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All of these accounts were cited by Ibn Ishaq as an interlude between the moment Quraysh banded together against Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib—drafting the unjust document and besieging them in the ravine—and the subsequent annulment of that document and all that followed. These incidents, therefore, belong to this very period. For that reason al-Shafi‘i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Whoever wishes to study the military campaigns is dependent on Ibn Ishaq.”
The Annulment of the Document
Ibn Ishaq said: At that time Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib were still in the quarters where Quraysh had confined them under the terms of the document written against them. Then a group from Quraysh rose to tear that document apart, and none rendered finer service in this than Hisham ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Harith ibn Hubayb ibn Nasr ibn Malik ibn Hisl ibn ‘Amir ibn Lu’ayy. He was the nephew, on his mother’s side, of Nadlah ibn Hashim ibn ‘Abd Manaf, maintained close ties with Banu Hashim, and was a man of rank among his people. I have been informed that, under cover of night, he would bring a camel laden with food to Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib in the ravine; when he reached the mouth of the ravine he slipped the halter from its head, struck it on the flanks, and the animal walked in to them. He would then bring another camel laden with clothing and do the same.
Hisham next went to Zuhayr ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughira ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar ibn Makhzum—his mother was ‘Atikah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib—and said:
“O Zuhayr, are you content to eat, dress, and marry women while your maternal uncles, as you know, are neither bought from nor sold to, neither marry nor are married into? By Allah, had they been the uncles of Abu al-Hakam ibn Hisham, and had you invited him to what I am inviting you to on their behalf, he would never have answered you.”
Zuhayr replied, “Woe to you, Hisham! What can I do? I am only one man. By Allah, if I had even one other man with me, I would rise to annul it.”
Hisham said, “I have found you a second.”
“Who is he?” asked Zuhayr.
“I am,” he answered.
Zuhayr said, “Find us a third.”
So Hisham went to al-Mut‘im ibn ‘Adiyy and said:
“O Mut‘im, are you willing to let two clans of the sons of ‘Abd Manaf perish while you look on, siding with Quraysh in this? As for—"