Utba, Rabia's son, belonged to the tribe of Shams, Abdu Shams was a brother of Hashim and it was he, who, together with notables of the Koraysh tribe now met to discuss how they might best deal with the Prophet (sa). During the course of the meeting Utba suggested that perhaps the Prophet (sa) might incline to accept certain gifts and privileges in exchange for his silence, but it they had searched in the depths of their hearts all would have known he was not like them and would never accept a bribe no matter how it was presented. However, all were of the opinion that every man had his price and so they placed high hopes on his suggestion saying that they would be prepared to offer him absolutely anything he might desire as recompense in exchange for his silence. They had just reached their agreement when a late comer joined the meeting and told the gathering that he had just seen the Prophet (sa) sitting alone beside the Ka'ba. They agreed that now was a good time to approach him with their proposal, and as Utba was related to him they chose him to be their representative. Utba made his way toward to the Prophet (sa) whereupon the Prophet (sa) expressed his pleasure in seeing him, welcomed and invited him to sit down and talk. When Utba sat down the Prophet (sa) hoped he might have come to learn about Islam but Utba proceeded to say, "My nephew, you are one of us, from a noble tribe, a descendant of the finest ancestors. You have come to our tribes with an important matter that is dividing us. You have denounced our customs, insulted our gods and our religions. As for our ancestors, you say they were unbelievers, so listen to me because I have come to you with several proposals, perhaps you may accept one of them." The Prophet (sa) was very saddened but listened out of politeness as he never turned anyone away as Utba proceeded to describe the bribes. "If it is money you want, we are prepared to combine our properties and make you the richest one among us. If it is honor that you wish, we will make you our chief with complete and absolute power. If it is leadership, we will make you our leader and if the Spirit you see comes to you and you cannot rid yourself of it, then we will find a physician to cure you." After Utba finished presenting his bribe, the Prophet (sa) received a new Revelation from Allah:
"In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful. Ha Meem. A sending down from the Merciful, the Most Merciful. A Book, the verses of which are distinguished, an Arabic Al-Quran for a nation who know. It bears glad tidings and a warning, yet most of them turn away and do not listen. They say: 'Our hearts are veiled from that to which you call us, and in our ears there is heaviness. And between us and you is a veil. So work (as you will) and we are working.’" Al-Quran 41:1−5. The compelling beauty of the Al-Quranic recitation held Utba's attention in wonderment and as he listened further he heard of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Then he heard of the prophets sent to the arrogant people of Aad, and of the proud people of Thamood. He learned that all, but a few of their citizens refused to listen to the Message Allah had given to their prophets so they, with the exception of those who believed, were subjected to punishments of the severest kind in this world and then even greater in the Everlasting Life. The Prophet (sa) continued his recitation with verses that drew attention to the multiple signs surrounding us and concluded with:
"Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. But do not prostrate yourselves before the sun or the moon rather prostrate before Allah, who created them both, if it is He whom you worship.” Al-Quran 41:37
As soon as the Prophet (sa) finished the recitation, he prostrated his head upon the ground in exaltation and thanksgiving. Then arose saying, "O (Utba) father of Waleed, you have heard what you have heard, it is now up to you to decided." The sun had started to set and Utba's companions had waited patiently for his return. No doubt their hopes were high as he had been with the Prophet (sa) for a considerable length of time. However, when he returned they were struck by the changed expression upon his face and asked what had happened. Utba told them that he had heard a recitation that was uniquely beautiful yet it was neither poetry, nor was it the words of a soothsayer, nor yet sorcery. He advised his companions to do as he intended, which was, not to come between the Prophet (sa) and his affair. Then he swore by Allah that the words he had just heard would be received by many as great tidings. Utba thought it more prudent that his blood should not be on their hands and commented if other Arabs were to kill him, then the responsibility would rest upon them, however, if his nephew were to become successful, he would govern them and his power would also be their power, and they would benefit. Utba's companions mocked him harshly and told him that he had been bewitched, but all Utba said was, "I have given you my opinion, do whatever you
please." The Koraysh were angered by his advice so they decided to speak to the Prophet (sa) themselves so that no blame for their future actions could be attached to them and so they sent for him. The Prophet (sa) ever hopeful of guiding his tribe to Allah, went to them in haste. Soon he realized they had not called for him because their hearts had turned to Allah, rather the opposite was the case. The Koraysh rebuked him saying that never before had an Arab treated them in such a manner, reviling their gods, their customs and traditions. Once again, an effort to silence him was made as they endorsed the offer made earlier by Utba. As soon as the Koraysh finished offering their bribe, the Prophet (sa) turned to them in his usual gentle manner saying, "I am neither possessed, nor do I seek honor among you, nor the leadership. Allah has sent me as a Messenger to you and has sent down to me a Book with the command that I should give you good tidings but also a warning. I convey to you the Message of my Lord and counsel you. If you accept what I have brought you, you will receive blessings in this world and in the Everlasting life, but if you reject what I have brought, then, I will wait patiently for Allah to judge between us." The Koraysh, deeply disappointed by the Prophet's reply told him to leave. But before he left, they contemptuously told him that if he was really the Messenger of Allah he would have to prove it to them with something that would make their life easier. Their first demand was that he should ask Allah to remove the mountains that surround Mecca and to level the land so that rivers would flow through it just as they did in Syria and Iraq. Their demands continued; next they said that Ksay should be raised from the dead along with several of their ancestors, saying that they would ask Ksay if what the Prophet (sa) said was true or false, yet they knew he never lied. They continued saying that if he was able to bring about their demands, then, and only then, might they conceded he was who he said he was, and near to Allah. With respect, the Prophet (sa) replied that it was not on this account that he been sent. He told them that he had been sent to convey the Message of Allah and that they were free to either accept the Message or if they were adamant, reject it, and await the Judgement of Allah. On hearing his reply, the Koraysh changed their tactics saying that if he would not ask for these things, then, why not ask for something for himself. They told him to ask Allah to send an Angel to him who would confirm the truth of his preaching, and for gardens, and castles with treasures of gold and silver for himself. But the Prophet (sa) repeated his reply. The Koraysh continued to deride the Prophet (sa) asking if his Lord knew that he would be sitting amongst them and that they would ask him these questions. Their mockery continued as they asked why, if Allah had known these questions were going to be asked, hadn't He instructed him how to answer and tell him what He was going to do with them if they refused the Message he brought.
