The Journey to Ta'if
🏔️ The Journey to Ta'if — The Most Difficult Day of His Life ﷺ
﴿ Perhaps you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers. ﴾
— [Al-Kahf: 6]
📖 Introduction
After the Year of Sorrow... The Search for a New Horizon
The Prophet ﷺ had lost his uncle and his wife...
Mecca had become a suffocating prison...
Quraysh dared to harm him more than ever before...
He ﷺ decided to seek support outside of Mecca!
🗺️ Why Ta'if?
📋 City Profile
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 100 km southeast of Mecca |
| Tribe | Thaqif |
| Importance | Second largest city in Hijaz |
| Climate | Moderate, mountainous, many orchards |
| Economy | Agriculture (grapes, fruits) |
| Relation to Mecca | Trade and tribal alliances |
🤔 Reasons for Choosing Ta'if
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Strength | Thaqif is a powerful and fortified tribe |
| Kinship | The Prophet's ﷺ maternal uncles from Banu Sa'd were close to them |
| Alternative | If Quraysh refuses, perhaps Thaqif will accept |
| Location | Close enough to influence Mecca |
| Independence | Not directly subject to Quraysh |
🚶 The Journey — On Foot
📅 The Details
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Shawwal, 10th year of prophethood (619 CE) |
| After the Year of Sorrow | A few weeks |
| Distance | About 100 km |
| Companion | Zayd ibn Haritha only |
| Duration of Stay | 10 days |
📜 The Scene — The Departure
The path is long... mountainous... difficult...
The Prophet ﷺ walks with Zayd ibn Haritha...
A man in his fifties...
Saddened by the loss of his uncle and wife...
But he does not stop!
The mission is greater than the pain!
👥 The Meeting with the Chiefs of Thaqif
📋 The Three Chiefs of Thaqif
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| 'Abd Yalil ibn 'Amr | Among the great ones of Thaqif |
| Mas'ud ibn 'Amr | His brother |
| Habib ibn 'Amr | Their third brother |
They were three brothers who ruled Ta'if...
And the wife of one of them was Qurayshite from Banu Jumah!
📜 The Scene — At the Council of Thaqif
The Prophet ﷺ entered Ta'if...
He asked to meet its chiefs...
He sat with them... and presented Islam to them...
The Prophet ﷺ: I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you. I call you to Allah, and I ask you to support me and shelter me until I convey what Allah has sent me with!
🗣️ The Responses of the Three Chiefs
The First (mocking): I will tear the covers of the Kaaba if Allah has sent you!
Meaning: I swear by tearing off the covers of the Kaaba that Allah did not send you!
The Second (ridiculing): Did Allah not find anyone else but you to send?!
The Third (arrogant): By Allah, I will never speak to you!
If you are a Messenger from Allah as you say, you are too dangerous for me to respond to!
And if you are lying about Allah, it is not fitting that I speak to you!
😔 The Result of the Meeting
Ten days...
The Prophet ﷺ called them...
He visited them one by one...
No one responded!
Rather, they ordered him to leave their city!
And asked him not to corrupt their youth!
🩸 The Stoning — The Worst Day
📜 The Scene — Leaving Ta'if
The Prophet ﷺ left Ta'if with a broken heart...
But the chiefs were not satisfied with just rejection!
They incited their ruffians, slaves, and children!
They lined them up in two rows on either side of the road!
And ordered them to stone him!
📜 The Scene — The Bloody Stoning
The Prophet ﷺ walks...
Stones rain upon him from every side!
They strike his noble feet!
Blood flows... fills his sandals!
Every time he wanted to sit to rest... they hit him until he stood up!
Every time he stood... they stoned him until he fell!
Zayd ibn Haritha tries to protect him with his body!
He receives the stones instead of him!
His head was wounded! His blood flowed!
But he never abandoned his master ﷺ!
😭 The Bloody Distance
From Ta'if to the orchard of the two sons of Rabi'a...
A long distance under a hail of stones!
And the children scream... mock... throw!
Until he reached the orchard of 'Utba and Shayba, sons of Rabi'a!
He hid in the shade of a grapevine...
Alone... bloodied... broken...
🤲 The Du'a of Ta'if — The Immortal Words
📜 The Scene — Under the Tree
The Prophet ﷺ sat under the tree...
Blood flowing from his feet...
Zayd trying to bandage his wounds...
And his heart breaking from sorrow...
He ﷺ raised his hands to the sky...
And spoke this magnificent supplication:
📜 The Full Text of the Supplication
"O Allah! To You I complain of the weakness of my strength, the scarcity of my resources, and my humiliation in the eyes of people!"
"O Most Merciful of those who show mercy!"
"You are the Lord of the oppressed, and You are my Lord!"
"To whom do You entrust me?"
"To a distant one who looks at me with hostility?"
"Or to an enemy to whom You have given power over me?"
"If You are not angry with me, I do not care!"
"But Your protection is more expansive for me!"
"I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which darkness is illuminated, and by which the affairs of this world and the Hereafter are set right,"
"from Your anger descending upon me, or Your displeasure befalling me!"
"I will make concessions to You until You are pleased!"
"And there is no power nor might except with You!"
💎 Analysis of the Supplication
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "I complain of my weakness" | Acknowledgment of human weakness |
| "The scarcity of my resources" | I have no power or ability |
| "My humiliation in the eyes of people" | People do not value me |
| "You are the Lord of the oppressed" | Allah is the Supporter of the weak |
| "To whom do You entrust me?" | No refuge except to You |
| "If You are not angry" | What matters is Your pleasure, not my comfort |
| "Your protection is more expansive" | But I aspire to Your mercy |
| "I will make concessions" | I will please You whatever it costs me |
👼 The Angel of the Mountains — The Offer of Revenge
📜 The Scene — The Angel Appears
After the supplication...
