However, his uncle (father’s brother), Abu Lahab, whose actual name was ‘Abdul ‘Uzza bin ‘Abdil Muttalib, would cast aside all his other duties, and while trailing behind Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he would proclaim, “O people! This man wants you to abandon Laat and ‘Uzza, and he is inviting you towards bid‘ah (innovation) and misguidance. Don’t ever obey and listen to him.”

In essence, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) presented Islam to a number of tribes, inviting them to support and aid Islam. Some of them responded politely and gently, while others responded harshly and unsympathetically.

Some of them said, “We will support and protect you on the condition that if you are victorious, then you should appoint us as your successors after you.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “That is not in my control. It is the sole prerogative of Allah Ta‘ala that He appoints whomsoever He wishes.”

Hearing this, they retorted, “This is quite strange – that we should side with you, sacrificing our lives for this cause and making our chests a target for the arrows of the Arabs, yet when you are triumphant then somebody else will be appointed as your successor and deputy!”

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/327)