The Prophet's Journey to Ta'if PDF

The Prophet'ssa Journey to Ta'if The Prophet Muhammadsa, facing rejection in Mecca, decided to turn elsewhere to preach his Message. He chose Ta'if, a small town about sixty miles south-east of Mecca known for its fruit and agriculture. This decision aligned with the traditions of other Prophets lik...

The Prophet'ssa Journey to Ta'if The Prophet Muhammadsa, facing rejection in Mecca, decided to turn elsewhere to preach his Message. He chose Ta'if, a small town about sixty miles south-east of Mecca known for its fruit and agriculture. This decision aligned with the traditions of other Prophets like Mosesas and Jesusas, who also sought new audiences when faced with opposition. Oa The Prophet'ssa Arrival in Ta'if 1 Arrival and Meetings Upon arriving in Ta'if, the Prophetsa had visits from its chiefs, but none seemed willing to accept the Message. Ta'if, like Mecca, was deeply rooted in polytheistic beliefs and practices, with the important idol al-Lat located there. 2 Rejection and Persecution The rank and file obeyed their leaders and dismissed the teaching with contempt. They set vagabonds and street boys to pelt the Prophetsa and his companion Zaidra with stones, driving them out of town. 3 Injury and Pursuit Zaidra was wounded and the Prophetsa began to bleed profusely. The pursuit continued until this defenceless party of two was several miles out of Ta'if. The Prophet'ssa Response to Persecution 1 Angelic Intervention 2 Unexpected Kindness 3 Interaction with 'Addasra An angel descended upon the Exhausted and dejected, he Prophetsa and asked if he stopped at a vineyard owned 'Addasra became curious would like his persecutors to by two Meccans who showed when he heard the Prophetsa be destroyed. The Prophetsa sympathy. They sent a tray full say, "In the name of Allah, the replied, "No, I hope that of of grapes with a Christian Gracious, the Merciful." The these very tormentors would slave, 'Addasra, from Nineveh. Prophetsa told 'Addasra about be born those who would Jonahas from Nineveh and his worship the One True God." own Message. 'Addasra believed at once and embraced the Prophetsa with tears in his eyes. The Prophet'ssa Prayer after Rejection Plea to Allah Seeking Refuge Faith in Allah's Power The Prophetsa turned to Allah "To whom wilt Thou abandon me "It is Thou Who canst drive away and said: "Allah, I submit my —to strangers who push me darkness from the world and plaint to Thee. I am weak, and about or to the enemy who give peace to all, here and without means. My people look oppresses me in my own town? If hereafter. Let not Thy anger and down upon me. Thou art Lord of Thou art not angered at me, I Thy wrath descend on me. Thou the weak and the poor and Thou care not for my enemy. Thy art never angry except when art my Lord." mercy be with me. I seek refuge Thou art pleased soon after. And in the light of Thy face." there is no power and no refuge except with Thee." Return to Mecca 1 Journey Back After his prayer, the Prophetsa set back for Mecca, stopping en route at Nakhla for a few days. 2 Seeking Permission As he was no longer considered a citizen of Mecca, he sent word to Mut'im bin 'Adi, a Meccan chief, to ask if Meccans would permit him to come back. 3 Mut'im's Noble Act Mut'im, though a bitter enemy, showed nobility of heart. He and his armed sons and relatives escorted the Prophetsa to the Ka'ba and then to his house, granting him formal permission to return. Praise for the Prophet'ssa Journey Sir William Muir's Praise Continued Preaching in Growing Support Mecca Sir William Muir, in his biography of Muslims who had returned from the Prophetsa, writes: "There is Despite returning to hostility in Abyssinia preached secretly to something lofty and heroic in this Mecca, the Prophetsa continued to their friends, neighbours and journey of Muhammadsa to At-Ta'if; preach his Message. The formula, relations. Some were persuaded to a solitary man, despised and "God is One", began to be heard declare themselves openly, while rejected by his own people, going here and there. With love, regard, others, though convinced, waited boldly forth in the name of God, and persistence, he expounded his for the kingdom of God to come to like Jonah to Nineveh, and Message to the people of Mecca. the earth. summoning an idolatrous city to repent and support his mission. It sheds a strong light on the intensity of his belief in the divine origin of his calling." Spread of Islam to Medina 1 Hajj Encounters During the annual Hajj, the Prophetsa met a group of six or seven people from the Khazraj tribe of Medina. He expounded his Message to them, and they became interested. 2 Medina's Interest The people of Medina, having heard Jewish prophecies about a coming Prophetsa, became impressed with the Meccan Prophetsa's Message. 3 Growing Acceptance At the next Hajj, twelve men from Medina came to declare their belief in the Oneness of God and their resolve to follow the Prophetsa. They returned to Medina and spread the Message, leading to a rapid increase in followers. 4 First Missionary The Prophetsa agreed to send Mus'abra, the first missionary of Islam, to Medina to teach the growing number of believers there Vision of Jerusalem and World Events The Prophet'ssa Vision World Events Divine Revelation The Prophetsa had a vision in During this time, the Kaiser and The Prophetsa received a which he saw himself in Jerusalem the Chosroes of Iran went to war. revelation predicting the Romans' with Prophets joining behind him in Chosroes was victorious, eventual victory over the Iranians, congregational worship. This vision overrunning Syria, Palestine, as well as the believers' rejoicing symbolized Medina becoming the Egypt, and Asia Minor. Meccans with Allah's help. This prophecy centre of worship of the One God rejoiced over Iranian victories, was fulfilled in the following years. and Islam becoming a universal seeing them as a judgement religion. against the People of the Book. Promises of Victory and Migration Revelations of Victory Quranic Affirmations Plans for Migration The Prophetsa received revelations The Qur'an affirmed that it was not the The Prophet'ssa thoughts turned promising victory for believers and defeat word of a poet or soothsayer, but a increasingly towards Medina as a place for disbelievers. These daily revelations revelation from the Lord of the worlds. It for migration. Despite the advice of his confused the Meccans, who saw only the warned that all opposition would be futile. relations to stay in Mecca, he was current powerlessness of the Muslims. convinced that migration to Medina had been decreed and decided to make the journey.