Life-of-Muhammad

26Life of Muhammad sahardships under this blockade. For three years therewas no slackening of it. Then at last, five decentmembers of the enemy revolted against these conditions.They went to the blockaded family, offered to annul theboycott, and asked the family to come out. Abu Talibcame out and reproved his people. The revolt of the fivebecame known all over Mecca, but good feeling asserteditself again, and Meccans decided they must cancel thesavage boycott. The boycott was over, but not itsconsequences. In a few days the Prophet's sa faithful wife,Khadija ra , met her death, and a month later his uncle,Abu Talib.The Holy Prophet sa had now lost the companionshipand support of Khadija ra , and he and the Muslims hadlost the good offices of Abu Talib. Their passing awaynaturally also resulted in the loss of some generalsympathy. Abu Lahab, another uncle of the Prophet sa ,seemed ready at first to side with the Prophet sa . Theshock of his brother's death and regard for his dyingwish were still fresh in his mind. But the Meccans soonsucceeded in antagonizing him. They made use of theusual appeals. The Prophet sa taught that disbelief in theOneness of God was an offence, punishable in theHereafter; his teaching contradicted everything they hadlearnt from their forefathers, and so on. Abu Lahabdecided to oppose the Prophet sa more than ever.Relations between Muslims and Meccans had becomestrained. A three-year boycott and blockade hadenlarged the gulf between them. Meeting and preachingseemed impossible. The Prophet sa did not mind the illtreatmentand the persecution; these were nothing solong as he had the chance to meet and address people.But now it seemed that he had no such chance inMecca. General antagonism apart, the Prophet sa nowfound it impossible to appear in any street or publicplace. If he did, they threw dust at him and sent himback to his house. Once he returned home, his headcovered with dust. A daughter wept as she removed thedust. The Prophet sa told her not to weep for God was