This was so that if all security measures in place were to...

This was so that if all security measures in place were to be overcome by the Quraysh and if they were to succeed in making their way in, they would still strike Ali -asws , his -asws son -asws rather than Rasool Allah -saww , who they could have found, somehow, sleeping there during the early part of the night. The boycott was devastating for the Bani Hashim and for many months they lived in hardship.

It was so rigorously applied that the food had become scarce and they had to eat the leaves of trees. The women, and more specially the children and suckling babies would cry with hunger which could be heard all over the valley. The Quraysh told the merchants not to sell any goods to them. Prices were increased to prevent them from buying even essentials. They remained in that state for three years.

Occasionally, Imam Ali -asws would break the barricades of Quraysh and bring in some food and essentials for the family members. Despite such grim circumstances, Rasool Allah -saww never ceased inviting non-Muslims to Islam. Rasool Allah -saww particularly invited non-Muslims who would come to Makkah during the time of Hajj. It was at this time that Rasool Allah -saww would speak to tribes that had travelled to Makkah from all over the Arab world.

When three years had passed and Quraysh continued to implement the social boycott of the Abu Talib -asws and Bani Hashim, Allah -azwj got their signed parchment, which they had hidden in the Kabah, to be eaten up by a termite. It ate all writing on the parchment except for the Name of Allah -azwj , which remained intact. Allah -azwj Sent down Angel Jibraeel -as who informed this to Rasool Allah -saww to inform Abu Talib -asws that he -asws should go to the Kabah.

Abu Talib -asws went to the Kabah and found the presence of some of the notable members of the Quraysh therein. They were afraid of Abu Talib -asws due to his -asws unexpected arrival there and they all stood up out of respect. They asked for the reason of the Abu Talib -asws coming to the Kabah, and Abu Talib -asws informed them what Allah -azwj had Done to their signed parchment, and they should stop their unjust and cruel social boycott or else await Allah -azwj ’s wrath.

After much infighting among them and consultation, they decided to end their social boycott.