O Bani 'Adi (two septs of Quraish)." Many people gathered and those who couldnt ' , sent somebody to  report to them. Abu Lahab was also present. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "You see, if I  were  to tell you that there were some horsemen in the valley planning to raid you, will you believe me?"
They said: "Yes, we have never experienced any lie from you." He said: "I am a warner to you before  a  severe torment." Abu Lahab promptly replied: "Perish you all the day! Have you summoned us for  such  a thing?" The verses were immediately revealed on that occasion:
"Perish the two hands of Abi Lahab..." 111:1.
Muslim reported another part of this story on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Alah be pleased with  him) — He said: "When the following verses were revealed:
"And warn your tribe O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) of near kindred." 26:214
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) called all the people of Quraish; so they gathered and he  gave them a general warning. Then he made a particular reference to certain tribes, and said: "O
Quraish, rescue yourselves from the Fire; O people of Bani Ka'b, rescue yourselves from Fire; O
Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) , rescue yourself from the Fire, for I have no  power to protect you from Allâh in anything except that I would sustain relationship with you."
It was verily a loud suggestive Call stating unequivocally to the closest people that belief in his
Message  constituted the corner-stone of any future relation between him and them, and that the blood-relation  on which the whole Arabian life was based, had ceased to exist in the light of that Divine ultimatum.
SHOUTING THE TRUTH AND THE POLYTHEISTS' REACTION:
The Prophets  ' voice kept reverberating in Makkah until the following verse was revealed:
"Therefore proclaim openly (Allâhs  ' Message — Islamic Monotheism), that which you are  commanded, and turn away from Al-Mushrikûn (polytheists)." 15:94
He then commenced discrediting the superstitious practices of idolatry, revealing its worthless reality  and utter impotence, and giving concrete proofs that idolatry per se or taking it as the media through  which an idolater could come in contact with Allâh, is manifest falsehood.
The Makkans, on their part, burst into outrage and disapproval. Muhammads  ' (Peace be upon him)  words created a thunderbolt that turned the Makkan time-honoured ideological life upside down. They  could ill afford to hear someone attaching to polytheists and idolaters, the description of straying  people. They started to rally their resources to settle down the affair, quell the onward marching  revolution and deal a pre-emptive strike to its votaries before it devours and crushes down their  consecrated traditions and long standing heritage. The Makkans had the deep conviction that denying  godship to anyone save Allâh and that belief in the Divine Message and the Hereafter are interpreted  in  terms of complete compliance and absolute commitment, and this in turn leaves no area at all for  them  to claim authority over themselves and over their wealth, let alone their subordinates. In short, their  arrogated religiously-based supremacy and highhandedness would no longer be in effect; their  pleasures would be subordinated to the pleasures of Allâh and His Messenger and lastly they would  have to abstain from incurring injustices on those whom they falsely deemed to be weak, and  perpetrating dreadful sins in their everyday life. They had already been fully aware of these meanings,  that is why their souls would not condescend to accept this d ' isgraceful ' position not out of motives  based on dignity and honour but rather because:
"Nay! (Man denies Resurrection and Reckoning. So) he desires to continue committing  sins." 75:5
They had been aware of all these consequences but they could afford to do nothing before an honest  truthful man who was the highest example of good manners and human values. They had never  known  such an example in the history of theifolks or grandfathers. What would they do? They were baffled,  and they had the right to be so.
Following careful deliberations, they hit upon the only target available, i.e. to contact the Messenger's  uncle, Abu Talib and request him to intervene and advise his nephew to stop his activities. In order to  attach a serious and earnest stamp to their demand, they chose to touch the most sensitive area in
Arabian life, viz., ancestral pride. They addressed Abu Talib in the following manner: "O Abu Talib!
Your  nephew curses our gods; finds faults with our way of life, mocks at our religion and degrades our