Delegation of disbelievers in the court of the Holy Nabi

In the Haram of the Ka’bah the leaders of the Quraysh once held a meeting in which they discussed, ‘Why has Muhammad ( صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ) not given up his preaching despite bearing so many sufferings? What is his aim? He perhaps wants respect, leadership or wealth.’ Therefore, all of them sent ‘Utbah Bin Rabee’ah to the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم in order to know about his aims and objectives. Hence ‘Utbah Bin Rabee’ah met the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم in private and said, ‘O Muhammad ( صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم )! What do you want to gain from the preaching of Islam? Do you want to become the chief of Makkah or you desire fame and fortune? Or you are interested in marrying a woman from a well-off family? Express your wish openly. I guarantee that you will be made the chief of entire Makkah and every wish of yours will be fulfilled, if you only give up the preaching of Islam.’

Listening to this apparently fascinating [i.e. attractive] conversation of ‘Utbah, the Greatest and Noblest Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم recited some Ayahs of the Holy Quran. Listening to them, ‘Utbah was so overawed that his entire body trembled with Divine fear. Placing his hand on the blessed mouth of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم , he said, ‘I request you to stop reciting it for the sake of the relationships I have with you. My heart is going to burst in awe of this Word.’ ‘Utbah returned from the court of the Revered and Renowned Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم with a revolution in his heart. He was an eloquent orator with perfect command over the language. Having returned, he informed the chiefs of the Quraysh, ‘The Word Muhammad ( صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ) recites is neither magic, nor prophesy and nor poetry. Instead, it is something else. Therefore, I am of the opinion that you had better leave him to his own devices. If he succeeds and dominates the entire Arabia, it will further enhance the respect of us – the Quraysh. Otherwise, the entire Arabia will itself wipe him off the face of the earth.’ But the defiant [i.e. disobedient] disbelievers of the Quraysh did not accept the sincere and sensible suggestion given by ‘Utbah. They started opposing the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم and causing him harm even more vigorously.¹