Jibril عليه السلام came!
And with him the Angel of the Mountains!
Jibril: O Muhammad! Allah has heard what your people said to you and how they responded to you!
He has sent you the Angel of the Mountains so that you may command him with whatever you wish regarding them!
The Angel of the Mountains: O Muhammad! If you wish, I will crush them between the two Akhshabayns!
(The two Akhshabayns: the two mountains of Mecca, Abu Qubays and Qu'ayqi'an)
📜 The Scene — Mercy Triumphs
A decisive moment...
He could take revenge...
Destroy those who had harmed him!
But he ﷺ said:
The Prophet ﷺ: No!
Rather, I hope that Allah will bring forth from their loins people who will worship Allah alone without associating anything with Him!
💡 Lessons from this Situation
| Lesson | Application |
|---|---|
| Mercy over Revenge | He did not take revenge despite having the power |
| Vision for the Future | He thought of future generations |
| Forbearance | He bore harm with patience |
| Hope | He did not despair of guiding people |
| The Supreme Goal | The mission is more important than the self |
🍇 'Addas the Christian — A Human Moment
📜 The Scene — In the Orchard
'Utba and Shayba saw the Prophet ﷺ in their orchard...
Although they were among the leaders of Quraysh and his enemies...
They felt pity for him!
They sent their servant 'Addas to him with a bunch of grapes!
📜 The Dialogue with 'Addas
'Addas came with the grapes...
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Bismillah" then ate.
'Addas (amazed): By Allah, these words are not said by the people of this land!
The Prophet ﷺ: From which land are you? And what is your religion?
'Addas: I am a Christian, from the people of Nineveh.
The Prophet ﷺ: From the village of the righteous man Jonah son of Matthew!
'Addas (astonished): And how do you know about Jonah son of Matthew?!
The Prophet ﷺ: He is my brother! He was a prophet and I am a prophet!
'Addas prostrated and kissed the head, hands, and feet of the Prophet ﷺ!
😠 The Reaction of the Masters
'Utba and Shayba saw what 'Addas had done...
They were angry!
'Utba: Woe to you, 'Addas! Do not let him turn you away from your religion! For your religion is better than his!
🏠 The Return to Mecca — The Problem of Protection
😰 Entering without Protection
He could not return without protection...
Who would give him refuge?
He sent to Al-Akhnas ibn Shariq... refused!
He sent to Suhayl ibn 'Amr... refused!
🛡️ Al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi — The Nobility of a Disbeliever
Finally... Al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi accepted!
A polytheist man... but noble!
He was among those who had annulled the boycott pact!
Al-Mut'im: Yes! I grant him my protection!
He and his sons armed themselves (put on their armor)...
And went out until they came to the Sacred Mosque!
Al-Mut'im (to Quraysh): O people of Quraysh! I have granted my protection to Muhammad! Let no one of you harm him!
And the Prophet ﷺ entered Mecca... under the protection of a polytheist!
💬 The Prophet's ﷺ Loyalty to Al-Mut'im
After the Battle of Badr... there were among the prisoners some sons of Quraysh...
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If Al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi were alive and had spoken to me about these wretches, I would have left them for him!"
— [Sahih al-Bukhari]
📊 Comparison: Reactions to the Call
| Situation | Quraysh | Thaqif |
|---|---|---|
| First Reaction | Mockery | Mockery |
| Second Reaction | Torture | Stoning |
| Third Reaction | Boycott | Expulsion |
| Fourth Reaction | Attempted murder | ... |
💡 Lessons from the Journey to Ta'if
🎯 For the Contemporary Caller
| Lesson | Application |
|---|---|
| The Call does not stop | Continue despite rejection |
| Alternatives | If one door closes, look for another |
| Patience with harm | Wounds do not stop the march |
| Turning to Allah | Complain to Allah alone |
| Not seeking revenge | Mercy is better than punishment |
| Hope | Perhaps Allah will bring forth believers from their offspring |
📊 Results of the Journey to Ta'if
| Short Term | Long Term |
|---|---|
| Apparent failure | Great success |
| Pain and stoning | Thaqif converted years later! |
| No supporter | 'Addas believed |
| Broken return | Al-Isra wal-Mi'raj as compensation! |
A year after the conquest of Mecca...
A delegation from Thaqif came as Muslims!
The Prophet's ﷺ supplication was fulfilled!
❓ Questions for Reflection and Review
- Why did the Prophet ﷺ choose Ta'if after Mecca?
- How many days did he spend in Ta'if? Who accompanied him?
- What did the three chiefs of Thaqif say to the Prophet ﷺ?
- Describe the stoning scene. How did Zayd act?
- Write the supplication of Ta'if in full. What is its most important phrase?
- What did the Angel of the Mountains offer? What did the Prophet ﷺ answer?
- Who is 'Addas? What happened with him?
- Who granted the Prophet ﷺ protection for his return to Mecca?
📝 Lesson Summary
| Event | Impact |
|---|---|
| Going to Ta'if | Search for alternative support |
| Rejection by the Chiefs of Thaqif | Response with mockery and humiliation |
| The Stoning | The most difficult day of his life ﷺ |
| The Supplication of Ta'if | Model of turning to Allah |
| The Refusal of Revenge | Mercy triumphs over pain |
| The Conversion of 'Addas | A small fruit in the midst of trial |
| Al-Mut'im's Protection | Return to Mecca under protection of a polytheist |
✨ After Ta'if
After this painful day...
Came the Great Consolation:
Al-Isra wal-Mi'raj!
A journey to the heavens... to Sidrat al-Muntaha...
Where no human being had gone before!
﴿ Indeed, with hardship comes ease. ﴾
— [Ash-Sharh: 6]