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Journey to Taif

Due to the disobedience, defiance and enmity of the people of Makkah, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم felt disappointed that they would not embrace Islam. Hence, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم went to the outskirts1 of Makkah in order to preach Islam over there. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم went to different areas including Taif. During his journey to Taif, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was accompanied by his slave – Sayyiduna Zayd Bin Haarisah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. Taif was the city of the rich and the upper class. Among well-to-do [i.e. rich] families, the family of ‘Amr’ was considered the chief of all other tribes. These were three brothers whose names were ‘Abd-e-Yaleel [عَبْدِ یَالِیْل] Mas’ood and Habib. Heصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم went to these three brothers and invited them to Islam but they did not accept his invitation. Instead, they gave a very improper and blasphemous [i.e. disrespectful] reply. These unfortunate people even provoked a gang of Taif into tormenting him. This vicious and violent gang surrounded him and started stoning him until his blessed feet were covered in blood.2 His blessed socks and slippers were also filled with blood. When he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم sat down in severe pain, they would grab his blessed arm and make him stand up. When he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم started walking again, they would start stoning him again, taunting, swearing, clapping and laughing. Sayyiduna Zayd Bin Haarisah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would run to shield [i.e. protect] him by standing ahead of and behind him. He was also covered in blood and lost control. At last, heصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم took refuge in an orchard of grapes which was owned by ‘Utbah Bin Rabee’ah - a famous disbeliever of Makkah. Seeing the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم in this condition, ‘Utbah Bin Rabee’ah and his brother Shaybah Bin Rabee’ah had pity on him. Despite being disbelievers, they allowed him to stay in their orchard because of their relationship with him. They also sent a bunch of grapes to him through their Christian slave, ‘Addaas. Reciting ‘بِسْمِ اللّٰە’, heصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم took the bunch. Seeing it, ‘Addaas said in surprise, ‘People in this locality do not say these words.’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم asked him, ‘Where do you come from? ‘Neenawa’ [نِیْنَوَی], ‘Addaas replied. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘That is the city of Yunus Bin Matta عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّلَام who was also a Nabi of the Almighty like me.’ Listening to it, ‘Addaas began to kiss the blessed hands and feet of the Blessed Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم and instantly became Muslim, reciting the Kalimah.3

During the same journey, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم reached the place called ‘Nakhlah’ where heصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم recited the Holy Quran in Tahajjud Salah at night. A group of jinns from ‘Naseebayn’ came. Listening to the Holy Quran, all of them became Muslims. These jinns then returned and informed their nation about it. Then, large groups of jinns came to Makkah and accepted Islam. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has mentioned it in the beginning Ayahs of Surah Al-Jinn.4

He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم stayed at ‘Nakhlah’ for a few days. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم then came to the place called ‘Hira’ and sent a message to a prominent chief of the Quraysh, Mut’im Bin ‘Adee, asking him whether he could give refuge to him. It was a custom for the Arabs to not refuse if anyone sought refuge or support from them, no matter the refuge-seeker was a bitter enemy of theirs. Therefore, Mut’im Bin ‘Adee gave refuge to him and ordered his sons to get armed with weapons and go to Haram. He then himself went riding a horse, brought the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم to Makkah and took him to the Haram of the Ka’bah and announced publicly, ‘I have given refuge to Muhammad.’ After that, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم kissed the Hajar-e-Aswad calmly, performed the Tawaf of the Ka’bah and offered Salah in the Haram. Then, armed with swords, Mut’im Bin ‘Adee and his sons escorted [i.e. took] him to his blessed home.5

Much later on, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا once respectfully asked the Holy Nabiصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم : ‘Ya Rasoolallah! Was any day tougher on you than even the day of the battle of Uhud?’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes, O ‘Aaishah! The day, when I invited the chief of Taif, ‘Abd-e-Yaleel, to Islam in Taif, was tougher on me than even the day of the battle of Uhud. He rejected invitation to Islam disrespectfully and the people of Taif stoned me. I continued to walk with my head lowered, overcome with grief. When I reached the place called ‘Qarn-us-Sa’alib’[قرن الثعالب]I found some relief. I lifted my head and saw a cloud above me, giving me shade. Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام called me from within the cloud and said, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has heard what your nation has said and replied. Now the angel of mountains is present in your court so that he will carry out your order.’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم stated: The angel of mountains said Salam to me and then said,‘O Muhammad ( صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم )! Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has heard what your nation has said and replied and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has sent me to your court so that I will carry out whatever you order. If you want me to turn upside down both of the mountains on them (i.e. the Abu Qubays and Qu’ayqu’aan [قعیقعان] mountains) called ‘Akhshabayn’[اَخْشَبَیْن], I am ready to do it’.

Listening to it, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘No. I hope that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will create such bondmen from among their generations who will worship only Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and will not commit polytheism.’ 6


1An area where people live that is outside the centre of a city.
2Sharh-uz-Zurqaani ‘alal Mawahib, vol. 2, pp. 50, 51
3Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, vol. 1, pp. 136, 137
4Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, vol. 1, pp. 137, 138
5Sharh-uz-Zurqaani ‘alal Mawahib, vol. 2, pp. 66; summarised
6Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 386, Hadees 3231; Sharh-uz-Zurqaani ‘alal Mawahib, vol. 2, pp. 51, 52; summarised

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