Tufayl Ibn Amr al-Dausi was a prominent poet amongst the Arabs. When he came to Makkah, the Quraish warned him against meeting the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He explained : "By Allah, they were so insistent that I decided not to speak to him. I went so far as to stuff cotton wool in my ears before going to the masjid. Suddenly, I saw the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam offering prayers near me. I heard something of his speech and it seemed so beautiful and noble. I thought: "Why should anything prevent me from listening to this speech? If it is good I shall accept it. If it is bad I will reject it."

He later met the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam at his house where he was invited to accept Islam. After the Quran was recited to him, Tufayl was so touched by the words that he accepted Islam and went back to his tribe and converted them all to Islam. (1)

Taif

None of the Quraish dared touch the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam during the lifetime of Abu Talib. Now that he was no more, they insulted and mocked at him openly. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam thought of seeking the help of the people of Taif. He went to them with an open heart and hoped that they would receive him with sympathy.

Taif held an important place in Arabia. It was a religious centre as the temple of al-Lat was situated in the city and pilgrims, thus, visited it from every part of the country. The inhabitants of Taif had numerous vineyards and were wealthy, conceited and boastful.

In Taif, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam first met the chiefs of the Thaqif tribe. He invited them to accept Islam. They were rude and discourteous in their behaviour to him. Not being content with their insulting reply, they set the street urchins on him. They pelted him with stones to such an extent that his feet were drenched in blood.

Their oppression weighed so heavily upon the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam that he made a prayer in desperation seeking the help of Allah :

"O Allah, to you alone do I complain of my weakness, my lack of resources and my humiliation before the people. You are the Most Merciful, the Lord of the weak, O my Lord! Into whose hands would You abandon me : To one estranged or an enemy given power over me?

If Your wrath does not fall on me, I care not, for Your favour is sufficient for me. I seek protection in the light of Your countenance by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right. May it never be that Your anger should descend upon me or Your displeasure be upon me. I need only Your pleasure and satisfaction. You enable me to do good and evade evil. There is no power and no might except in you."

As a consolation, Allah sent the angel of the mountains who sought his permission to bring together the two hills between which Taif was located. But the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied: "No, I hope Allah will bring forth from them people who will worship Him, associating nothing with Him." (2)

A Christian boy was sent by his master to console the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam by giving him some grapes from his orchard. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam recited 'In the name of Allah' before consuming them. The boy was surprised and finally brought faith in Islam after a brief conversation with the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. On his way back to Makkah Allah sent a group of Jinn to listen to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam reciting the Quran. (3)