The correct answer is Shi’b-e-Abi Talib. The 7th year of Prophethood marked a severe turning point in the Meccan period. Frustrated by the growing influence of Islam and the protection granted to the Prophet (SAW) by his uncle, Abu Talib, the... Read More
The correct answer is Shi’b-e-Abi Talib. The 7th year of Prophethood marked a severe turning point in the Meccan period. Frustrated by the growing influence of Islam and the protection granted to the Prophet (SAW) by his uncle, Abu Talib, the leaders of the Quraish formed a grand coalition to force a total surrender. They drafted a formal treaty of boycott, which was hung inside the Kaaba, effectively banishing the Prophet (SAW), his family (the Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib), and his followers to a narrow mountain pass known as Shi’b-e-Abi Talib (the Valley of Abu Talib).
The boycott was not merely a social disagreement; it was a total economic and social blockade. The decree explicitly forbade any Meccan from marrying into these clans, selling food or supplies to them, or even engaging in conversation with them. The goal of the Quraish was to starve the Muslims into submission or to force Abu Talib to hand over the Prophet (SAW) to be executed. Despite not all members of the Banu Hashim being Muslim at the time, tribal loyalty and the leadership of Abu Talib meant that nearly the entire clan stood by the Prophet (SAW) and entered the valley with him.
For three long years, from the 7th year to the 10th year of Prophethood, the Muslims lived in extreme deprivation. The valley was a harsh, rocky terrain with very little natural resources. Food became so scarce that historical accounts describe the Sahaba (companions) and children eating the leaves of trees and dry skins of animals to survive the pangs of hunger. The cries of hungry infants could often be heard echoing from the valley, reaching the ears of the Meccans outside, some of whom felt secret guilt but feared to break the collective pact.
Occasionally, kind-hearted relatives of the besieged would attempt to smuggle small amounts of flour or dates into the valley under the cover of night, but these instances were rare and dangerous. Despite the physical toll, this period was a time of immense spiritual strengthening. The Prophet (SAW) continued to preach to his captive audience, and the bond between the believers was forged in the fire of shared sacrifice.
The siege finally ended in the 10th year of Prophethood through a combination of human intervention and a miraculous event. A group of five Meccan leaders, moved by the extreme suffering of their kinsmen, began to publicly challenge the morality of the boycott. Simultaneously, the Prophet (SAW) informed his uncle that Allah had sent termites to consume the boycott parchment hanging in the Kaaba, leaving only the name of "Allah" untouched.
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