The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 233
VII - Days of Struggle 233 mutually proposed that this cruel and merciless agreement should now be ended. At this proposal, these people went to the assembly of the other Chieftains of the Quraish, and one of them addressed the Quraish saying “O Quraish! Is it just that you lead a life of luxury while your brothers suffer days in such hardship? This agreement is cruel and should now be abrogated. ” His other associates endorsed him, but Abū Jahl said, “Nay! This agreement shall continue, and none can touch it. ” Someone responded, “No, it can no longer continue, for when it was first written, even then we were not at consent. ” Amidst this dispute, Muṭ‘im bin ‘Adiyy extended his hand and tore apart this decomposed document. Abū Jahl and his associates stood gazing in disappointment. After tearing this parchment, these people went to the entrance of the The Valley of Abū Ṭālib armed, and under the shadow of swords, these detainees were escorted out. This incident happened in the tenth year after prophetic commission. 1 Therefore, the Holy Prophet sa remained besieged for two and a half to three years, because as it has been mentioned above, the Holy Prophet sa was besieged in the seventh year of prophethood in the month of Muḥarram. Miracle of the Shaqqul-Qamar 2 The Holy Prophet sa was perhaps still in the The Valley of Abū Ṭālib when the renowned miracle of the Shaqqul-Qamar took place. A few among the infidels sought a miracle of the Holy Prophet sa and he showed them the miracle of the moon breaking into two pieces. The Holy Qur’ān makes mention of this occurrence in the following words: “The Hour has drawn nigh, and the moon is rent asunder. And if they see a 1 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 1, p. 101, Bābu Dhikri Ḥaṣri Quraisha Rasūlillāhi sa wa Banī Hāshim fish-Sha‘bi , Dārul-Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Splitting of the Moon (Publishers)