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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

The Prophet's Migration: Unveiling a Failed Plot Before Hijrah

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The story recounts a failed assassination plot against Prophet Muhammad before his migration to Medina.
  • A council of Quraysh leaders, influenced by the devil disguised as an elder, debated methods to kill the Prophet.
  • The plot involved a collective assassination attempt by young men from every Quraysh tribe to avoid tribal retribution.

As the Prophet Muhammad prepared for his pivotal migration from Mecca to Medina, a sinister plot was hatched by the leaders of the Quraysh tribe to end his life. Gathered in a council known as Daarun Nadwah, the chieftains, each representing a hostile faction of Mecca, were met by a seemingly wise old man who offered his counsel. Unbeknownst to them, this figure was the devil himself, having taken human form to manipulate their wicked intentions.

Bind Muhammad with ropes and wait for death to claim him, let him die like the poets before him – Zuhair and an-Nabighah – for Muhammad is no more than a poet!

— A Quraysh leaderProposing a method to kill Prophet Muhammad.

During the clandestine meeting, various methods for eliminating the Prophet were proposed. One suggestion was to imprison him, allowing him to die naturally, likening his fate to that of previous poets. However, the disguised devil argued against this, warning that Muhammad's followers might intervene, leading to the Quraysh being expelled from their own land. Another idea was to exile him, but the devil countered that Muhammad's persuasive abilities could unite Arab tribes against the Quraysh.

That is not a suitable proposal. Muhammad could send information to his companions, so they would move to snatch the ropes from your hands and protect Muhammad from your interference. If that happens, I fear they will expel you from this land! Find another way!

— The disguised devilRejecting the proposal to imprison the Prophet.

Finally, Abu Jahl presented what he believed to be a foolproof plan. He proposed that each Quraysh tribe select its strongest and most capable young men. These chosen individuals would then simultaneously attack and kill Muhammad with their swords. The devil's reasoning was that by distributing the act of killing across all tribes, no single tribe could be held solely responsible, thus preventing a war with Muhammad's clan, the Banu Hashim. Instead, the Quraysh could demand blood money and be rid of his influence.

Let us expel Muhammad from our land so we can live in peace. If he leaves, whatever he does will not affect us.

— Another Quraysh leaderSuggesting exile as a solution.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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