Umaiyyah’s Rivalry — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Umaiyyah’s Rivalry.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: III-Makkah, the Ka’bah & the Quraish
Pages: Book pp. 118–119 (PDF pp. 142–143)
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Historical Account
Upon witnessing Hāshim’s success, his nephew, Umaiyyah bin ‘Abdi Shams began to harbour feelings of jealousy. He tried to compete with Hāshim, and strived to develop a name through his acts of generosity among the people, but failed miserably. On the contrary, he became the target of mockery among the Quraish. Ultimately, Umaiyyah became so enraged that he openly challenged Hāshim to compete with him. At first Hāshim ignored it, but the Quraish (who always remained eager to witness such spectacles), urged Hāshim to accept the challenge. The condition set was that an arbitrator would pass a verdict as to their greatness and the one who loses would give the winner fifty camels and face an exile of ten years from Makkah. Thus, a soothsayer from the Khuzā‘ah was appointed an arbitrator. He uttered a few statements in his soothsaying tongue, and passed a verdict in favour of Hāshim. Therefore, Umaiyyah gave Hāshim fifty camels and left Makkah. He wandered Syria and other areas for ten years. Historians write that this was the first enmity and rivalry which spurred between the Banū Hāshim and Banū Umaiyyah. After Hāshim, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib bin Hāshim also, with full vigour, kept the Banū Hāshim above the Banū Umaiyyah. However, after the demise of ‘Abdul- Muṭṭalib, among Hāshim’s grandsons, no man of such influence came forward, and thus the Banū Umaiyyah gradually gathered strength and Hāshim’s family fell into a state of poverty, weakened. Once, Hāshim travelled to Syria for the purpose of business and trade. On route, he stopped at Yathrib, also known as Madīnah. There Hāshim married a girl named Salmā who belonged to the Banū Najjār, which was a branch of the Khazraj. He had a son from Salmā in Madīnah, who was named Shaibah.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: III-Makkah, the Ka’bah & the Quraish | Navigation: « Previous: [Hashim] | Next: [Muttalib] »