The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 252
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 252 Journey to Ṭā’if When the ban was lifted, and the Holy Prophet sa found a sort of freedom in his movements, he decided to visit Ṭā’if and invite its people to Islām. Ṭā’if is a famous place situated forty miles to the south-east of Makkah. During this era, it was home to the Banū Thaqīf. Putting aside the speciality of the Ka‘bah, Ṭā’if was recognised equal to Makkah and many eminent, influential and affluent people resided there. The people of Makkah themselves admitted to this importance of Ṭā’if. As such, it was the very Makkans who said: Meaning, “Why has not this Qur’ān from God been sent to some great man of Makkah or Ṭā’if?” 1 Therefore, in Shawwāl of 10 Nabawī , 2 the Holy Prophet sa took a journey to Ṭā’if by himself. 3 On the authority of other narrations, Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra also accompanied him. 4 Upon his arrival, the Holy Prophet sa remained there for ten days, and one after another he met with many chieftains, but like Makkah , it was not in the destiny of this city to accept Islām either. Therefore, all of them refused, as a matter of fact they mocked at the Holy Prophet sa. At last, the Holy Prophet sa approached the grand chieftain of Ṭā’if named ‘Abdu Yālail 5 and invited him to Islām, but he also refused, rather, in a manner of mockery he said, “If you are truthful, then I have not the strength to speak to you, and if you are a liar, then to speak to you is useless. ” Then, concerned that the youngters of the city may become influenced by the Holy Prophet sa , he said, “It is best that you leave this place, for there is nobody here who is willing to listen to you. ” After that, this evil man had the miscreants of the city start off behind the Holy Prophet sa. When 1 Az-Zukhruf (43:32) 2 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 1, p. 102, Dhikru Sababi Khurūji Rasūlillāhi sa ilaṭ-Ṭā’if , Dārul-Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 300, Bābu Sa‘yur-Rasūli ilā Thaqīfin Yaṭlubun-Nuṣrah, D ārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Volume 2, p. 241, Bābu Dhikril- Khabri ‘ammā kāna min Amri Nabiyyillāhi sa ‘inda Ibtidā’illāhi Ta‘ālā. . . . . . , Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 4 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, Volume 1, p. 102, By Ibni Sa‘d, Dhikru Sababi Khurūji Rasūlillāhi sa ilaṭ-Ṭā’if , Dārul-Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 5 The name Ibnu ‘Abdi Yāl ī l is mentioned in Ḥadīth– refer to Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Khalq, Bābu Idhā Qāla Aḥadukum Āmīn, Ḥadīth No. 3231