Journey to Taa-if

From the book · p. 13

In brief· the site’s own summary, not the book’s words

After his uncle Abu Taalib and his wife Khadijah رضي الله عنها (may Allah be pleased with her) had died and the people of Makkah grew harsher, Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) went to Taa-if with Zaid bin Haaritha رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) in the 10th year of nubuwat, hoping its people would accept Islaam. Its leaders insulted him and set people on him who stoned him until he bled, and Zaid رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) was hurt protecting him. Resting in an orchard on the way back, he met A'ddaas, a Christian slave from Neenway, who accepted Islaam when Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke of the prophet Yunus عليه السلام (peace be upon him). Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) then brought the angel of the mountains, who offered to crush the people of Taa-if, but Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) refused, hoping their children would worship Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty); the book says all the people of Taa-if later became Muslims.

Context (the site’s note) · Taa-if is a mountain town south-east of Makkah; Neenway is Nineveh, the ancient city on the Tigris at today's Mosul in Iraq.

There was nobody to assist ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah after his uncle Abu Taalib died. The wife of Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), Khadijah رضي الله عنها (may Allah be pleased with her), who was a source of great comfort to him had also passed away. In the meantime, the people of Makkah increased their oppression and persecution of the Muslims worsened.

Having thus lost hope in the people of Makkah, Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) decided to travel to Taa-if, thinking that it was a town of honourable people. If they accepted Islaam it would have a good effect. Hence, in the 10th year of , Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) and Hadhrat Zaid bin Haaritha رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) set out for Taa-if.

On reaching Taa-if, Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke to the leaders and invited them to Islaam. Contrary to his expectations, they dealt with him very harshly. They insulted and jeered him, set evil people behind him to stone him, due to which Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) began to bleed. When Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down for a while, these wretched people chased him and started pelting him with stones again. Hadhrat Zaid bin Haaritha رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him), who was protecting Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), was also injured.

Whilst returning from Taa-if, Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) rested in an orchard where he made a very fervent . The owner of the orchard felt sorry for Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) and sent his slave, whose name was A’ddaas, with some (dates). Before eating the dates, Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) recited . A`ddaas who was a Christian commented: “There is nobody in this area who takes this name.”

Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him where he came from?” He replied: “I am from Neenway.” Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: “Is it the same Neenway where a pious servant of Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty) by the name of Yunus ibn Matta lived?” A’ddaas replied: “How do you know about him?” Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “He was a Nabi and I am also a Nabi.”

On hearing this A`ddaas kissed the forehead and hands of Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) and accepted Islaam. When A’ddaas رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) returned, his master asked him: “What were you doing? This person could misguide you.” A’ddaas رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “He is the final Prophet. All the of the past have given glad tidings about him.”

As Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) continued, Hadhrat Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) appeared at a place called Qarn-uth-Tha’alib and said: “Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty) knows very well how the people have treated you and He has sent an angel who is in charge of the mountains to assist you in whatever you wish.”

The angel came to Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) and after making said: “If you order me I will crush the people between these two mountains.” Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “No. I have hope in Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty) that their progeny will worship Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty) and they will not ascribe any partners to Him.”

Subsequently, this is exactly what happened and all the people of Taa-if became Muslims.

In brief· the site’s own summary, not the book’s words

After his uncle Abu Taalib and his wife Khadijah رضي الله عنها had died and the people of Makkah grew harsher, Nabi ﷺ went to Taa-if with Zaid bin Haaritha رضي الله عنه in the 10th year of nubuwat, hoping its people would accept Islaam. Its leaders insulted him and set people on him who stoned him until he bled, and Zaid رضي الله عنه was hurt protecting him. Resting in an orchard on the way back, he met A'ddaas, a Christian slave from Neenway, who accepted Islaam when Nabi ﷺ spoke of the prophet Yunus عليه السلام. Jibraeel عليه السلام then brought the angel of the mountains, who offered to crush the people of Taa-if, but Nabi ﷺ refused, hoping their children would worship Allah ﷻ; the book says all the people of Taa-if later became Muslims.

The book’s text

The book’s text