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Opposition by the Quraish:
The number of his (Peace Be Upon Him) believers increased gradually but the opposition also grew intense on the part of those who were firmly attached to their ancestral beliefs. The leading men of the Quraish approached his uncle Abu Talib who was the head of tribe Bani-Hashim and said to him, "O Abu Talib, you are old and we hold you in high esteem. We had asked you to restrain your nephew but you did nothing. By God, we cannot tolerate any longer. Either you must stop him or we will fight both of you, until one of us perishes."
Abu Talib went for the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and said, "Son of my brother, your people came to me and threatened me with dire consequences if you continue to preach your religion. Spare my life and yours and do not impose on me a burden greater than I can bear." The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) thought that his uncle was no longer willing to shield him, that he intended to give him up. He answered, "O my uncle, by God, if they were to place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, and ask me to abandon this course, I would not turn from it until God makes it victorious or I perish therein." Tears flowed from the eyes of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). With a heavy heart, he got up to depart. But, Abu Talib could not bear to look at his nephew’s sorrow. Before he had reached the threshold, Abu Talib cried out, "Come back, my nephew." And when he returned, Abu Talib said, "Go where you please and say what you will. By God, I will never deliver you to your enemies."
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