The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
After the death of Abu Taalib, the Quraish began to harass Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and trouble him, as they found no hindrance in their path. As long as Abu Taalib was alive, out of respect for Abu Taalib, the Quraish refrained from harming Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
In the 10th year after nubuwwah, at the end of Shawwaal, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was forced to leave Makkah Mukarramah due to the extreme harassment of the Quraish. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) set out for Taa’if, accompanied by Hazrat Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), with the hope of inviting the people of Taa’if to Islam.
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reached Taa’if, he visited the three chiefs of the clan (viz. Mas’ood, Habeeb and Abd Yaaleel), and invited them to Islam. He gave them the message of Allah Ta‘ala, and asked them to support him in his mission. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was hopeful that the people of Taa’if will embrace Islam, and Taa’if would then become a safe place for the Muslims to live and practice Islam.
However, instead of them accepting his message, or at least showing him the common hospitality of the Arabs, as he was a visitor in their area, each leader treated him very harshly and rudely. They told him to immediately leave their town and they began to hurl abuse against him.
One of the chiefs mockingly said to him, “Did Allah make you His prophet?” The second chief taunted him saying, “Could Allah not find anyone else besides you to make him His Nabi?” The third chief said to him, “I do not want to talk to you, because if you are really a Nabi, as you claim to be, then to oppose you is to invite trouble, and if you only pretend to be a Nabi, then why should I talk to a person who is an impostor pretending to be a Nabi?”
They then incited their slaves and the ruffians among them to swear Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and hurt him. They began to swear Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and shout out to others to also come and join them in abusing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Thus, a large group of people assembled and began pelting Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with stones. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was pelted to such an extent that blood began oozing from the wounds of his body and began dripping onto his sandals.
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would try to sit down and rest, due to the pain he was experiencing from the wounds, they would hold him by his arms, pull him up and force him to stand. They would then stone him further while laughing and jeering at him. Hazrat Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) began protecting and shielding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) from the stones with his own body. As a result of shielding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Zaid’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) head and body also became injured and wounded.
Coming to the Orchard of Utbah and Shaibah
The mob pursued Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) until he came to an orchard belonging to Utbah bin Rabee’ah and Shaibah bin Rabee’ah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered the orchard, seeking refuge from the mob. Here he made the following dua:
اللهم إليك أشكو ضعف قوتي وقلة حيلتي وهواني على الناس يا أرحم الراحمين أنت رب المستضعفين وأنت ربي إلى من تكلني إلى بعيد يتجهمني أم إلى عدو ملكته أمري إن لم يكن بك علي غضب فلا أبالي ولكن عافيتك هي أوسع لي أعوذ بنور وجهك الذي أشرقت له الظلمات وصلح عليه أمر الدنيا والآخرة من أن تنزل بي غضبك أو يحل علي سخطك لك العتبى حتى ترضى ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بك
O Allah! To You alone do I complain of the feebleness of my strength, the scarceness of my resources and my unimportance in the eyes of people. O the Most-Merciful of those who show mercy! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord! To whom will You entrust me – to a stranger who will look at me harshly or to an enemy to whom You have given control over my affairs? So long as You are not displeased with me then I am not concerned or worried in the least. However, ease from You will bring me relief. I seek shelter in Your light (noor) which removes all forms of darkness and through which all the affairs of this world and the Hereafter remain in order, (I seek protection) from You sending down Your anger upon me, or from your wrath falling upon me. You alone do I strive to please, and I will continue striving until You are pleased, and there is no ability (to refrain from evil) and no power (to carry out righteous actions) except through You.
The heavens were moved by His dua and Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) came before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and greeted him with salaam. Hazrat Jibreel (alaihis salaam) then said to him, “Allah Ta‘ala knows all that has happened between you and these people. He has sent the angel in charge of the mountains to do with them as you decide.”
The angel greeted Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with salaam and said, “O Rasool of Allah, I am at your service. If you wish, I can cause the mountains on both sides of this town to collide with each other, so that all the people will be crushed to death, or you may suggest any other type of punishment you want me to mete out to them.”
The merciful Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Even if these people do not accept Islam, I do hope from Allah Ta‘ala that there will be some people from among their children who will embrace Islam, worship Allah Ta‘ala and serve His Deen.”
It is reported that Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) once asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Did you ever encounter a day that was more difficult upon you than the day of Uhud?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “All the trials I suffered from your people (the Quraish) were severe and difficult upon. However, the most difficult day that I encountered in my life was the day of Taa’if.”
It is well know that on the occasion of Uhud, the Muslims underwent great difficulty and suffered a partial defeat at the hands of the kuffaar and Rasululah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was also severely injured and wounded in this battle.
(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 3/133-135, Sharhuz Zurqaani 2/49-56, Rowdhul Unuf 2/229-235)
