Between the Siege and the Greatest Victory
From the hunger of the ravine to the mercy of the conquest
In this powerful sermon, Dr. Khaled Al-Houli takes us back to the most difficult days of the Prophet’s ﷺ life. He explores the Boycott of Banu Hashim and draws striking parallels to our modern struggles, before concluding with the radiant hope of the Conquest of Mecca.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the bearer of the banner of glory. May Allah send peace and blessings upon him, his family, and his companions.
The Siege of Banu Hashim
O Muslims, words are often insufficient, and images speak louder than words. While we see images today that bleed our hearts, we must turn to the Seerah (biography) of the Beloved ﷺ.
While the Prophet ﷺ was moving toward the “Greatest Conquest” (Fath Makkah), we must remember the dark days that preceded it. Six or seven years after the revelation began, the clans of Quraysh gathered to commit a shameful act. They drafted a pact to completely boycott Banu Hashim and Banu Abd al-Muttalib.
The Terms of Cruelty
They agreed not to marry from them, not to give women in marriage to them, not to sell to them, not to buy from them, and not to socialize with them. They hung this unjust treaty inside the Kaaba to give it religious sanctity.
The tribe of the Prophet ﷺ was forced into the ravine (Shi’b) of Abu Talib. For three long years, the siege tightened. The wailing of hungry children could be heard from outside the ravine. The companions reached a point where they had to eat tree leaves. Some even found dry leather, washed it, roasted it, and ate it just to survive.
An Awakening of Humanity
Amidst this darkness, something strange happened. It was not “Islamic brotherhood” that moved the people, as they were not Muslims yet. Rather, it was human chivalry (Nakhwah).
Hisham ibn ‘Amr went to Zuhair ibn Abi Umayyah and said, “O Zuhair, are you content to eat food and wear clothes while your maternal uncles are perishing?” He replied, “What can I do? I am but one man.” Hisham said, “I have found a second for you.”
They gathered a third, then a fourth, then a fifth (Mut’im ibn ‘Adi), until five men stood up at the Kaaba and declared: “We will not rest until this unjust, severing sheet is torn apart!”
⚠️ A Painful Comparison
You marvel that the “chivalry of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah)” moved these pagan men to save the oppressed, yet today we see the “chivalry of humanity” dead in so many.
Even worse, back then, no one blamed the Prophet ﷺ for the siege. No one said to him, “You caused this hunger for your people because of your message.” Even the disbelievers had the sense not to blame the victim.
Yet today, we hear people of our own skin blaming our oppressed brothers for the destruction rained upon them. They ask “Why did they resist?” instead of blaming the oppressor. There is no power nor strength except by Allah.
The Divine Intervention
The Prophet ﷺ told his uncle Abu Talib: “My Lord has informed me that the woodworm has eaten the document, leaving only the name of Allah.”
They went to the Kaaba, and indeed, the earth had eaten the injustice, leaving only “Bismik Allahumma” (In Your Name, O Allah). The siege was broken. The patience in the ravine led to relief.
Years later, that same besieged Prophet returned to Mecca. He did not return as a starving refugee, but as a conqueror with a victorious army. He stood at the door of the Kaaba, holding the keys, looking at those who had starved him and expelled him.
He asked them: “What do you think I will do with you?”
They said: “You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother.”
He said: “Go, for you are free.”
Glossary of Terms
Key Islamic concepts and historical terms mentioned in this sermon:
The biography and life story of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
A sense of chivalry, honor, and a driving force to help those in distress.
The clan of the Prophet ﷺ, who were the target of the boycott.
A mountain pass or ravine. “Shi’b Abi Talib” is where the Muslims were besieged.
The “Age of Ignorance,” referring to the pre-Islamic era in Arabia.
The Conquest of Mecca, the ultimate victory of the Muslims over Quraysh.
Closing Supplication
O Allah, grant victory to Your religion. O Allah, relieve the suffering of the oppressed. O Allah, gather us with Your Prophet ﷺ at his Basin (Hawd) for a drink after which we will never thirst.