The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 253
VIII - Expansion of Preaching 253 he left the city, this rabble chased the Holy Prophet sa and began to bombard him with rocks, due to which the entire body of the Holy Prophet sa became drenched in blood. These people pursued the Holy Prophet sa for three miles, more or less, and cursed at him and threw stones at him continuously. At a distance of three miles from Ṭā’if, there was an orchard, which belonged to a Chieftain of Makkah named ‘ Utbah bin Rabī‘ah. The Holy Prophet sa took refuge in this orchard, and his ruthless enemies returned exhausted. Standing beneath a shadow, the Holy Prophet sa prayed before Allāh in the following words: َ اَللّٰھُم َّ اِلَیْك َ اَشْكُو ْ ضُعْف َ قُوَّتِی ْ و َ قِلَّة َ حِیْلَتِی ْ وَھَوَانِی ْ عَلَی النَّاس ِ اَللّٰھُم َّ یَا اَرْحَم الرّٰحِمِیْن َ اَنْت َ رَب ُّ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِیْن َ وَانْت َ رَبِّی ْ :. . (الخ) Meaning, “O My Lord, I complain to you of my helplessness, and my inability, and my helplessness before the people. O My God, You are the most merciful, for You are the guardian and protector of the feeble and helpless – You are my Lord. I seek refuge in the light of Your countenance. It is You who dispels all darkness and it is You who bestows the inheritance of favor in this world and in the next. ” At this time, ‘ Utbah and Shaibah were in their garden. When they saw the Holy Prophet sa in this state, perhaps moved by emotions of near or far relations, or perhaps national responsibility, they sent the Holy Prophet sa a tray of grapes in the hand of their Christian slave named ‘ Addās. The Holy Prophet sa took them and addressed ‘Addās saying, “Where are you from, and a follower of which religion?” “I am from Nineveh,” responded ‘Addās, “and a Christian. ” The Holy Prophet sa inquired, “The same Nineveh, which was home to the righteous servant of God, Jonah as son of Matthew?” “Yes,” responded ‘Addas, “but how are you aware of Jonah as ?” “He was my brother,” said the Holy Prophet sa , “for he was a prophet of Allāh, and I am also a prophet of Allāh. ” Then the Holy Prophet sa preached the message of Islām to him, which moved him greatly. In his passion of sincerity, he moved forward and kissed the hands of the Holy Prophet sa. ‘Utbah and Shaibah observed this sight from afar; as such, when ‘Addās returned to them, they said, “What happened to you that you began to kiss the hands of this man? This