Stories from Early Islam — Page 70
70 their hearts for him, so much so, that they set vagabonds and layabouts on him, who pelted him with stones and drove him out of the town. Zaid was hit by stones and was injured. The Holy Prophet was also hit and began to bleed from the injuries to his legs. They hurried away from the town, but still people came after them. The chase went on until both were several miles out of Ta’if. The Holy Prophet was very sad and disappointed at the treatment he had received from the people of Ta’if. They sat down at one place to rest. Suddenly an angel appeared and asked him, ‘Would you like that all those who treated you badly be destroyed?’ The Holy Prophet replied, ‘No, I hope that their chil dren at least would accept Islam and worship the One, True God’. The place where he was resting, was a vineyard belonging to two Makkans. When the owners of the vine yard noticed his injuries, they took pity on him and sent a Christian slave Addas by name, with a tray of ripe grapes to him. Addas was so moved by the sight of the Holy Prophet and was so impressed with his talk, that he became a Muslim. He began to kiss his head, hands and feet and asked for his blessings. The Prophet stayed for a while and then started his journey back to Makkah.