Therefore...

Therefore, one influential [1] Al-Sīrah al-Halabiyyah, Vol 1, Page 342 [2] Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah by Ibn Abi’l-Hadīd, Vol 3, Page 310 person from Makkah, Husham ibn `Amr, tried to move in the matter and talked to Zuhayr ibn `Abdullah Makhzūmi and told him that his mother, `Atikah, was the daughter of `Abd al-Muttalib. He asked him how he could silently watch the sufferings of the children of `Abd al-Muttalib.

Zuhayr said that he was very concerned with the happenings, but he was helpless being all alone. Husham told him that he was not alone and offered to join in trying to solve the problem. They also thought of recruiting support from more persons. They felt that Mut`im ibn `Adi too looked amenable to joining the team. When they talked to him, he willingly agreed to join. Now Abul-Bukhtari, Ibn Husham and Zum`ah ibn Abi-al-Aswad too volunteered.

All these five persons came to the saloon of the chiefs of Quraysh and said, “O chiefs! We have come to you with the purpose of pleading with you for the freedom of Banū-Hashim. It is a grave injustice that we live comfortably and `Abd al-Muttalib’s progeny live in penury and starvation. We shall not take rest until the document of boycott is abrogated and settle the Banū-Hashim in their homes.” Abū-Jahl crossed his brows and said, “We shall never permit that they ever return to their homes!

On them the doors of Makkah are closed forever and ever!” The delegates too replied to him tersely. Quraysh were adamantly sticking to their stand and refused to lift the boycott. It was almost reaching the point of conflict between the two groups when Abū-Talib was spotted approaching the place. This unexpected arrival gave Abū-Jahl the thought that Abū-Talib was coming to surrender Muhammad (a.s) to them because of the unbearable sufferings of Banū-Hashim.

When Abū-Talib reached there, the Quraysh asked him about the reason of his coming. He replied: “My nephew has informed me, and I never heard him tell lies, that the Document (of Boycott) has been infested with mites and except the name of Allah on the top, the entire matter concerning tyranny and injustice has been eaten by the mites if he is proved right, you must retract from your wrong attitude, and if he has lied, I shall hand him over to you.

It will be your choice whether you kill him or leave him!”[1] The Quraysh accepted this just offer from Abū-Talib, and sent a messenger to fetch the document.