Saying · Shortly after the death of Abu Talib, 10th year of the dawah
No, I am just protecting my flock.
Said when people, having heard he was now protecting the Prophet ﷺ, asked whether he had become a Sabian.
~Shortly after the death of Abu Talib, 10th year of the dawah (c. 620 CE) · 2 BH
After the death of Abu Talib, the Quraysh persecuted the Prophet ﷺ far more openly than before. Hostility that had been held back out of respect for Abu Talib was now on full display.
Abu Lahab, the Prophet ﷺ's uncle, took over leadership of the Banu Hashim, since he was the most senior pagan of the clan still alive. Surprisingly, he offered the Prophet ﷺ his protection. When a man from outside the clan cursed the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Lahab went to the Prophet ﷺ and promised that he could live as he had in Abu Talib's time, for as long as Abu Lahab was alive. He did this not out of love, but from a chief's sense of duty to guard his own clan.
People began to say that Abu Lahab had left his religion, which he denied. Abu Jahal and Utbah then saw a way to break the protection. They told Abu Lahab to ask his nephew about the fate of his father, Abdul Muttalib. The Prophet ﷺ answered that Abdul Muttalib was with his people. Abu Lahab came back pleased, until Abu Jahal pointed out that, according to the Prophet ﷺ, those people were in the Fire. Doubt took hold of Abu Lahab, and he withdrew his protection.
Outcome: Abu Lahab withdrew his protection, leaving the Prophet ﷺ without any protector in Makkah for the first time. This is what led him to seek support in Ta'if.
This protection was fragile and tribal, not one rooted in love or faith, and it collapsed as soon as Abu Jahal found a way to provoke Abu Lahab's doubt about his own father Abdul Muttalib's fate in the Hereafter.
The Year of Sorrow to the Night Journey·Chapter 3 of 9The third calamity
See the whole storyOther events recorded in 2 BH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
No, I am just protecting my flock.
Said when people, having heard he was now protecting the Prophet ﷺ, asked whether he had become a Sabian.
Why don't you ask your nephew about the fate of your father Abdul Muttalib?
Said together with Utbah, plotting to undermine Abu Lahab's protection of the Prophet ﷺ.
What is the fate of my father Abdul Muttalib?
He is with his people.
He is with his people!
Reported back to Abu Jahal, satisfied.
You fool! And where are his people according to him?! In the Fire of Hell!
O Muhammad ﷺ, be as you were in the time of Abu Talib. For as long as I am alive, you shall live in the same manner.
Said to the Prophet ﷺ after someone outside Banu Hashim had cursed him severely: Abu Lahab, now chief of the tribe following Abu Talib's death, was reaffirming his protection.