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61-Sirah 12-The Journey to Taif

Description & Lifestyle

Buraidah (RA) narrated: A man from amongst the Anṣār came to the Messenger of Allāh (SAW) and said, “We have a camel in distress in our stable and none of us are able to come near to it and take its reign”. The Messenger of Allāh (SAW) rose and we rose with him. He opened the door and entered and when the camel saw the Messenger of Allāh (SAW), it came towards him and prostrated. The Messenger of Allāh (SAW) took hold of its head and stroked it. He (SAW) then took the stirrup and directed it to its owner. Abū Bakr and ʿUmar (RA) said: “Indeed, it knew O Messenger of Allāh that you are the Apostle of Allāh.” He (SAW) said, “Indeed there is not a single thing except it knows that I am indeed the Messenger of Allāh (SAW) except those who deny from the jinn and humans”. (Abu Nu’aim)
 
(The Touch of Prophecy by Zakariya Goga)

Sirah & Our Lives Today

The Forgiveness of the Prophet (SAW)
 
Through the example of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), there are many lessons for us to ponder on. In today’s blog, we can take way the lesson of forgiving others despite their negative behaviors towards you. The Prophet (SAW) was pelted by stones, wounded, and bled by the people of Taif, however, he (SAW) showed mercy and forgiveness than to look towards their actions against him. When the Prophet (SAW) was offered by Allah (SWT) a way to destroy them, he chose to forgive them and instead, he made Dua for them. We must adopt the same characteristics of forgiveness our Prophet (SAW) displayed in the toughest of situations.

Weekly Sunnah

Fasting
 
Apart from the Fard fasts, it is proven that the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) used to profusely keep optional fasts.
 
The Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) would fast for three days in a month but the days were not fixed. At times he (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) would fast during the start (of the month); on thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of a month; at times on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of one week and then on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the next week.
 
It has been encouraged to keep three fasts every month. Every act of goodness is rewarded ten times. Hence, the reward of keeping three fasts would equal the rewards of one full month of fasting. Therefore, the one who regularly fasts three days a month is like the one who keeps fasting his complete life.
 
Similarly, the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) would take care to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. There are many reasons for this: Deeds are accounted for on both these days. In one hadeeth it is mentioned that Allaah Ta’ala forgives every Muslim on a Monday and Thursday except two persons between whom there is estrangement (have stopped talking to each other). (Musnad Ahmad)
 
The fast on the day of Arafah is also a Sunnah. It is mentioned in a narration that by keeping the fast of Arafah, sins of two years are forgiven and the fast of Aashurah emancipates a person from the sins of one year.
 
Aashurah is the tenth day of the month of Muharram. One should also keep a fast on either the ninth or eleventh of Muharram along with the fast of Aashurah because the Jews too used to keep a fast on the tenth of Muharram. Hence, the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Oppose the Jews and fast on the ninth or eleventh (of Muharram) as well.
 
(Zubda Tu Shamael by Moulana Mohammad Ilyas Ghumman)

Qur'an

وَ مَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
 
“We have sent you ˹O Prophet˺ only as a mercy for the whole world.” (21:107)

The Journey to Taif

The loss of Abū Ṭālib meant that Rasūlullāh (SAW) had no helper or protector, and the death of Khaḍījah (RA) meant that he had no one to console him. Rasūlullāh (SAW) made plans at the end of the month of Shawwāl in the 10th year of Prophethood to go to Ṭā’if. The city of Ṭā’if lies to the east of Makkah and is approximately 40 miles away although the journey would have been longer.
 
Rasūlullāh (SAW) thought, maybe the people in Ṭā’if, the Banū Thaqīf, may accept his call towards Allāh (SWT) and become his helpers and protectors. So, he left for Ṭā’if with Zayd ibn Al-Ḥārithah (RA).
 
The Invitation to the Leaders
 
Rasūlullāh (SAW) arrived in Ṭā’if and presented Islām, to three brothers who were from among their leaders, ʿAbd Yalayl, Mas’ūd and Ḥabīb ibn ʿAmr ibn ʿUmayr.
 
Rather than even listen to his call, they turned him away with severe words. One of them said, couldn’t Allāh (SWT) find anyone else apart from you, to send as a Messenger? Another took an oath that he wouldn’t even talk to him. They then told the street urchins to pelt Rasūlullāh (SAW) with stones and mock him.
 
