The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘If I agree to this would you agree to give me one sentence, if you were to utter it, you would win in the life of this world and in the afterlife too?’ The chiefs of Mecca said: ‘Yes, by gods (idols), we will give it to you; but what is it? Muhammad said: ‘Say: there is no god but Allah!’
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Ayah 6:108 says:
“Revile not those (idols) unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance…”
This verse has a historical background
The historical event between the Prophet Muhammad and the idolators of Mecca
Abu Talib was Muhammad’s uncle; he was the master of Muhammad’s tribe. Although he did not believe in Allah, Muhammad and the Quran and Abu Talib was an idolator; however, he used to defend Muhammad against the violence of the unbelievers.
When Abu Talib was dying, some chiefs of Mecca said: ‘let us go to this man and ask him to forbid his nephew from reviling our idols, for we feel shame to kill Muhammad after his uncle passes away and drive the Arabs to say: ‘He used to defend him but once he passed away, they killed him; and this will be very shameful for us’.
The chiefs of Mecca went to see Abu Talib. They said to him: ‘You are our master and our leader, but Muhammad has harmed us and harmed our gods (idols). We would like you to call him and warn him against speaking ill of our gods (idols). And from our part, we will leave him alone to his Allah’.
The Prophet Muhammad went when he was summoned.
Abu Talib said to him: ‘O son of my brother, these are your people and your cousins! Listen to them’
The Prophet Muhammad said to him: ‘I am listening’
They said: ‘We want you to leave us alone with gods (idols) and we will leave you alone with your Allah’.
Abu Talib said: ‘Fair enough, your people are being fair with you, so give your consent’.
The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘If I agree to this would you agree to give me one sentence, if you were to utter it, you would win in the life of this world and in the afterlife too?’
The chiefs of Mecca said: ‘Yes, by gods (idols), we will give it to you and also give you ten other things like it; but what is it?
The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘Say: there is no god but Allah!’
They refused and expressed their at this proposal, upon which Abu Talib said; ‘Son of my brother, ask for something else, for your people are suspicious of this’.
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The verse 6:108 in QARIB translations:
Do not say crude words to those who call upon other than Allah, lest they use crude words about Allah in revenge without knowledge. as such we have made the actions of each nation seem pleasing. to their lord they shall return, and he will inform them of that they were doing.
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