Who will shelter me?

Each season he ﷺ went to the Arab tribes, called them to Allah, and asked them to believe him and protect him.

Jâbir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that at the standing place of the pilgrims he would call out:

“Is there no man who will take me to his people? Quraysh have stopped me from conveying the words of my Lord.”

For years, Jâbir said, he followed people to their camps at 'Ukâz, Majanna and Minâ: who will shelter me?

A man would set out from Yemen, and his people would warn him: beware the young man of Quraysh.

Rabî'a ibn 'Abbâd was a young man at Minâ with his father. He saw him ﷺ stop at the camp of each tribe.

Worship Allah alone, he said, leave these idols, believe me and protect me, until I make clear what Allah sent me with.

Behind him walked a man in a cloak from Aden: he only wants you to throw off al-Lât and al-'Uzzâ. Do not listen.

The young man asked his father who it was. “His uncle, Abû Lahab.”

The biographers name some of the tribes. Kinda, with their chief Mulayh, refused.

To a clan of Kalb, the Banû 'Abdillâh, he said: Allah has made your father's name beautiful. They did not accept.

Banû Hanîfa answered him more harshly than any other Arabs.

Among Banû 'Âmir, a man named Bayhara said: with this young man of Quraysh, I could devour the Arabs.

Then he asked: if we follow you and Allah gives you victory, will the matter be ours after you?

He ﷺ answered: “The matter belongs to Allah. He places it where He wills.”

So our throats are targets for the Arabs, and the power goes to others? We have no need of you. They refused.

Back home, an old man of theirs put his hand on his head: no son of Ismâ'îl ever claimed this falsely. It is the truth.

Year after year, the same answer: a man's own people know him best. Would one they cast out set us right?

He asked them only for shelter and protection, and forced no one. No tribe accepted.

Ibn Kathîr sees Allah's plan in it: this honour was being kept for the Ansâr.