Ala-Maududi
(8:30) And recall how those who disbelieved schemed against you to take you captive, or kill you,
or drive you away.[25] They schemed and Allah did also scheme. Allah is the best of
those who scheme.
25. Apprehending the Prophet’s migration to Madina, the Quraysh convened a high-level council
attended by all the tribal chiefs at Dar al-Nadwah (Council House) to decide on a decisive
course of action against the Prophet (peace be on him). They realized that once the Prophet
(peace be on him) left Makka, he would be beyond their reach, rendering them helpless in face of
a formidable threat. A group of them was of the view that the Prophet (peace be on him) should
be imprisoned for life and kept in chains. This proposal was, however, turned down on the ground
that the Prophet’s detention would not deter his followers from preaching Islam and that they
would seize the first opportunity to release the Prophet (peace be on him) even at the risk to
their own lives. Another group suggested that the Prophet (peace be on him) should be exiled,
for this would remove the mischief and subversion far from Makka, and it would not matter where
he spent his days nor what he did, for Makka would be immune from his influence. This proposal,
too, was discarded for fear of the Prophet’s persuasiveness and eloquence, and his ability to
win the hearts of the people of other tribes and thus pose a greater threat in the future.
Finally, Abu Jahl suggested that a band of young men drawn from all the different clans of the
Quraysh should jointly pounce upon the Prophet (peace be on him) and kill him. In such a case
the responsibility for his blood would rest upon all the clans of the Quray’sh. It would thus
become impossible for ‘Abd Manaf, the Prophet’s clan. to take revenge on any one particular
clan. Such a move would compel the Prophet’s relatives to drop their claims for retaliation and
force them to settle for blood-money. Accordingly, the young men charged with the execution of
this plan were selected, and were advised of the exact place and time at which they were
expected to carry out the crime. Not only that, the would-be assassins did indeed arrive at the
appointed place at the appointed time. However, before they could harm him the Prophet (peace be
on him) managed to escape safely. The Quraysh plot was thus frustrated at the eleventh hour.
(See Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, pp. 480-2. See also Ibn Kathir’s comments on the verse – Ed.)