Life of Muhammad — Page 26
sa 26 hardships under this blockade. For three years there was no slackening of it. Then at last, five decent members of the enemy revolted against these conditions. They went to the blockaded family, offered to annul the boycott, and asked the family to come out. Ab u Ta lib came out and reproved his people. The revolt of the five became known all over Mecca, but good feeling asserted itself again, and Meccans decided they must cancel the savage boycott. The boycott was over, but not its consequences. In a few days the Prophet's sa faithful wife, Khad i ja ra , met her death, and a month later his uncle, Ab u Ta lib. The Holy Prophet sa had now lost the companionship and support of Khad i ja ra , and he and the Muslims had lost the good offices of Ab u Ta lib. Their passing away naturally also resulted in the loss of some general sympathy. Ab u Lahab, another uncle of the Prophet sa , seemed ready at first to side with the Prophet sa. The shock of his brother's death and regard for his dying wish were still fresh in his mind. But the Meccans soon succeeded in antagonizing him. They made use of the usual appeals. The Prophet sa taught that disbelief in the Oneness of God was an offence, punishable in the Hereafter; his teaching contradicted everything they had learnt from their forefathers, and so on. Ab u Lahab decided to oppose the Prophet sa more than ever. Relations between Muslims and Meccans had become strained. A three-year boycott and blockade had enlarged the gulf between them. Meeting and preaching seemed impossible. The Prophet sa did not mind the ill- treatment and the persecution; these were nothing so long as he had the chance to meet and address people. But now it seemed that he had no such chance in Mecca. General antagonism apart, the Prophet sa now found it impossible to appear in any street or public place. If he did, they threw dust at him and sent him back to his house. Once he returned home, his head covered with dust. A daughter wept as she removed the dust. The Prophet sa told her not to weep for God was