When Quraysh had said to Abū Ṭālib what they said, he sent for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “My nephew, your people have come to me and complained in such-and-such terms. Have consideration for me and for yourself; do not saddle me with something I cannot bear.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ feared that his uncle had changed his mind and meant to abandon and hand him over, so he replied, “Uncle, were they to place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I give up this matter, I would never relinquish it until Allah causes it to prevail or I perish in its cause.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then wept, rose, and turned to leave. As he walked away, Abū Ṭālib called after him, “Come back, my nephew!” He returned and Abū Ṭālib said, “Go and say whatever you wish. By Allah, I will never surrender you.”

Ibn Isḥāq, as related by Yūnus, continued: Abū Ṭālib then composed these verses:

By Allah, their amassed hosts shall never reach you
until I lie buried, pillow-cased in dust.

So pursue your mission; no blame attaches to you.
Rejoice, and gladden eyes that look to you.

You invited me, claiming you would counsel me—
you spoke the truth; you have ever been trustworthy.

You offered a faith I know to be
the finest religion mankind has ever known.

Were it not for fear of blame and scorn’s reproach,
you would find me openly embracing it with ease.

Al-Ḥārith ibn ʿUbayd narrated from al-Jarīrī, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Shuqayq, from ʿĀʾishah, who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to be guarded until the verse, ‘Allah will protect you from the people’ (Qur’an 5:67), was revealed. He then put his head out of the tent and said, ‘People, depart, for Allah has granted me protection.’”

Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr ibn ʿAlqamah narrated from Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Rabīʿah ibn ʿAbād al-Duʾalī, who said: “I saw the Prophet ﷺ in the marketplace of Dhū’l-Majāz, going round the encampments of the people, calling them to Allah, while a cross-eyed man with blazing cheeks walked behind him, saying, ‘Do not let him turn you away from your religion and the religion of your forefathers.’ I asked, ‘Who is that man?’ They said, ‘Abū Lahab.’”