The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): The Quraysh gathered in Dar al-Nadwa... When they began their assembly, Iblis joined them. Then Abu Jahl said: "There was no one among the Arabs mightier than us... until Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) grew up among us. Because of his integrity and trustworthiness we used to call him al-Amin (the Trustworthy), and on that account he came to claim that he is the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds, and he reviled our gods... I have an opinion regarding him, which is that we secretly send a man to kill him, and if Banu Hashim demand his blood, we give them ten diyat (blood-monies)." Iblis said: "This opinion is void, for Banu Hashim will never accept that the killer of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) walk upon the earth, and many wars will occur among you within the Haram (of Mecca)." Another said: "The correct view is that we take him and imprison him in a house, tie him up, and toss him his daily food until he finally dies, as Zuhayr and al-Nabigha died." Iblis said: "Banu Hashim will not accept this, and when the seasons of Arab gathering [such as the Hajj] arrive they will unite against you, bring him out of prison, and Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) will deceive them with his magic." Another said: "The correct view is to expel him from our lands and drive him out, so we may attend to our gods with a clear mind." Iblis said: "This opinion is more corrupt than the previous two... because when Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) goes out [from Mecca], he will take you by surprise along with many horsemen and foot soldiers [from those who have believed in him]." The Quraysh, bewildered and perplexed, said: "What is your opinion?" Iblis said: "In this matter only one opinion is correct: that from each tribe of the various tribes of Quraysh a noble man be gathered, along with one man from Banu Hashim, each taking a sword and attacking Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), each striking a single blow, so that his blood is scattered among all of Quraysh. In this way, since Banu Hashim themselves also participated in killing him, they cannot demand his blood, and the only path before them is to accept the diya (blood-money)." ...The Quraysh accepted the view of the elder from Najd and chose fifteen men, among them Abu Lahab (the uncle of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family)), to attack the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). At that moment Allah revealed this verse: وَ إِذْ یَمْکُرُ بِکَ الَّذِینَ کَفَرُوا لِیُثْبِتُوکَ أَوْ یَقْتُلُوکَ أَوْ یُخْرِجُوکَ وَ یَمْکُرُونَ وَ یَمْکُرُ اللهُ وَ اللهُ خَیْرُ الْماکِرِینَ [And when those who disbelieved plotted against you to confine you, or kill you, or expel you — and they plotted, and Allah plotted, and Allah is the best of plotters]. They agreed to attack the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) by night and kept this decision secret. Abu Lahab said: "It is better that we surround [his house], and when morning comes, attack him." So they gathered around the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). [On the other side,] the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) ordered that bedding be spread for him, and said to Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him): "Give your life as a ransom for me." He said: "At your service, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)!" The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Sleep in my bed and pull my cloak over yourself." Then he himself rose... and Jibra'il (peace be upon him) came and said to him: "Leave the house." This was while the attacking group had positioned themselves over the Prophet's (peace be upon him and his family) room, watching his bed on which Ali (peace be upon him) was lying, thinking that he was the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) asleep. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), while reciting [the opening verses of Surah Ya-Sin up to] وَ جَعَلْنا مِنْ بَیْنِ أَیْدِیهِمْ سَدًّا وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَیْناهُمْ فَهُمْ لا یُبْصِرُونَ [And We have set a barrier before them and a barrier behind them, and We have covered their eyes, so they do not see] (Ya-Sin/9), left the house, took a handful of dust, threw it upon those who were asleep, and passed through their midst.