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The Quraysh warn pilgrims 
With the Muslims growing in number, the Quraysh became 
increasingly perturbed. It was close to the time of the annual 
pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Ka’bah, and people from all over the 
peninsula were expected in Makkah before long. The Quraysh 
feared the Muslims would attract and influence the visitors. They 
also worried about the loss of face that would ensue if a rival 
religion flourished in the stronghold of their gods. A delegation of 
the Quraysh called on Waleed bin Mugheera, who was old and a 
man of standing. 
He said, “O people of Quraysh, the time of Hajj has come, 
and people from all sides will come to you. They have all heard 
about Muhammad, so agree upon what to say about him lest you 
contradict one another.” The people said, “You say something 
and decide on that course for us.” He said, “No, you speak and I 
shall listen to you.” The People said, “Well, we will say he is a 
soothsayer.” “He is not a soothsayer,” said Waleed. “He neither 
speaks nor versifies like them.” “Then we will say he is mad,” 
someone suggested. “He is not mad,” Waleed said. “We all know 
the signs of madness. He does not behave erratically, nor is his 
speech confused.” “Then we shall say that he is a poet.” “But he 
is not a poet,” Waleed pointed out. “We know the different kinds 
of poetry, and his words can’t be compared to any of them. He is 
therefore not a poet.” “Well, we will say he is a sorcerer,” another 
pointed out. “We have seen sorcery and sorcerers. He practices 

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neither the art of exorcism nor the tying of knots.” Waleed 
explained. The people said, “What shall we say then?” 
Waleed thought for a moment and said, “By God, his words 
are sweet and fresh and attractive. His root is firm and his 
branches are fruitful. Hence, whatever you claim about him will 
not be believed. However, it is more convincing, in my opinion, if 
you were to present him as a sorcerer. You should say that he has 
brought a message by which he creates a rift between father and 
son, brother and brother, husband and wife. Under his influence, 
families break because of him.” 
Having agreed upon this line of defence, the Quraysh formed 
small groups to spread the propaganda. They waited along the 
different paths leading the pilgrims to their destination and 
caution every passer-by about the Prophet , with the result that 
almost everyone formed an impression of the Prophet without 
having seen or heard him. 
When the days of Hajj came, the Prophet rose to meet the 
pilgrims in gatherings. He also called on them at their camps to 
invite them to Islam. He would say: “O people! Say La ilaaha 
illallah and you will attain success.” Abu Lahab, meanwhile, would 
walk behind the Prophet , belittling him. Thus, by the time the 
pilgrims returned from Hajj that year, all of Arabia knew of 
Muhammad  and his mission, either through his own efforts or 
those of his detractors.