Seerah - Lesson 27


						Lesson 27

	The Battle of Ta'if A group of the warriors of Thaqif escaped from Hunain and returned to Ta'if. They closed the gates of the city after storing stocks of food to suffice for a full year. They prepared themselves to fight the Muslims. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam proceeded straight to Ta'if and besieged it. The siege dragged on for some time, but the Muslims were unable to enter Taif. The defenders had blocked its entrances. Thaqif were good archers. The thick volley of arrows discharged by them appeared like swarms of locusts. The siege continued for some twenty-five to thirty nights during which the two sides fought tooth and nail to get the better of one another and exchanged volleys of arrows. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam used, for the first time, catapults. The arrows shot by the enemy took its toll on the lives of several Muslims. Some of the Muslims asked the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to invoke a curse on the Thaqif. Instead, he prayed for them, saying : "O Allah, guide Thaqif and bring them to us as Muslims." (1) Kindness in the Battlefield When the siege did not have the desired effect, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam threatened to cut down the vineyards of Thaqif. The enemy was extremely perturbed for its economy depended on the fine quality of grapes grown in these vineyards. They begged the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, in the name of Allah and their relationship with him, to spare their cultivations. Taking pity on the enemy, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Certainly, I leave it to Allah and kinship between us." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam made an announcement that if any slave of the Thaqif came to him from the city, he would be set free. Among the ten or more slaves who deserted Ta'if, one was Abu Bakrah Radhi Allahu Anhu. Later on he distinguished himself by his deep knowledge of hadith. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam freed all of them. (2) After a time the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam decided to raise the siege and return at a later time to deal with the Thaqif.

			Lessons to Learn The use of catapults by the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam showed the acceptability of using the latest and most advanced weapons available for the purpose of uplifting the religion of Islam. Even in war the merciful Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was not prepared to curse his enemy when his companions asked him to do so. Instead, he prayed for them asking Allah to grant them guidance.

	Captives Released A deputation of the Hawazin consisting of fourteen persons called upon the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. They requested him to take pity on them and return their kinsmen and property. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam advised them: "Tomorrow morning when I have finished the prayer stand up and say: We ask the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam intercession with the Muslims and the Muslims intercession with the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam that our children and women be returned to us. " When they did as they were told he gave the reply, 'Whatever was apportioned to the Banu Abdul Muttalib and me is yours. To others I make a recommendation for you." Thereupon, the Muhajirin and the Ansaar said: "Whatever share has been given to us is passed onto the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam." Three persons belonging to Banu Tamim, Banu Fazara and Banu Sulaym refused to part with their shares. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to them: "These people have come after accepting Islam. I awaited their arrival and gave them a choice but they preferred nothing over their women and children. Now, if anybody has slaves whom he wants to donate willingly, the way is open to him. But if anybody does not want to do so, he may refuse. He who holds a right to such captives shall be given six shares in lieu of each from the first booty Allah grants us." They replied: "We give back our shares willingly for the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam sake. He, however, said: "I do not know who among you is contented and who is not. You go back now and your chiefs will inform me. All of them returned the captives, women and children, and not one of them decided to retain his share. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam also gifted out a garment to every released captive. (3) A point of kindness Among the captives rounded up during the battle the Muslims took Shayma bint Halima Sa'diya also into custody. She told them that she was the foster-sister of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam but her captives did not pay any heed to her and treated her roughly. When Shayma was brought before the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam she said: "0 Prophet of Allah, I am your foster-sister." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked for proof and she replied: "The bite you gave me in my back when I carried you at my hip. The mark is still there." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam accepted the proof and stretched out his robe for her to sit on. He gave her the choice of living with him in affection and honour or going back to her people with presents. She chose to go back to her tribe. (4) Umrah After distributing the spoils and captives at Ji'rana, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam put on the Ihram for performing the Umrah. He appointed Itab Ibn Usaid Radhi Allahu Anhu as the governor of Makkah and then returned to Madinah.

					Lessons to Learn He now entered Madinah as a powerful leader with almost the whole of Arabia in his control. What a stark contrast between his entry now and his entry eight years ago! Then he was a lone stranger pursued and wanted by the blood-thirsty Quraish. Now he entered Madinah with the whole of Arabia loving him. Allah had turned the tables in his favour. Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient, surely Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost. (Surah Yusuf, Verse 90)

		No place for Idolatry The Thaqif held out for a few months but after discussions between themselves they reached the conclusion that it would be beyond their power to fight the Muslims. Ultimately, they decided to send a deputation to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. When they came to Madinah a tent was pitched for them in the masjid. They requested the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam not to destroy their chief deity, the idol of al-Laat for three years. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam refused. They continued to reduce the period by one year but the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam remained firm in refusing their request until they finally asked for a period of one month after they had returned to their homes. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam again rejected their request and ordered Abu Sufyan and Mughira Ibn Sh'uba Radhi Allahu Anhuma to destroy it. Once their idol was destroyed, the people of Ta'if accepted Islam. Not one of them remained attached to paganism. The Thaqif asked the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam that they be excused from offering prayers. To this the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied: "Nothing remains of a religion which has no prayer." (5) Ka'b Ibn Zuhayr accepts Islam Ka'b Ibn Zuhayr paid a visit to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam after he returned to Madinah from Ta'if. Ka'b was a poet whose father had also been a poet. He had composed many abusive poems ridiculing the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He called upon the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam just after he had finished the morning prayers and placed his hands in his. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, however, did not know who he was. Ka'b then said to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam : "0 Messenger of Allah, Ka'b Ibn Zuhayr has come as a repentant Muslim and asks for security from you. Will you accept his repentance?" One of the Ansaar leapt upon him saying: "0 Prophet of Allah, let me deal with this enemy of Allah. I will cut off his head." But the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked him to let Ka'b alone since he had come repentant of his past deeds. (6) He recited some beautiful verses praising the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam who then gave away his robe to Ka'b. Caliph Muawiyah Radhi Allahu Anhu later offered 10,000 dinars for the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam robe, but Ka'b refused and said that he could not part with it for anything. Muawiyah obtained the robe, after the death of Ka'b, for 20,000 dinars, from the heirs of Ka'b.

					Lessons to Learn The Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam character was flowing with mercy and forgiveness. He forgave Ka'b despite the harm he had caused by his verses of hatred and malice. From the verses recited by Ka'b we learn that it is meritorious to praise the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam provided this praise does not surpass the limits set by the Shariah. The Sahabah loved the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to such an extent that they were prepared to spend large amounts of money in acquiring his clothing and other artefacts.

				_________________________________________ (1) Tabaqaat Ibn Saad (2) Al Bidayah Wan Nihayah (3) Bukhari, Zaadul Ma'ad (4) Al Bidayah Wan Nihayah (5) Zadul Ma'ad (6) Ibn Hisham _________________________________

Dua for Protection from the Fire of Jahannam Meaning : O Allah protect me from the Fire. A Hadith Whoever has pride in his heart, even to the weight of an atom, shall not enter paradise. (Bukhari)