—a man of the Banū ʿĀmir ibn Luʾayy—stood with several of their chiefs and declared, “We repudiate everything written in this scroll.”

Abū Jahl retorted, “This is a plot hatched in the dead of night.”

Ibn Lahīʿah relates a similar story from Abū al-Aswad, from ʿUrwah.

Ibn Isḥāq likewise reports a matching account, saying: Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh told me that Abū Lahab—after he had left his clan in the mountain pass—met Hind bint ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah and asked her, “Have you championed al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā and broken with those who abandoned them?” She answered, “I have indeed. May Allah reward you, Abū ʿUtbah.”

The Banū Hāshim remained in the ravine for two—others say three—years, until hardship overwhelmed them; nothing reached them except what was smuggled in secretly.

It is related that Abū Jahl once encountered Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām ibn Khuwaylid, accompanied by a servant carrying wheat intended for his aunt Khadījah—may Allah be pleased with her—while she was confined in the pass. Abū Jahl seized him and said, “Are you taking food to the Banū Hāshim? By Allah, you and your provisions will not leave until I disgrace you throughout Mecca.”

Just then Abū al-Bukhturī ibn Hishām arrived and said, “What business have you with him?” Abū Jahl replied, “He is carrying food to the Banū Hāshim!” Abū al-Bukhturī said, “It is his aunt’s food, which he was keeping for her—will you stop him from delivering her own provisions? Let the man go.” Abū Jahl refused until the two exchanged insults. Abū al-Bukhturī then picked up a camel’s jawbone, struck Abū Jahl, splitting his head open, and stomped on him fiercely, while Ḥamzah looked on. They were anxious that word of this should not reach the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions, lest they rejoice at Abū Jahl’s misfortune.

Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to call his people—night and day, in private and in public.

Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah says: When Allah destroyed the scroll, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his kinsfolk emerged, lived freely, and mingled with the people.