Quraysh attempt to extradite Muslims (2)

Then turning to the envoys of the Quraysh, the King said, “You may go. By God, I shall never give them to you, not will they be ill-treated.”

The two envoys from the Quraysh now changed their tactics. The next day they returned to the King’s court and made another attempt to convince the King to expel the Muslims from his country. Amr tried to incite the King against the Muslims. “O King! They assert a dreadful thing about Jesus which is too shameful to be repeated before you.”

The King again summoned the Muslims to his court and questioned them about their belief regarding Jesus.

Ja’far bin Abi Talib replied: “We say about him that which our Prophet has taught us. Jesus was a human being and Allah’s Prophet. He was a spirit and a word cast unto the blessed virgin Maryam.”

The King took a straw from the ground and said: “By God, Jesus, the son of Mary, does not exceed what you have said by the length of this straw. Go and live in my territory in peace and security. Those who ill-treat you will be punished. I shall not give you any trouble even if I were offered a mountain of gold in exchange.”

The King then ordered that all the gifts brought by the envoys from the Quraysh be returned. Having failed miserably, the two envoys left for Arabia in great shame.

Polytheists are outraged

The Quraysh were very angry about what had happened in Abyssinia. They had been mocked in the King’s court, and the name of their tribe had been tarnished – all because of a small band of refugees. The Muslims, they determined, would pay for this with their blood.

Yet, how were they to be avenged for this humiliation? Abu Talib was steadfast in his support for his nephew, no matter how hard the Quraysh tried to manipulate him. With his uncle’s protection, The Prophet continued with his mission. The Quraysh tried everything to destroy Islam: persecution, assassination, bribary, debate, and even compromise. Nothing worked.