The Biography of the Prophet

Journey to Taif

The death of Abu Talib signaled the beginning of a difficult period for the Prophet (r).
None of the Qurayshites dared touch the Prophet (r) during the lifetime of Abu Talib, but
now the restraint was gone. In one instance, dust was thrown over his head. And to make
matters far worse, the Quraysh, moved by the desire to impose themselves upon the
Prophet (r), insulted and mocked at him and made caustic remarks on Islam. When the
pagans persisted with their mockery and sarcasm as well as resolute behavior, the Prophet
(r) thought of going to Ta’if to seek the help of the tribe of Thaqif. The Prophet (r) in-
tended to invite them to Islam for he believed that they would receive his message with
sympathy. His expectation was apparently well grounded as he had spent his childhood with
Bani S’ad who were settled near Ta’if.

Ta’if was a delightful city, second only to Makkah in its population and prosperity, holding
an important position in the Peninsula as alluded to in this verse of the Qur’an.

“And they say: If only this Qur’an had been revealed to some great man of the two

towns?” (meaning: Makkah and Ta’if) [Qur'an (43:31)]

Taif was also a religious center since pilgrims from every part of the country visit its so-
called “Temple of al-Lat” and thus, it competed with Makkah in such respect for the latter
housed Hubal, the chief deity of Arabia. Ta’if was, as it still is today, the summer resort of
the Makkan aristocracy. An Umayyad poet, ‘Umar Ibn Rabi’a said about his beloved:

“Winter in Makkah, living in clover, In Ta’if she spends the summer.”

The inhabitants of Ta’if, endowed with diversified large farms and vineyards, were wealthy
and prosperous. They had become conceited and boastful embodying the following descrip-
tion of the Qur’anic verse:

“And we sent not unto any township a Warner, but it's pampered ones declared: Lo!

we are disbeliever's in that which ye bring unto us. And they say: We are more (than

you) in wealth and children. We are not the punished!” [Qur'an (35:34-5)]

In Taif, the Prophet (r) first met the chiefs and leaders of Thaqif whom he invited to ac-
cept Islam. They were, however, rude and discourteous in their treatment of the Prophet
(r). Not being content with their insolent reply, they even stirred up some gangs of the
town to harass him. These riff-raffs followed the Prophet (r), abusing and crying and throw-
ing stones on him, until he was compelled to take refuge in an orchard. The Prophet (r)
consequently had to endure even more obstacles in Ta’if than he had to face in Makkah.
These ruffians, based on either side of the path, threw stones at him until his feet were