment of the polytheists, our Master went to stay at Arqam bin Asad’s house… Arqam’s house was to the north of Mount Safa, it was one of the twin houses in a narrow street, where the other house belonged to Bani Shaiba…

Our Master continued his work despite the difficult conditions to which he was prone… The unbelievers and polytheists were becoming more and more apprehensive; Islam was growing… Its name and prominence was reaching other clans and tribes nearby… 

The polytheists gathered for a meeting to find a solution to this. Finally at the end of their meeting a decision was made. A group comprised of ten people was going to visit Abu Talib and ask him to take charge of this situation that was growing out of hand… So, a group, including Utba bin Rebia and Walid bin Mughiyra, went to Abu Talib to share their concerns:

“O Abu Talib… You know your nephew is a serious source of trouble for us. He leaves nothing unsaid regarding our gods, he claims our ancestors were deluded and accuses us of being ignorant and foolish.  You must stop him… Either he must give up his cause or you must move from standing in between… We know you don’t agree with him, so if you move out of our way, we can silence him ourselves…”

Abu Talib was not pleased. Despite this, he did not react negatively, he simply told them he will do his best to find a solution to their problem… But the truth was he loved our Master too much to say anything to him…

Note that Abu Talib’s love for our Master was not for the sake of Allah, it was because he was his brother’s son, his nephew… Whereas Allah commands that our love and dislike should be for His sake alone… This is why Abu Talib’s love for his nephew could not save him from eternal suffering…

Meanwhile our Master was working with all his strength to spread Islam. The number of the Muslims was increasing by the day, amplifying the polarity between the believers and non-believers to inexplicable heights… 

Ultimately it came to a point where war was about to break loose. The Meccan polytheists decided to give Abu Talib a final ultimatum:

“O Abu Talib… You know that you are a noble chief in our sight… Last time we came around, we kindly asked you to silence your nephew. Let alone not complying with our request, you continued to defend and support him. Let it be known that we will no longer allow him to degrade us, our ancestors and gods… Either you will silence him, or we will fight with you and him, until either one of us is put to death!”

This was an intense ultimatum… The polytheists were determined. Their real agenda was to make Abu Talib admit whose side he was on… Abu Talib had to find a way out of this seriously critical situation… Finally, he decided to talk to his nephew… 

When our Master arrived at his uncle’s house Abu Talib explained:

“My dear nephew… The nobles and chiefs of Quraish came over yesterday and complained about you… The things they said made me very upset… I ask that you stop insulting their ancestors and gods so that you may both protect yourself and me… Don’t put me in a position that I won’t be able handle…” 

Abu Talib’s appeal was touching… Was he implying that he was no longer going to protect our Master? 

“My dear uncle… By Allah, if they placed the Sun in my right hand and the Moon in my left hand, I will not abandon my cause! Either Allah will spread this religion to the world, or I will die in the way of Allah…” 

Our Master’s response had made Abu Talib considerably sad, despite this, his love for his nephew weighed heavier than everything else… This time with acceptance and serenity in his tone, Abu Talib assured his nephew:

“O Muhammad, go and speak as you wish! I swear I will never abandon you or leave you unprotected! Continue to do your work…”

Soon enough the polytheists heard about this… This time they went to him with another plan:

“O Abu Talib… You know who do this young man is; Walid bin Mughiyra’s son Umara bin Walid… He is the strongest, the most handsome and one with the best of morals among the youth of Quraish, and he is a poet… Here, take him as your son, he will help you with everything. In return, give us your nephew and let us kill him. This way, you will have earned a son, and we will be saved from a man who insults our ancestors and gods… What do you say?”

This offer made Abu Talib laugh… He mocked:

“Why don’t you give me your son and let me kill him first, then you can have my nephew, what do you say?”

The polytheists were befuddled:

“But our son does not do what your nephew does… you look after our son and he can help you with everything you need…”

Abu Talib smirked, “And I thought you were sound and sensible men… You could not have made an offer more foolish than this… I’m going to look after and feed the son of you foolish men, while you kill mine!? May god give you what you deserve… Have you ever seen a female camel feed and look after babies beside her own? Can we as humans not even have the decency to behave like a camel?”

To this, Mutim bin Adiyy, a relative of Abu Talib who was among the polytheists responded:

“O Abu Talib, indeed, your clan has been fair and merciful towards you, they did their best to protect you from harm. In fact, they are trying to relieve you from something that you too don’t agree with. Your stance is definitely unjustified!”

Abu Talib did not agree:

“I swear to you that none of them have been fair and merciful towards me… Where is the mercy in this offer? It is clear that you have a vested interest that makes you stand among them and against me. So do as you wish!”

The relations had been severed… The only option left now was battle; to force to submit… But which side was going to be triumphant?

In the following days the polytheists increased the intensity of the torture they were subjecting the Muslims to… Their barbarism and cruelty were simply incomprehensible… 

Meanwhile Abu Talib gathered the Sons of Hashim and Muttalib and shared his concern of a possible plan of assassination aimed at Muhammad (saw). He asked that they stand together and safeguard him if such an attack takes place, and they all gave their solemn promise.