The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 199
VI - Commencement of Prophethood 199 be upon him] is mad and tends to speak in the vehemence of his madness. ” Walīd said: “Who will believe us? And what symptoms of insanity can we possibly justify in Muḥammad [peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him]? There is no anxiety in him, no restlessness, nor does he possess the necessary distraction of mind that is found in an insane man. Who will believe our claim?” A third person said, “We can say that this person is a poet, and is pulling people towards himself through his enchantingly persuasive couplets. ” Walīd responded “By calling him a poet, how shall we display examples of poetic style such as Rajaz, Hazaj, Qarīḍ, Maqbūḍ and Mabsūṭ 1 in his poetry. ” Upon this, a fourth person said, “We should project him as a magician. ” Walīd said, “Then how shall we show him as one who casts spells and performs tricks. ” People said, “O ‘Abdu Shams, then you ought to tell us what we should do. ” Walīd responded: “In this regard, I am myself perplexed, as to the proper course of action. Whatever we suggest does not seem to apply to Muḥammad [peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him] and to make a statement that the people do not accept shall make us the target of laughter. ” In this way, discussions continued and it was ultimately decided that since nothing else comes to mind, the suggestion of declaring him a magician seems to hold more weight among the suggestions presented in the meeting. Hence, it was decided that on the occasion of Ḥajj , everyone would tell the people coming from outside that Muḥammad [peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him] was a magician who, through his secret magic was separating son and father, brother and brother, and husband and wife from one another. Therefore, on the occasion of Ḥajj , the talk of the town was that Muḥammad [peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him] is a magician who sows the seed of separation and divergence in every home that he enters. Moreover, this propaganda spurred a dangerous uproar throughout the tribes of Arabia against the Holy Prophet sa. 2 The Quraish did not rest at this, but instigated the vagabond and wilful people of Makkah to continue teasing the Holy Prophet sa. Therefore, caught up in this instigation, vagabond-mannered people would talk nonsense about the 1 These were terms of the poets of Arabia. (Author) 2 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 203-204, Bābu Taḥayyuril- Walīd-ibnil-Mughīrati fīmā Yaṣifu bihil-Qur’ān, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)