RAHMAN
The word "Rahman" means "the Merciful", and is one of the many attributes of Allah. The Koraysh noticed "Rahman" occurred at the beginning of each chapter of the Al-Quran so in an effort to discredit the Revelation rumors were spread that the Prophet (sa) received tutorship in the art of poetry by a man from Yamamah called Rahman. When next they met with the Prophet (sa) they seized upon the opportunity to chide him still further saying, "We have heard your recitation is taught to you by a man from Yamamah called Rahman −− we will never believe in Rahman! We have made our position clear to you Muhammad, and swear by Allah, that we will neither leave you in peace nor desist in our treatment of you until we have either destroyed you or you have destroyed us!" The Prophet (sa) was about to leave when Abdullah, Ummaya's son from the tribe of Makhzum disrespectfully shouted, "O Muhammad, your people have offered you several propositions −− you have rejected all! First they asked for themselves, then they asked you to ask for yourself! They have even asked you to hasten some of the punishment you have spoken about upon them. By Allah, I will never believe you until I see you take a ladder, climb it, and reach the heavens, then bring four angels to bear witness that you are what you claim, and even then I doubt whether I will believe you!" Upon hearing this last remark the Prophet (sa) was deeply saddened because it had been made by Abdullah, the son of his aunt Atikah who had named her son after her beloved brother, the Prophet's father, which means “Worshiper of Allah”. Allah sent the Prophet verses that would forever record the contempt and rejection of the Koraysh leaders:
"As such, We have sent you forth to a nation before whom others have passed away in order that you recite to them what We have revealed to you. Yet they disbelieve the Merciful (Rahman). Say: 'He is my Lord. There is not god except He. In Him I have put my trust, and to Him I turn.' If only a Al-Quran whereby the mountains were set in motion, or the earth cleaved asunder, or the dead spoken to. No, but Allah is the affair altogether. Do those who believe know that had Allah willed He could have guided all people? As for those who disbelieve, because of what they do, disaster will not cease to afflict them, or it alights near their home until the promise of Allah comes. Allah will not break His promise." Al-Quran 13:30−31
"They also say: 'How is it that this Messenger eats and walks about the markets? Why has no angel been sent down with him to warn us? Or, why has no treasure been thrown to him, or a garden for him to eat from?' And the harmdoers say: 'The man you follow is surely bewitched.'" Al-Quran 25:7−8
"They say: 'We will not believe in you until you make a spring gush from the earth for us, or, until you own a garden of palms and vines and cause rivers to gush forth with abundant water in them; or, until you cause the sky to fall upon us in pieces, as you have claimed, or, as a surety bring Allah with the angels in front; or, until you possess an ornate house of gold, or ascend into the heavens; and we will not believe in your ascension until you have brought down for us a book which we can read.' Say:
'Exaltations to my Lord! Am I anything except a human Messenger?'" Al-Quran 17:90−93
ABU JAHL AND THE STONE
Abu Jahl continued to deride the Prophet (sa) after he had left and took an oath saying, "Tomorrow, I will lie in wait for him with a heavy stone, and when he prostrates I will split his skull with it. Betray me or defend me −− let the children of Abdu Manaf do what they like after that!" The next morning, the Prophet (sa) arose before dawn and made his customary way to offer his prayer near the Black Stone in the wall of Ka'ba. The Koraysh had already gathered and Abu Jahl, carrying a very heavy stone staggered as he approached the Prophet (sa) who was now humbly absorbed in his prayer, with the intent of fulfilling his oath. Before Abu Jahl was able to get close enough to the Prophet (sa) he turned back in deathly fright. His hand had started to wither on the stone whereupon he dropped it and ran as fast as he could. The Koraysh rushed towards him and asked what had come over him whereupon he told them he had seen a terrifying camel, with a tremendously large head, enormous shoulders and a fearsome set of teeth that looked as if it was about to devour him if he continued. Later on, the Prophet (sa) told his companions that the camel was none other than Gabriel, and if Abu Jahl had persisted he would indeed have seized him.
THE CONTEMPT OF ABU JAHL
Even though Abu Jahl had witnessed and given, first hand, many signs he still persisted in his egotistical obsession. He now bragged before the Koraysh that he would stamp on the back of the Prophet’s neck the next time he saw him praying. When the Prophet (sa) arrived at the Ka’ba to pray the Koraysh drew Abu Jahl’s attention to the opportunity. However, as before when Abu Jahl approached the Prophet (sa) with his evil intent, he ran away in fright, trying to protect himself with his hands. His fellow tribesmen asked what had happened whereupon he admitted, “As I came near to him, I looked down and saw a ditch full of fire and I almost fell into it. I saw a terrifying sight and heard enough fluttering of wings that would fill the earth!” Later, when Abu Jahl’s words were reported to him the Prophet (sa) told his companions that the fluttering of wings where those of the angels and that if he had come any nearer to him they would have torn him limb from limb. Soon after the following verse was sent down: “Indeed, surely the human is very insolent.” Al-Quran 96:6
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