Seerah | Lecture 10 | Incident of Ta'if

The events surrounding the boycott of the Bani Hashim, the deaths of Abu Talib and Sayyida Khadija, and the Prophet Muhammad’s journey to Taif are detailed as pivotal moments of trial and divine consolation. The account traces the transition of Islamic propagation from the house of Sayyiduna Arqam to the open spaces of the Kaaba, following the conversion of Sayyiduna Amir-e-Hamza and Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq. It describes the subsequent three-year social and economic boycott imposed by the Quraysh, the relocation of the Prophet and his kin to the natural fortress of Sha'b-e-Abu Talib, and the eventual invalidation of the boycott agreement through divine intervention.

The narrative further examines the period known as Aamul Huzn (the Year of Sorrow), marked by the passing of the Prophet’s protectors, Abu Talib and Sayyida Khadija. It details the Prophet’s subsequent journey to Taif to seek support, the rejection and physical persecution he endured there, and his refusal to allow the destruction of the city’s inhabitants, citing his role as a mercy to mankind. The account concludes with the Prophet’s encounter with the jinn, his return to Makkah, and the commencement of the Isra and Mi'raj as a divine response to his hardships.

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Key topics & takeaways

The Boycott of Bani Hashim

• Conditions of the boycott — the Quraysh agreed to cease all trade, marriage, and social interaction with the family of Abu Talib, with the exception of Abu Lahab ▸06:21
• Location of the boycott — Abu Talib moved his family to the mountain pass known as Sha'b-e-Abu Talib to protect the Prophet from assassination attempts ▸08:50
• Stealth operations — Sayyiduna Ali, at age 16, and other supporters frequently snuck food and water into the pass to sustain the besieged family ▸11:26
• Survival strategies — during periods when supplies were intercepted by figures like Abu Jahl, the women boiled tree leaves in water to quiet the hungry children ▸15:09
• Invalidation of the agreement — after three years, the Prophet informed Abu Talib that insects had consumed the boycott agreement, leaving only the name of Allah, which was later verified by the Quraysh ▸16:44

The Deaths of Abu Talib and Sayyida Khadija

• Final appeal to Abu Talib — on his deathbed, the Prophet urged his uncle to accept Islam to secure intercession, but Abu Talib refused due to the pressure of the Quraysh and a desire to maintain the religion of Abdul Muttalib ▸20:04

• Theological status of Abu Talib — while a minority view suggests he died a believer, the research held by the speaker is that he died a non-Muslim ▸22:17

• Prohibition of intercession — following the death of Abu Talib, a verse was revealed forbidding the Prophet and the believers from seeking forgiveness for polytheists, even if they are close relatives ▸22:40

  ۝ Qur'an· Surah at-Tawbah 9:113

  Ma kana linnabiyi wallazina amanu ayyastaghfiru lilmushrikin, walau kanu uli qurba, mim ba'di ma tabayyana annahum annahum ashabul jahim.

  It is not appropriate or it is not permissible for the Prophet or for those who have believed, that they make dua of maghfirah for the mushrikin, even if they are from amongst their relatives, after it has been made clear for them that they are from amongst the people of the fire of Jahannam.

• Passing of Sayyida Khadija — the death of the Prophet’s wife occurred only a few days after that of Abu Talib, deepening the sorrow of the Aamul Huzn ▸24:08

The Journey to Taif

• Purpose of the visit — the Prophet traveled to Taif to propagate Islam among the wealthy leadership, specifically meeting with the leader Abdu Yalil and his brothers ▸25:29
• Persecution in Taif — the leaders of Taif mocked the Prophet and incited criminals to stone him, causing him to bleed so profusely that his shoes filled with blood ▸26:21
• Divine offer of retribution — Jibril offered to crush the people of Taif between the mountains, but the Prophet refused, hoping that their descendants would eventually accept the faith ▸28:46
• Conversion of Addas — a Christian servant named Addas, who brought grapes to the Prophet, accepted Islam after the Prophet identified himself as a brother to the prophet Yunus ▸30:11
• Comparison of hardships — the Prophet later identified the day of Taif as more difficult than the day of the Battle of Uhud ▸31:47

The Night Journey

• Conversion of the Jinn — while returning from Taif, a group of jinn encountered the Prophet near Nakhla, heard the Quran, and accepted Islam ▸33:33
• Preparation for the journey — before the Mi'raj, the Prophet’s chest was opened, his heart was washed with Zamzam, and he was dressed in the clothing of Paradise ▸36:19
• The Burraq — the Prophet traveled from Makkah to Madina (then Yathrib), the future sites of Badr and Uhud, and finally to Masjid-e-Aqsa on the mount known as the Burraq ▸36:46