A
Family
Gathering

About three years passed before God told Muhammad

through the Words of the Qur'an

that he had to warn his family of what would happen

if they kept on worshipping idols,

but the task of persuading each one individually

seemed too much for the Messenger,

and he told 'Ali that

he thought it was beyond his strength.

But he asked 'Ali

to prepare a meal with a leg of mutton,

and to fill a cup with milk

and to bring together the family

descended from 'Abd al-Muttalib.

Later, when he told the story, 'Ali said

"When they were assembled the Messenger told me

to bring in the food which I had made ready.

Then he took a piece of meat,

bit upon it, and cast it back into the dish

saying 'Take it in the name of God'.

The men ate in relays, several at at time,

until not one of them could eat any more."

"But"

said 'Ali

"I could see no change in the food,

apart from that it had been stirred by men's hands,

and by my life,

if there had only been one man

he could have eaten all that I had put before them.

Then the Messenger said

'Give them to drink',

so I brought the cup

and each man drank his fill,

though one man alone could have emptied that cup."

But when Muhammad was about to address them

Abu Lahab interrupted saying

'Your host has put a spell on you',

at which they all stood up and left

before the Messenger had time to speak.

So the next day he told 'Ali to do exactly the same as the previous day,

but this time he was on his guard

and made sure he could speak to them before they could leave.

"Oh sons of 'Abd al-Muttalib"

he said,

"I know of no Arab who has come to his people with a nobler Message than mine.

I bring you the best of this world and the next.

I have been commanded to call you to God.

Which of you will help me in this and be my brother?"

but none of the men said anything in reply.

Eventually, when he could bear the silence no longer,

'Ali said

"O Messenger of God,

I will be your helper in this."

On hearing these words,

Muhammad laid his hand on the back of 'Ali's neck

and said

"This is my brother.

Listen to him, and do as he says."

At this point, the men of the Bani 'Abd al-Muttalib stood up laughing,

saying to Abu Talib as they left the room

"He has told you to listen to your son

and to obey him".

In time,

when they found the truth of the Message overwhelming,

most came to change their minds

and no longer mocked

but surrendered.