An Offer No Ordinary Man Could Refuse
Once again, the Makkan pagans decided it was time to hold discussions about the growing influence of Islam. The conversions of Hamzah (RA) and Umar (RA) had dramatically shifted the balance of power, and the Quraysh realized that their dominance was quickly slipping away.
Utbah bin Rabi‘ah, a respected leader from the clan of Banu Abd Shams, addressed the Quraysh council:
“O people of Quraysh, shall I not speak to Muhammad ﷺ and negotiate with him? Perhaps he will accept my offer, and we will be rid of this problem.”
The group agreed, and Utbah went to meet Muhammed ﷺ, who was sitting near the Ka‘bah.
Utbah said,
“O my nephew! You hold a great position in this city. You are of noble lineage and among the best of us. But you have brought something serious—you have divided your people, mocked our gods, criticized our faith, and rejected the ways of our forefathers. Now, listen to me. I will make you a few offers; perhaps one will please you.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “O Abu al-Waleed, go ahead, I am listening.”
Utbah continued:
“If it is wealth you seek, we will gather for you so much that you will become the richest among us.
If it is honor you desire, we will make you our leader.
If you wish to be a king, we will crown you.
If it is marriage you seek, choose any woman from among the Quraysh, and we will give you ten such women.
And if you are afflicted by a spirit, we will call the best physicians to treat you until you are cured.”
The Prophet ﷺ asked, “Is that all you have to say?”
Utbah replied, “Yes.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ said, “Now listen to me.”
He began reciting from Surah Fussilat:
“Haa-Meem. A revelation from Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A Book whose verses are explained in detail — a Qur’an in Arabic for a people who understand — giving glad tidings and warnings, yet most of them turn away and do not listen…”
(Qur’an 41:1–5)
As the Prophet ﷺ continued, Utbah listened closely until the verse:
“But if they turn away, say: I have warned you of a thunderbolt like that which struck Aad and Thamood.” (41:13)
Terrified, Utbah placed his hand on the blessed mouth of Muhammed ﷺ and pleaded with him to stop reciting. When the Prophet ﷺ reached a verse requiring prostration, he bowed down in sajdah and then said, “O Abu al-Waleed, you have heard my words. Now decide what you think.”
Utbah returned to the Quraysh, who noticed his expression had completely changed.
“What happened?” they asked.
He replied,
“I have heard words the like of which I have never heard before. By Allah, it is not poetry, not magic, and not the words of a madman. O Quraysh, heed my advice—leave this man alone. If others kill him, your problem is solved. But if he prevails, his victory will be your honor and glory.”
The Quraysh accused Utbah of being bewitched by Muhammed’s words. Utbah calmly replied, “This is my opinion. Do as you wish.”
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Bargaining and Rejection
When they saw that Muhammed ﷺ could not be tempted by worldly offers, the Quraysh proposed a compromise. They said,
“Let us worship your God for one year, and you worship our gods for one year. That way, if your religion is true, we will have a share in its blessings, and if ours is true, you will share in it.”
In response, Allah revealed Surah Al-Kafiroon (The Disbelievers):
“Say: O you who reject faith!
I do not worship what you worship,
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.
I will never worship what you worship,
Nor will you ever worship what I worship.
To you be your religion, and to me mine.” (109:1–6)
Allah further revealed:
“Say: Is it other than Allah you order me to worship, O ignorant ones?” (39:64)
and:
“Say: I am forbidden to worship those whom you call upon besides Allah.” (6:56)
Still, the Quraysh persisted:
“Then bring a different Qur’an, or change this one.”
To this, Allah commanded Muhammed ﷺ to reply:
“It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. If I were to disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a tremendous Day.” (10:15)
Another revelation reminded the Prophet ﷺ that his duty was only to convey the message, not to compromise:
“They were about to tempt you away from what We revealed to you, hoping you would fabricate something in Our name… Had We not strengthened you, you might have inclined to them slightly. Then We would have made you taste double punishment in life and death…” (17:73–75)
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Testing the Prophet ﷺ
Still doubtful, the Quraysh sought advice from the Jewish rabbis in Madinah. The rabbis said, “Ask him three questions. If he answers them, he is a true prophet; if not, he is an imposter.”
1. Ask him about the young men who disappeared long ago (the People of the Cave).
2. Ask him about the great traveler who journeyed to the East and West.
3. Ask him about the nature of the soul.
When these questions were put to Muhammed ﷺ, Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) was revealed, narrating the story of the youths who took refuge in a cave and were preserved by Allah for centuries, and also describing Dhul-Qarnayn, the righteous ruler who traveled the world.
The third question was answered in Surah Al-Isra:
“They ask you about the spirit. Say: The spirit is of the command of my Lord, and of knowledge, you have been given only a little.” (17:85)
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Equality in Islam
Having heard the Prophet ﷺ answer all three questions correctly, the Quraysh realized he was indeed a true Prophet. Yet, they were reluctant to accept Islam alongside the poor and the slaves. They proposed that the Prophet ﷺ grant them special status within the faith.
Eager for their guidance, Muhammed ﷺ might have considered it, but Allah revealed:
“Do not turn away those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. You are not accountable for them, nor they for you. If you drive them away, you will be among the unjust.” (6:52)
This verse abolished all notions of social class in Islam—no Muslim could claim superiority over another except through piety and good deeds.
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The Makkans Demand Punishment
The Prophet ﷺ continued warning his people of Allah’s punishment should they persist in disbelief. But instead of fearing, they arrogantly demanded that he hasten the punishment. Allah replied:
“They ask you to hasten the punishment, but Allah will never fail in His promise. Indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of what you count.” (22:47)
“They ask you to hasten the punishment, but indeed Hell will encompass the disbelievers.” (29:54)
“Do they feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them or that punishment will not seize them suddenly while they are unaware?” (16:45–47)
Despite these warnings, the Quraysh remained stubborn. Some demanded miracles, others plotted to kill the Prophet ﷺ.
They even pressured Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle, to hand Muhammed ﷺ over to them. Though outwardly calm, Abu Talib knew they were planning his nephew’s assassination. Acting quickly, he gathered the clans of Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib and secured a pledge that they would protect Muhammed ﷺ at all costs.
Only Abu Lahab, another uncle and a sworn enemy of the Prophet ﷺ, refused to join and declared his loyalty to the Quraysh instead.