"And the prominent among them went forth," up to the verse. This is because a group of the notables of Quraysh walked to Abu Talib and said: You are our elder, our senior, and our leader, and you have seen what these fools—meaning the believers—have done. We have come to you so that you may judge between us and your nephew. So Abu Talib sent for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: These are your people asking you for equality, so do not deviate.
﴿وَانْطَلق الْمَلأ مِنْهُم﴾ الْآيَة وَذَلِكَ أَن رهطًا من أَشْرَاف قُرَيْش مَشوا إِلَى أَبِي طَالِب؛ فَقَالُوا: أَنْت شَيخنَا وَكَبِيرنَا وَسَيِّدنَا , وَقد رَأَيْت مَا فَعَلَتْ هَذِه السفهةُ - يعنون: الْمُؤمنِينَ - وَقد أَتَيْنَاك لِتَقضي بَيْننَا وَبَين ابْن أَخِيك! فَأرْسل أَبُو طَالِب إِلَى النَّبي ﷺ فَقَالَ: هَؤُلّاءِ قَوْمك يَسْأَلُونَك السوَاء؛ فَلَا تمل
