The Polytheists’ Outrage

The Quraysh were furious about what had happened in Abyssinia. They had been humiliated in the King’s court, mocked before others, and their tribe’s reputation had been tarnished — all because of a small group of Muslim refugees. In their anger, they swore that the Muslims would pay for this insult with their blood.

But how could they take revenge? Abu Talib remained firm in his support for his nephew, no matter what pressure or persuasion the Quraysh tried. Protected by his uncle, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ continued his mission undeterred. The Quraysh tried everything to destroy Islam — persecution, assassination attempts, bribery, debates, and even offers of compromise — yet nothing succeeded.

Increased Persecution

The Quraysh’s defeat at the Abyssinian court only deepened their hatred for Islam. They took out their anger on the Muslims who still lived in Makkah.
At one point, Utbah bin Abi Lahab, who had divorced the Prophet’s daughter Umm Kulthoom (رضي الله عنها), came to Prophet Muhammed ﷺ and mockingly quoted a verse from Surah An-Najm, declaring, “I disbelieve in the One who revealed this verse!” Although the Quraysh had once bowed down during the Prophet’s recitation of that surah, they stubbornly clung to their disbelief in the divine nature of his message.
From then on, Utbah became a constant source of irritation for Prophet Muhammed ﷺ. Once, he even tore the Prophet’s clothes and spat in his face. The Prophet ﷺ responded with calm dignity, saying, “O Allah, set one of Your dogs upon him.”

Sometime later, Utbah joined a caravan heading to Syria. When they camped at Zarqaa, a lion began circling the camp. Terrified, Utbah cried, “By God, it will kill me — just as Muhammed prayed! He is in Makkah, and I am in Syria, yet he will still destroy me!” That night, though his companions placed him at the center of their group for safety, the lion passed everyone and leapt upon Utbah, killing him instantly.
One enemy was gone — but others remained.

Plots Against the Prophet ﷺ

Uqbah bin Abi Mu’ayt, who had once placed camel intestines on the Prophet’s back during prayer, again attacked him. On another occasion, he pressed his foot on the Prophet’s neck while he was in prostration until his eyes bulged.
The Quraysh grew desperate. When nothing seemed to deter Prophet Muhammed ﷺ, they began plotting to assassinate him.

Abu Jahl declared before his peers:
“Muhammed continues to insult our gods, mock our ancestors, and call us ignorant. I swear by Allah, I will wait for him with a heavy stone. When he prostrates, I will crush his head. You may save me or leave me to face Banu ‘Abd Manaf alone!”
The Quraysh encouraged him, saying, “Do what you wish — we will never abandon you.”
The next morning, Abu Jahl took his stone and waited. Prophet Muhammed ﷺ arrived at the Ka‘bah and began to pray. As he prepared to strike, Abu Jahl suddenly froze, turned pale, dropped the stone, and fled in terror. When questioned, he said, “As I approached, I saw a huge camel with an enormous head and terrible teeth. It was about to devour me!”
The Prophet ﷺ later explained that what Abu Jahl had seen was the angel Jibreel (عليه السلام).

Renewed Insults and the Prophet’s ﷺ Courage

Despite Abu Jahl’s experience, others continued to mock the Prophet ﷺ. One day, as he circled the Ka‘bah, they hurled insults at him repeatedly. When he finally turned toward them, he said firmly:
“O people of Quraysh! Hear me well. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I have come to you with a great slaughter.”

The next day, the same men gathered again. When Prophet Muhammed ﷺ appeared, they surrounded him angrily and demanded, “Are you the one who commands us to abandon the gods of our forefathers?”
“Yes, I am,” the Prophet ﷺ replied.

They attacked him, shoving and striking him. Uqbah bin Abi Mu’ayt grabbed the Prophet’s cloak and began choking him. Hearing the commotion, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) rushed forward, pulled Uqbah away, and cried out:
“Woe to you! Would you kill a man just because he says, ‘My Lord is Allah’?”
The mob turned on Abu Bakr and beat him so severely that his face was swollen beyond recognition. His tribe, Banu Taym, carried him home, believing he would not survive the night.

But Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) recovered. The first thing he asked upon regaining consciousness was about the safety of Prophet Muhammed ﷺ. Refusing food or drink until he saw the Prophet himself, he was finally taken secretly to Dar Al-Arqam, where he met him — only then did he eat and drink.

Abu Bakr’s Devotion and Exile

As persecution grew unbearable, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) decided to migrate to Abyssinia. On the way, he met Malik bin Dughunna, the leader of the tribes of Qara and Ahabish. When Malik learned of his intention, he said,
“A man like you should never be expelled. You help the needy, maintain family ties, support the weak, host guests generously, and stand for the truth. I will protect you — return with me.”
Abu Bakr agreed, and Malik publicly declared his protection for him. The Quraysh accepted this on the condition that Abu Bakr worship quietly so that others wouldn’t be influenced.
At first, Abu Bakr complied, but later he built a small prayer area in his courtyard and began praying and reciting the Qur’an openly. His voice was soft yet full of emotion — when he recited, he would weep, and women and children would gather, moved by his sincerity.

This stirred the Quraysh again, and they pressured Malik to withdraw his protection. Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) told him,
“I release you from your pledge — I am content with the protection of my Lord.”
A Turning Point
Even as the Quraysh intensified their cruelty, the truth of Islam began to touch the hearts of some of their strongest men. Among them were Hamzah ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet’s uncle, and Umar ibn Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه). Their acceptance of Islam marked a decisive turning point in the early history of the Muslim community.