Islamiyat · May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Question 3

Use the AO1 Levels of Response.

Candidates should include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.

Following the migration to Abyssinia and the conversion of ‘Umar and Hamza, the Quraysh became desperate to crush Islam. They held a meeting and decided to impose a social and economic boycott on the Banu Hashim tribe, Muslim and non-Muslim, except Abu Lahab.

The boycott was imposed for three years, in the 7th–10th years of prophethood. They decided not to have any business dealings with the tribe of the Prophet (pbuh), nor any sort of inter-marriage. Social relations, visits and even verbal contacts with Muhammad (pbuh) and his tribe Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul Muttalib would discontinue until the Prophet (pbuh) was given up to the Quraysh.

The Banu Hashim tribe moved to the valley of Abi Talib. They had almost no food and ate leaves and the skin of animals. The cries of hungry children were often heard.

The Prophet (pbuh) continued to pray publicly and go to the Ka’ba. Occasionally, some who were friendly to the Banu Hashim, sent food under the cover of night, but when the Quraysh found out they threatened them. At the end of the three years the Muslims had suffered a lot. Some Makkans, including Hisham ibn ‘Amr and Al-Mutim bin Adiy, felt the boycott should be lifted. They felt sympathy for Muslims due to the severe suffering caused by the boycott and protested against the inhuman treatment of Banu Hashim, demanding an end to the boycott.

There is an alternative version of the events about the end of the boycott in which the Prophet (pbuh) told his uncle that he had been divinely informed that the document had been eaten by insects, except for the part mentioning Allah’s name.

Abu Talib went to the Makkans informed them of this, promising to hand over the Prophet (pbuh) if the claim was false; otherwise, they must end the boycott. They agreed.

When the Makkans entered the Ka’ba the document that had all the sanctions written on it had been eaten by ants except the words ‘In the name of Allah’. This ended the boycott.

After a few months, as a result of the hardships of the boycott, first Abu Talib, then Khadija passed away which was huge blow for the Prophet (pbuh).

To what extent was this boycott the worst time in the life of the Prophet (pbuh)?

Use the AO2 Levels of Response.

Candidates can give other examples, and all relevant answers should be credited.

It could be said that this was the worst time of the Prophet’s life because he had to endure so much hardship, and his followers and family had to endure the hardship at the same time. This would have been difficult for the Prophet (pbuh) to witness. It could also be said that it was the worst time because at the end of the boycott his closest supporters Abu Talib and Khadija died, leaving him feeling alone and without protection.

Some candidates may argue that it was not the worst time for the Prophet (pbuh) as he also went through difficulty at Taʾif, which he later said to ʿAisha was one of the worst times of his life. The defeat at Uhud was also difficult for the Prophet (pbuh), as so many Muslims, including his uncle Hamza, were martyred.

Some candidates may choose to mention that soon after the events of the boycott, the Prophet (pbuh) was taken on the al-Israʾ wal-Miʿraj, which reassured him and gave him a closeness to God. This can be used to support or argue against the statement in the question.