As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Abu Talib Assembles Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib
The new and welcome changes notwithstanding, Abu Talib still had a deep sensation of fear over his nephew. He deliberated on the previous series of incidents including the barter affair of 'Amarah bin Al-Waleed, Abu Jahl's rock, 'Uqbah's attempt to choke the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam), and finally 'Umar's (before conversion) intention to kill Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam). The wise man understood that all of these unequivocally smacked of a serious plot being hatched to disregard his status as a custodian of the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam), and kill the latter publicly. In the event of such a thing, Abu Talib deeply believed, neither 'Umar nor Hamzah would be of any avail, socially powerful though they were.
Abu Talib was right. The polytheists had laid a carefully-studied plan to kill the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam), and banded together to put their plan into effect. He, therefore, assembled his kinsfolk of Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib, sons of 'Abd Munaf and exhorted them to immunize and defend his nephew. All of them, whether believers or disbelievers, responded positively except his brother Abu Lahab, who sided with the idolaters.