not a single mention of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; what it left intact were the words that spoke of idolatry, wrongdoing, and the severing of the bonds of kinship.

Allah then informed His Messenger of what had happened to their scroll. The Messenger of Allah—may blessings and peace be upon him—told Abu Talib, and Abu Talib replied, “No, by the piercing stars, he has never lied to me!” He thereupon set out with a band of the sons of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib until they reached the Mosque, which was crowded with Quraysh. When Quraysh saw them approaching together, they were alarmed, thinking that the clan had been driven out by the severity of the trial, and they hurried toward them, hoping to receive the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—from their hands. Abu Talib then spoke, saying:

“Certain matters have arisen between you and us that we have not yet mentioned to you. Bring the scroll on which you pledged yourselves; perhaps there can be a reconciliation between us.” He said this only lest they examine the document before bringing it out. So they produced the scroll, proud of it and convinced that the Messenger would now be handed over to them, and they placed it before the gathering.

They said, “It is high time for you to yield and return to a course that will reunite your people, for only one man has come between us—you have turned him into a peril leading to ruin.”