At a glance
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
In time
In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Summary
After the conversions of Hamza and Umar, the polytheists tried to bargain with the Prophet over everything they could ask of him. Utba ibn Rabi'a said in the assembly of Quraysh: "Shall I not go to Muhammad, speak with him and put before him some matters? Perhaps he will accept some of them and hold off from us" 1 2.
The offer
Utba sat down before the Prophet and said that if what he had brought was sought for wealth, they would gather money for him until he became the richest of them. If he sought status, they would make him their chief. If he sought kingship, they would make him their king. And if what came to him was a spirit he could not repel, they would seek a physician for him and spend their wealth on it 1.
Reciting Fussilat
When Utba had finished, the Prophet said: "Have you finished, Abu al-Walid? Then hear me." He recited to him the opening of Sura Fussilat until he reached its prostration, and prostrated. Then he said: "You have heard what you have heard, Abu al-Walid; the matter now rests with you" 3. Utba returned to his companions saying: "I have heard words the like of which I have never heard. Company of Quraysh, obey me and leave this man to what he is about." They said: "He has bewitched you, Abu al-Walid, with his tongue" 3.
Notes for researchers
- In another narration, which Ibn Kathir relays, Utba reached a verse containing a warning of a thunderbolt like the one that struck 'Ad and Thamud. He leapt up in alarm and put his hand over the Prophet's mouth 3.
For young visitors
Utba ibn Rabi'a offered the Prophet money, leadership and medicine if he would give up his call. The Prophet heard him out, then recited to him the opening of Sura Fussilat. When the Prophet prostrated, Utba went back to his people and said that he had never heard anything like it.
Connections
- Occurred at
- Mecca
- Had participant
- Utba ibn Rabi'a· Muhammad
- Caused by
- Umar accepts Islam
- Part of
- The Prophetic Era
People and things also explored
Hamza accepts Islam· The Prophet's journey to al-Ta'if· Last Quraysh delegation to Abu Talib· Umar accepts Islam· Mecca· Abu Jahl's plan to crush the Prophet's head with a stone· The three years of the secret call· The day of Badr: the lines, the duels and the victory
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.106
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham , 1/293
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.107
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Utba ibn Rabi'a's offer to the Prophet”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/utba-offer/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-21.