Among the Koraysh were those having close ties to the tribes of Hashim and Muttalib and felt the length of the boycott to be excessive. The first person to take action was Hisham, Amr's son, who had for sometime been sending camels laden with food and clothing into the Muslim sector at night.

He was aware that any effort he might take by himself would be wasted, so he went to Zuhayr, one of the two sons of Atika, the Prophet's aunt and asked, "Are you content to eat well, clothe yourself, and marry when you know the circumstances of your relatives? They can neither buy nor sell, marry nor yet give in marriage. I swear, if they had been the relatives of Abu Jahl, he would never have done this!" "What can I do, I am just one person, if there was another then I would do something to end it!" replied Zuhayr. "There is another," replied Hisham. "Who is it?" asked Zuhayr. "Myself," replied Hisham, "so let us get a third!" replied Zuhayr. Hisham went to Mutim, Adi's son, who was an influential member of the tribe of Nawfal and also the grandson of the brother of both Hashim and Muttalib.

Mutim agreed, and asked for a fourth to join them as he warned that the Koraysh would most likely turn against them. Hisham approached Abdul Bakhtari, from the tribe of Asad, who had sided with Hakim when he was caught by Abu Jahl returning flour to his aunt, Lady Khadijah. Abdul Bakhtari agreed and asked for another to join them as there was strength in number, so Hisham approached Zamah, Al Aswad's son, who was also from the tribe of Asad. Zamah agreed but thought it unnecessary for a sixth person to join them.

That night the five met together at Hajun, which is a place situated on the outskirts of Mecca. There they agreed that none of them would rest until the pact fastened to the inside of the Ka'ba had been revoked. It was agreed that Zuhayr would act as their spokesman and speak first to the Koraysh on account of his kinship to the Prophet (sa).

The Confrontation

The next day, when many of the Koraysh gathered near the Ka'ba, Zuhayr and his companions entered its courtyard. Zuhayr circumambulated Ka'ba seven times, then turned to the gathering and said, "O people of Mecca, should we eat and wear clothes while the sons of Hashim suffer on account of their being unable to trade? By Allah, I will not sit until this terrible pact is torn up!"

Abu Jahl was quick to rise up in protest saying, "It will not be torn up, you are a liar!" Zamah now spoke up, "It is you who are the liar, we were not in favor of it even when it was written." At that point Abdul Bakhtari interjected, "We are not in favor of its contents, neither do we hold with it!"

Both Mutim and Hisham supported their companions whereupon Abu Jahl accused them all of conspiracy. Just then, Mutim went into the Ka'ba to fetch the document. To his amazement termites had eaten all but a short phrase at the beginning of the document that read, "In Your Name, O Allah", and so Mutim brought the remaining portion out and showed to the gathering.

Many of the Koraysh had already soften to the words of Zuhayr and his companions, but when they saw the remains of the document they remembered the words of the Prophet (sa) that nothing would remain of it except the Name of Allah, and took it to be an omen and so it was that the boycott finally came to an end. Abu Jahl knew it was pointless to go against the wishes of the crowd so it was with great reluctance that he accepted its termination. News that the boycott had been revoked was delivered to the Prophet (sa) and his followers and there was great rejoicing of thanksgiving to Allah for its lifting.

An Attempt to Persuade

Although the Koraysh had caused the Prophet (sa) and his companions considerable hardship, the boycott failed to produce a positive result. So once again, the Koraysh directed their efforts to tempt the Prophet (sa) into modifying his opposition to their idolatrous worship.

With this in mind, Waleed, the elderly chieftain of the Makhzum, together with other chieftains went to the Prophet (sa) to suggest a compromise which was that both parties be permitted to practice their religion at the Ka'ba. When it came to important matters, it was the custom of the Prophet (sa) not to respond to a proposition straight away, rather, he would wait for Allah to send down a Revelation to him. On this occasion he did not have to wait long and the answer was revealed in a short chapter, the chapter "The Unbelievers".

"Say: 'O unbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. Nor am I worshiping what you have worshipped, neither will you worship what I worship. To you your religion, and to me my Religion.'" (Koran 109)

As soon as the Koraysh heard these verses, the brief, peaceful interlude faded into oblivion.