Rasūlullāh (SAW) was pelted, and he became wounded. When Rasūlullāh (SAW) would sit down due to the pain caused by the stones, they would lift him up again, so they can throw even more stones at him and laugh.
 
Zayd ibn Al-Ḥārithah (RA) who was with Rasūlullāh (SAW) tried to stop the stones from reaching him. He would shield his body with his own and his whole face became bloody due to the injuries. Rasūlullāh (SAW) feet were so injured, that they were also bleeding.
 
The Angels Offer
 
In Ṣaḥīh Muslim, there is a Ḥadīth in which ʿᾹ’ishah (RA) once asked Rasūlullāh (SAW) has there ever been a day more severe on you then the day of Uḥud? Rasūlullāh (SAW) said, that the most severe day was when he presented himself to ibn ʿAbd Yalayl ibn ʿAbd Kulāl and he didn’t accept my invitation as I had intended. I returned from there very upset and reached Qarn Thaʿālib. I looked up and saw that a cloud was shadowing me and Jibrīl (AS) was present there. Jibrīl (AS) called me from there and said that Allāh (SWT) has heard what the people have said to you and how they have reacted to you. Allāh (SWT) has sent the Angel of the Mountains so you can give him any command you want to.
 
The Angel of the Mountains then called out to Rasūlullāh (SAW) and presented his greetings to him. He said ’Oh Muḥammad (SAW), Allāh (SWT) has heard what your people have said to you, and I am the Angel of the Mountains. Your Lord has sent me to you so that you may order me what you wish’.
 
‘If you wish, then I can make these two mountains meet. and all the people in between will be crushed’. (The people of Makkah and Ṭā’if resided between these 2 mountains) Rasūlullāh (SAW) said ‘No, I have hope with Allāh (SWT) that he will bring such people in their progeny who will only worship him and not join any partners with him’.

The Jinns listen to the Call

On the way back from Ṭā’if, Rasūlullāh (SAW) stayed for a few days in Maqām Nakhlah. One night he was reading Ṣalāt when a group of 7 Jinns passed by him. They stood and listened to Rasūlullāh (SAW) reciting the Qur’ān and then went away. Rasūlullāh (SAW) had no knowledge that they had been there until Allāh (SWT) sent the Revelation.
 
“And (recall) when We directed a group of Jinns towards you, listening to the Qur’ān. So, when they attended it, they said (to each other), “Keep quiet.” Then once it was over, they went back to their people as warners. (29) They said, “O our people, we have heard a book sent down after Mūsā, confirming what was before it, which guides to the truth and to a straight path. (30) O our people, respond to Allāh’s herald, and believe in him, and (once you do that,) Allāh will forgive your sins for you, and will save you from a painful punishment. (31) The one who does not respond to Allāh’s herald is not (able) to frustrate (Allāh by escaping) in the land, and for him there are no supporters besides Him. Such people are in open error. (32)
 
The Return to Makkah
 
When they got close to Makkah, Zayd ibn Al-Ḥārithah (RA) asked Rasūlullāh (SAW), how would they enter Makkah. Rasūlullāh (SAW) said that Allāh (SWT) would find a way out for them from this predicament. They reached the Cave of Ḥirā’ and sent a message to Akhnas ibn Shariq asking if Rasūlullāh (SAW) could enter Makkah under his protection. Akhnas replied that he was an ally of the Quraysh, so he could not help him.
 
Rasūlullāh (SAW) then asked Suḥayl ibn ʿAmr, he also refused. He then asked Muṭ’am ibn ʿAdīy if he could enter Makkah under his protection. Muṭ’am agreed and called his sons and other people from his clan to come with their weapons and wait at the doors of the Ḥaram.
 
Muṭ’am proclaimed in front of the Quraysh that he has given protection to Rasūlullāh (SAW) and no one should object to him. Rasūlullāh (SAW) entered the Ḥaram and kissed Ḥajare Aswad. He then performed the Ṭawāf, read 2 RakꜤah then returned to his home.
 
Muṭ’am and his sons had created a circle around the Rasūlullāh (SAW). Many years later, on the day of the Battle of Badr, Rasūlullāh (SAW) remembered Muṭ’āms favour. The Muslims had many captives and Rasūlullāh (SAW) said ‘If Muṭ’am ibn ʿAdīy was alive today and if he was to ask me about these people, then I would release them all due to his favour’.
 
(Sirah of Muhammad (SAW) Part 6- The Middle Years of the Makkan Period by Maulana Ebrahim Noor)

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