Siege
of Tâ'if
The fortress of Mâlik bin Auf was
located in route from the valley of Hunain to Tâ'if and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) demolished it along
with the fortress of Atam. He found the people of Tâ'if wanting to give battle
and so they were besieged. The siege dragged on for twenty days. During this
period people from the surrounding areas began accepting Islam. During the
battle of Hunain only four Muslims were martyred while during the siege of
Tâ'if the number of Muslim martyrs reached twelve. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), at last, raised the
siege and returned to Ji'rânah with his men and distributed the spoils.
A deputation of the Hawâzin came
there and called on the Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم) and sought forgiveness for the sake of Halimah Saadiyah. He
asked them to come at the time of Zuhr prayer when all the Muslims would congregate
for the prayer. When they did as told, the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) gave his reply, "Whatever was
apportioned to me and the Banu Abdul-Muttalib is yours." Thereupon the
Muhâjirin and the Ansâr said, "Whatever share has been given to us is
passed on to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)."
Saying this, they set all the captives of Hawâzin free. Thus, in a very short
duration, about six thousand prisoners were released. Among the captives was
also Shimâ' bint Halimah Saadiyah, the foster-sister of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). When she was
produced before the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم),
she said, "O Prophet of Allâh, I am your foster-sister." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked for proof, and
she replied, "The bite you gave me on my leg. The mark is still
there." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
accepted the proof and stretched out his robe for her to sit on and treated her
courteously. He gave her the choice of living with him in affection and honor
or going back to her people. She chose to go back to her tribe. And the Prophet
(صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) gave her a bondsman,
a slave girl and a considerable quantity of wealth and goods.
Deep
Love of the Ansâr for the Messenger (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم)
When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) began to distribute the spoils at
Ji'rânah, he gave a large portion to the Quraish whose faith in Islam, he
wanted to strengthen. Since most of the Makkans were from the Quraish, and they
were relatives and fellow-countrymen of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم), some of the young men among the Ansâr
aired their grievances at the meager gifts given to them and the large portion
given to the Prophet's relatives and compatriots.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) also got wind of what was going on among
the younger section of the Ansâr. The Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) ordered the Ansâr to assemble in an
enclosure. He then said addressing them, "Did you say such and such?"
The Ansâr submitted in reply: "Our young men have said so no doubt, but
none of the discerning, respectable and mature persons has ever thought it nor
has such a thought ever entered our minds."
Having heard this, the Prophet of
Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: "O the
Ansâr, did I not come to you when you were astray, and Allâh guided you through
me?" The Ansâr replied, "Yes, indeed, Allâh and His Prophet are most
kind and generous." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) again asked them, "You were divided and He softened your
hearts and you united through me?" They again submitted, "Yes,
indeed, you did us this great favor." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked once again, "You were poor and
Allâh made you rich through me?" The Ansâr admitted, "Yes, indeed,
Allâh and His Messenger did this great favor for us." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) again asked them,
"O Ansâr, why don't you speak to me?" He then added, "I would
have acknowledged it if you had replied: 'You came discredited and we believed
you; you came deserted and we helped you; you were a fugitive and we gave you
shelter; you were poor and we comforted you.' O Ansâr, are you not satisfied
that these men should take away camels and goats while you go back with the
Prophet of Allâh?"
The Ansâr wept bitterly until tears
ran down their beards. The Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم) further said, "Had migration not been destined, I would
have been one of the Ansâr myself. If all the people go one way, and the Ansâr
take another, I would take the way of the Ansâr. O Allâh! Have mercy on the
Ansâr and their children and their children." We can not even conceive of
the joys, the Ansâr felt at this time. The Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) let them understand that these people
were new entrants to Islam and they were given more so they would be reconciled
to Islam, not by way of any special favor.
First
Governor of Makkah
On the way back from Ji'rânah, the
Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
entered Makkah to perform Umrah. Before leaving, he installed as Governor of
Makkah, a young man of a little more than twenty years. Also he left Mu'âdh bin
Jabal (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) as an instructor of
the Quran and Islamic injunctions. The young governor named Attâb bin Usaid was
given the significant post for his profound fondness of religious knowledge. A
dirham per day was fixed for him so that he would not depend on anyone else for
his needs. He was the first man in Islam to perform Hajj as a ruler.
That year the Muslims and
non-Muslims performed Hajj according to their own tenets and none got in the
way of other. However, they performed their duties so close to one another that
the polytheists found ample opportunity to observe the good deeds and moral
excellence of the Muslims.
It is worth mentioning here that
Urwah bin Mas'ud, a chieftain of Tâ'if was outside when Tâ'if was raided by
Muslim troops in 8 AH. Urwah now followed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) when he was on his way to Al-Madinah and
confessed Islam at his hand before his entry into Al-Madinah. Urwah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) then sought
permission of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
to preach Islam among his people. He (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) said, "Your people take pride in that they could not be
defeated by the Muslim army. When you preach Islam to them, you might be killed."
Urwah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) submitted, "My
people love me very much and I hope they will listen to me." Thus the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) acceded to his
request. Following this, he went to Tâ'if, ascended a raised place and began to
call the people to accept Islam. The people of Tâ'if surrounded him on all
sides and showered arrows on him, which led to his martyrdom. On being asked
about the retaliation, Urwah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said to his relatives: "By the Grace of Allâh, I have been honored with
martyrdom. Now my sole desire is that I am buried beside those Companions of
the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
who were martyred and buried during the Muslim siege of Tâ'if." It was in
this year that the Prophet's son Ibrâhim was born to Maria Qibtiyah (Coptic).
Also in this year his daughter Zainab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) passed away. The same year, a wooden pulpit was made for the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), and he. wrote a
letter to Mundhir bin Sâwa. Mundhir bin Sâwa (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) had already embraced Islam in response to an earlier letter
sent to him, according to which he began to charge the Jizyah (protection tax)
from the Jews and Magians of his territory.
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