Persecution of Muslims by Meccans

When the Islamic prophet Muhammad initially spread Islam in his hometown, Mecca, he at first preached in secret to those close to him for the first 3 years after the first revelation. This was the case until Muhammad was commanded to start openly preaching about Islam, which led to tensions to arise with the polythesist Quraysh. The Muslims then reportedly received persecution that lasted for twelve years beginning from the advent of Islam to the Hijrah.

Abu Talib, the chief leader of Muhammad's tribe, the Banu Hashim, supported his nephew Muhammad against other tribes. Muhammad's Tribe was boycotted in terms of marriage and business until they gave Muhammad to other tribes. The event forced Abu Talib to move the clans to a valley called Shi'b of Abu Talib. The boycott lasted three years and was ended when relatives of the clans intervened due to extreme poverty in the valley.

In the next year when Abu Talib, his uncle who supported him died, Muhammed was left with no protection. The repercussions of the death of Abu Talib were in the political sphere. His successor as chief of the Banu Hashim appears to have been his brother, Abu Lahab. Although Abu Lahab had joined the 'grand alliance' against Hashim during the boycott, he is said at first to have promised to protect Muhammad in the same way as Abu Talib had done. Abu Lahab tortured his nephew Muhammad to give up Islam. Abu Lahab formally refused protection to Muhammad against other tribes on the grounds that Muhammad alleged that Abu Talib was in hell due to his rejection of Islam. The loss of security was on the surface a great disaster for Muhammad and for the cause of Islam.

In 622, Muhammad and his few hundred followers left Mecca and travelled to Medina, knowing that Quraysh were plotting to kill him and his followers, an event that became known as the Hijrah.