The Journey to Ta’if, Mi‘raj and Continued Preaching of Islam

The Journey to Tâ'if

The stubbornness of Quraish continued to increase. During the very period of Shi'b Abu Tâlib, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) had started preaching Islam among the people arriving in Makkah from outside during the Hajj season. But these efforts did not bear fruit. He decided to call the people of Tâ'if to Islam. Tâ'if is at a distance of 60 miles from Makkah and was as a big city as Makkah. It was inhabited by Banu Thaqif who worshipped Lât. In Tâ'if there was a temple of Lât, which was the center of attraction for the whole of the city. In the month of Shawwâl, the 10th year of Prophethood, one month after the death of Khadijah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) took Zaid bin Hârithah and left for Tâ'if on foot.

In route to Taif he first contacted the Banu Bakr tribe. When they too behaved like the Makkans, he went to the Qahtân people but they were also similar to the Quraish. At last he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) reached Taif and made his first contacts with men of status. Among the chieftains of Tâ'if, Abd Yâlil bin Amr bin Umair and his two brothers, Mas'ud and Habib were the most influential. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) met all three and invited them to Islam. They were very haughty. One of them retorted: "Had God made you His Prophet you would not have been walking about like this." Another one quipped: "Did God find none to send as Prophet other than you?"

"And they said: why is not this Quran sent down to some great man of the two towns." (43:31)

The third one pleaded: "I don't like to have a talk with you, for if you are true to your word in being the Messenger of God, it is risky to reject it; if you are lying about God, you are not fit to be talked with."

Obstinate Behavior of the People of Tâ'if:

When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) met with failure in the case of Abd Yâlil and his brothers, he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked them to keep what came to pass between them a secret. He then left to contact others but Abd Yâlil and his brothers stirred up their slaves and some rabble of the town to harass the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). The riffraff of Tâ'if followed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), abusing, screaming, and throwing stones at him until he left Tâ'if but they kept following him. When the shower of stones hit his shins, they bleed profusely. At a distance of three miles from Tâ'if, there was an orchard of Utbah bin Rabi'ah, a wealthy man of Makkah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) took refuge in it. Sitting under the shade of a wall he invoked Allâh the Almighty saying, "O Allâh! You are the Protector and Caretaker of the weak and the helpless and I seek Your help alone."

Utbah bin Rabi'ah was present in his orchard at that time. Arabian nobility and the sense of hospitality pressed him to send through his slave Addâs a bunch of grapes on a plate. The slave was a Christian from Nainua (Nineveh). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) ate from the grapes and invited Addâs to accept Islam. He was impressed and kissed the Prophet's hands. Utbah was watching all this. When Addâs returned, Utbah said to him, "Accept not what he says, for his religion was better than that of his (Prophet's)." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) took a rest in the orchard for a while and then left. From there he arrived at Nakhlah and passed his night in a date grove. Some of the leaders of the jinn heard him recite the Quran and believed in him.

Back to Makkah:

On his return, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) came up to the mount of Hira and sent his message to the chieftains of the Quraish but none showed his readiness to give him refuge. When his message came to Mut'im bin Adi, inspite of being a polytheist, he got up overwhelmed with the sense of national honor and came to the mount of Hira. He took the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) with him and they went to Makkah. The sons of Mut'im stood in front of the Ka'bah with unsheathed swords. In this way the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) went around the Ka'bah. Thereafter, Mut'im and his sons accompanied him to his house under the shadow of their swords. "What's your relation with Muhammad?" the Quraish asked Mut'im. He replied, "I have no relation with Muhammad. I am simply his supporter, and nobody can dare look at him with evil eyes while he enjoys my support." Such staunch support from Mut'im silenced the Quraish. As per one narrative, an angel came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) in Tâ'if and said, "If you order me I would join together the two hills between which Tâ'if is located." But he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) replied, "No, if they fail to accept Islam, their progeny will do it."

Marriage with 'Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), and Mi'râj

The same year in Shawwal, the 10th year of Prophethood, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) married Saudah bint Zam'ah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and 'Aishah bint Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), and he was also honored with the Mi'râj (the Night Journey and his Ascension to the heavens). Scholars are in disagreement regarding the year of the Ascension and some of them are of the opinion that it took place more than once. But this is not the place to discuss the issue in great detail.

Preaching Islam in Different Places and Tribes

Being fed up with the Makkans, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) undertook a journey to Tâ'if but they proved worse than the Makkans. The Makkans ill treatment of the Muslims was multiplying day by day. But he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not lose his courage or determination. Back from Tâ'if he resumed his duty of preaching to the tribes which stayed around Makkah during the Hajj days.

He contacted Banu Kindah and Banu Abdullah tribes at their dwellings. To Banu Abdullah he said, "O Banu Abdullah! Your father was Abdullah (literally the slave of Allâh)! You too should become the slaves of Allâh". He (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) also went to the settlement of Banu Hanifah tribe but they meted out treatment worst than ever.

He (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) continued preaching Islam among the caravans from outside Makkah during the Hajj season. But Abu Lahab was very keen on interrupting the preaching mission and calling the people not to pay heed to what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) would say. He (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) invited Banu Âmir, Banu Shaibân, Banu Kalb, Banu Muhârib, Fazârah, Ghassân, Sulaim, Abs, Hârith, Adhrah, Dhuhl, and Murrah tribes to accept Islam.

On contacting Banu Âmir, a man named Firâs said, "In case we accept Islam and you attain power, will you then appoint me your successor after you?" The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) replied, "This is within the Power of Allâh the Almighty Alone that He choose somebody to succeed me." Hearing this he said, "Wonderful! At present we lay down our lives for your mission, and upon your big victories others plunge in to enjoy the fruits of power! Go away, I want nothing to do with you."