How Did Quraysh Threaten Abu Talib, the Prophet's (PBUH) Uncle?
بماذا هدد كفار قريش أبا طالب عم الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم؟
The leaders of Quraish came to Abu Talib and they said to him: Your nephew has insulted our gods and cursed our fathers, and if you do not stop him and prevent him, we will fight you both until one of the two parties perishes. Abu Talib sent for his nephew and told him what the people had said, “Spare me any burden that I can’t bear.” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) thought that his uncle would let him down and would no longer support him, so he replied: “O my uncle! by Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until Allah has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it.” His uncle said, ” Oh my nephew! “Go and preach what you please, for by Allah I will never forsake you.”
جاءت سادات قريش إلى أبي طالب فقالوا له : إن ابن أخيك سفه آلهتنا وشتم آباءنا، فإن لم تنته وتكفه عن ذلك لننازلنه وإياك حتى يهلك أحد الفريقين، لذا أرسل أبو طالب لابن أخيه الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال له : يا ابن أخي إن قومك جاءوني، فقالوا لي كذا وكذا، فأبق على نفسك وعليّ، ولا تحملني من الأمر ما لا أطيق، فقال: ياعم! والله لو وضعوا الشمس في يميني والقمر في يساري على أن أترك هذا الأمر، حتى يظهره الله أو أهلك فيه، فرد عليه عمه وقال: اذهب يابن أخي فقل ما أحببت، فوالله لا أسلمك لشيء أبدا
1. The Ultimatum of the Quraysh Notables | الإنذار الأخير من سادات قريش لأبي طالب
A high delegation of Quraysh chieftains visited Abu Talib, issuing a severe ultimatum: "O Abu Talib! Your nephew has insulted our gods, condemned our faith, declared our ancestors foolish, and described our customs as misguided. Either you restrain him, or you step aside so we settle the matter, or we will fight both you and him until one side perishes."
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَا أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا (سورة إبراهيم: 13)
جاءت سادات قريش في وفد مهيب إلى أبي طالب وقالوا له مهددين: "يا أبا طالب، إن ابن أخيك قد سب آلهتنا، وعاب ديننا، وسفه أحلامنا، وضلل آباءنا؛ فإما أن تكفه عنا، وإما أن تخلي بيننا وبينه، أو لننازلنك وإياه حتى يهلك أحد الفريقين".
2. Abu Talib's Appeal and Moral Dilemma | مناشدة أبي طالب للنبي وخشية قطيعة العشيرة
The grave threat weighed heavily upon the elderly Abu Talib, fearing the fate of his clan Banu Hashim. He summoned Muhammad and pleaded: "Spare me and yourself, and do not burden me with that which I cannot bear," presenting the real prospect of losing family protection.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا (سورة آل عمران: 200)
ثقل هذا التهديد بالحرب الشاملة على أبي طالب شيخ بني هاشم، فاستشعر خطورة الموقف على عشيرته؛ فاستدعى النبي ﷺ وقال له برفق ومناشدة: "يا ابن أخي، إن قومك قد جاؤوني... فأبقِ عليّ وعلى نفسك، ولا تحملني من الأمر ما لا أطيق".
3. The Immortal Declaration: Sun and Moon | الموقف الخالد: "لو وضعوا الشمس في يميني والقمر في يساري"
Tears welled in the Prophet's eyes as he thought his beloved uncle was withdrawing support, but his faith in the mission remained unshakable. In the well-known report of Ibn Ishaq (whose chain hadith scholars consider weak), he answered: "O my uncle, by Allah, if they were to place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this matter until Allah makes it prevail or I perish in it, I would never abandon it!"
فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ (سورة الأحقاف: 35)
ظن النبي ﷺ أن عمه خاذله ومسلمه، فدمعت عيناه الشريفتان لكنه لم يتزعزع قيد أنملة، وأطلق كلمته التي خلدها التاريخ: "يا عم، والله لو وضعوا الشمس في يميني، والقمر في يساري على أن أترك هذا الأمر حتى يظهره الله أو أهلك فيه، ما تركته"، ثم استعبر وبكى.
4. Abu Talib's Renewed Pledge of Protection | تجديد العهد: ثبات أبي طالب على حماية النبي
Moved by Muhammad's transcendent conviction and sincere tears, Abu Talib was stirred to his core. He called him back and proclaimed: "Go, my nephew, and say whatever you wish. By Allah, I shall never surrender you to anyone under any circumstances," continuing his staunch tribal protection until his death.
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا (سورة غافر: 51)
أثرت عظمة اليقين وصدق العزيمة النبوية في وجدان أبي طالب تأثيراً بالغاً؛ فنادى ابن أخيه قائلاً بحزم ووفاء: "اذهب يا ابن أخي، فقل ما أحببت؛ فوالله لا أسلمك لشيء أبداً"، وجدد حمايته المطلقة له وللدعوة حتى وافته المنية.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
With what did the disbelievers of Quraysh threaten Abu Talib?
They threatened open warfare and mortal combat until one side was annihilated if he did not restrain Muhammad.
What did Abu Talib say to the Prophet after receiving the threat?
He pleaded with the Prophet: "Spare me and yourself, and do not burden me with that which I cannot bear."
What was the Prophet's famous response to his uncle?
He swore that even if they placed the sun in his right hand and the moon in his left, he would never abandon his mission until Allah made it triumph or he died in its cause.
How did Abu Talib react to the Prophet's unwavering commitment?
He was deeply moved and promised that he would never surrender Muhammad to his enemies under any circumstances.