The Honourable Prophet Muhammad (m. p. h.) is the best model for every aspect of life, including his management of time. He was successful in bringing about extraordinary changes to various aspects of life within a very short span of time (23 years). 

The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) was successful in changing the life of the mushrikin (non believers). They were originally people who worshipped idols, were divided into many factions, were cruel where  the rich were oppressing   the poor and the  clever and devious were cheating the less clever. These immoral behaviours of the Mushrikin were rampant everywhere both on the land and  in the seas.  

As a result The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) changed this atrocious society to one that worshiped only one God, Allah Al Mighty. They became united under the strong Muslim kinship.  

Cruelty changed to harmony, where the strong protected the weak and the poor were defended by the rich. Women who were originally worthless, devoid of any rights and only served to satisfy men’s sexual desires were then given their own rights.  

The Islamic teaching brought by The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) was receiving overwhelming public acceptance from day to day. The Kurish leaders were frightened of losing their leaderships in society to The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.). Consequently, they did their utmost in blocking the spread of Islam in every aspect of life. 

However, their devious actions did not deter the noble efforts and determinations of The Honourable Prophet  (m.p.h.) and his faithful followers . Subsequently, due to theit continuous failures which they faced the  Kurish then decided to change their strategy. They decided to take a softer approach to ease the vast differences. They  asked for cooperation from the Muslims. 

Initially they suggested that they, the Mushrikins worship Allah at one time  and at another time The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and his followers were to worship the idols which they built. However, The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) wholly rejected this form of cooperation and prohibited his followers in practising it. 

Muslims are prohibited in worshipping anything or anyone apart from Allah, whether they are idols, men, animals etc. 

Allah said this in the Koran, which means “Say: O ye (Muhammed),  Reject that faith,  I worship not that which ye worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship, And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship, To you be your way and to me, mine.” (Sura, Al Kafirun, 1-6)

This revelation is the real voice of faith and the believe in one god. Muslims are strongly prohibited in associating Allah with anything or anyone. Allah forgives all other sins, except for the sins in associating Him with anything or anyone at all.  

This response from The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) angered the Kurish leaders. They then resorted to other form of pressures, the main one being to collectively ostracise The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and his followers. By this act they hoped to weaken and make The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and his followers ultimately surrender . 

The Kurish leaders then met, agreed and came to a written agreement to isolate and ostracise The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and all members of the Bani Hashim clan. This written agreement was to be hung at the Kaabah and was  to be respected and followed by all members of the Kurish people. The contents of the agreement include: 

1. To forbid all Kurish members from engaging in any form of business transactions with The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and his followers.

2. There should be no form of marriages or similar arrangements with the Muslims.

3. To forbid anybody in intermingling with The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and his followers.

4. The Kurish would cooperate and assist anybody who was willing to fight and become an enemy to The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and his followers.

This agreement was accepted by all the Kurish leaders and firmly enforced.   

Abu Thalib, uncle to The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) was the main supporter and protector to The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.). He invited all members of the family of The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.) and members of the Bani Hashim clan and asked them for their support and protection for The Honourable Prophet (m.p.h.). 

They gathered in the famous Lembah Abu Talib, an arid and dry valley in Saudi Arabia. This isolation and ostracising went on for 3 years where the members of the Bani Hashim clan faced inhumane cruelties. They were deprived of food and drinks and it even came to a point where they were forced to eat roots from grass, animal hides etc.in order to curb their hunger.

 (To be continued)

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