The Prophet Muhammad brought the message of Islam to Makka. Describe the ways the main clans treated him after hearing his message.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] Candidates could start their answer with Prophet inviting his close relatives of Banu Hashim to Islam and their cold response to his call. When Prophet beginning to preach openly after years of secret worship and announced his faith to the Quraysh on mount Safa, they rejected his call to Islam, and subsequently went on to mock and torture the Prophet. He was called a mad man, or possessed by jinn [15.6, 68.51]; Abu Lahab forced his two sons to divorce the Prophet's daughters Ruqayya and Umm Kulthum. They laughed and mocked him after his son's death, calling him 'abtar', cut off. Gradually as Islam started spreading, leaders of different tribes such as Banu Makhzum escalated the persecution against Prophet. Abu Jahl had the fetus of a she-camel placed on the Prophet's back while he was praying at the Ka'ba, which was removed by Fatima. Rubbish and thorny bushes were thrown at him/in his path. His followers were also persecuted which hurt the Prophet too. The Prophet and his followers were boycotted and were not allowed business dealings or social contact with the Makkans; they stayed in Shib i Abi Talib for three years, where they had little food or water. The Quraysh also tried to bribe him and when all failed, planned to assassinate him.