Kuching-Cambridge: Rihla - Jeddah to Taif

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

As I said from the previous post that the journey from Jeddah to Taif is a difficult one, like the Prophet Muhammad (saw) made his journey to Taif to preach Islam. After the boycott and the departures of Abu Talib & Khadijah (ra), the Prophet (saw) named that year as the Year of Sadness. He (saw) was so sad that the Makkans were not listening to him. He decided to preach outside Makkah. So, he and Zayd (ra), his freed slave, went to Taif to preach Islam. They were there for 10 days talking to many tribes and noble people of Taif about Islam, but none of them accepted Islam, some even insulted the Prophet (saw). In one incident, the Prophet (saw) met and spoke to three youths from the nobles of Thakif. The Prophet (saw) invited them to the truth and to believe and worship ALLAH alone. They just mocked the Prophet (saw) and refused to listen to him (saw). One denied that he could be a prophet because of the disruptions in the Makkan community. The second questioned him saying could ALLAH not find anyone else to be a prophet. The third refused to listen to him at all because either the Prophet (saw) was too important to speak to or was a liar. Some of them get together with a group of boys chased the Prophet (saw) and Zayd (ra) away with stones. They were both injured. The Prophet Muhammad's (saw) blood ran down his legs and clogged up his sandals.

When they had travelled a short distance, they rested against one of the walls of a vineyard. as the Prophet (saw) rested, a couple of Makkans who owned the vineyard recognised him (saw) and took pity on their state. They sent their servant 'Addas with some grapes for the two visitors. The Prophet (saw) thanked Addas and ate the grapes beginning with the name of Allah (Bismillah). Addas was surprised with these words and began to talk to the Prophet (saw). 'Addas was a Christian slave and when the Prophet (saw) asked him where he was from, he replied Nineveh. The prophet (saw) said the noble Yunus was from there. 'Addas was very surprised and asked the Prophet (saw) “How do you know about Yunus?” The Prophet (saw) replied, “He was my brother and I too am a prophet.”. 'Addas was very surprised and kissed the Prophet (saw) on the hands and forehead before returning to his duties. The two brothers had witnessed this and they asked 'Addas about his behaviour. 'Addas said that that man leaning against the wall is none other than a prophet. The two brothers shouted at 'Addas and told him that he should not leave his religion and follow Muhammad (saw). The Makkans were against the Prophet and did not want anyone to follow him.

'Addas Mosque

The inside where we prayed 2 rakaah, alhamdulillah

The mosque is hidden in the moutain in Taif

Have to walk through a narrow and long alley to get there

The grape garden next to the mosque

Can this be the breed of the grape the the Prophet (saw) had?

After a short prayer the prophet (saw) made a dua to ALLAH. In the dua, he praised ALLAH and said to ALLAH that may he forgive him for his short coming and in his inability to deliver the message. He said that although he had been injured and hurt by the Makkans he was happy as long as he had not displeased ALLAH. Later, Angel Jibrail (as) came to the Prophet (saw) with the Angel in charge of mountains. Angel Jibrail (as) told the Prophet (saw) that if he so wished he would command the Angel of mountains to bury the city between two mountains. Although the Prophet (saw) had suffered a great deal in the hands of these people, he replied that maybe their offspring would accept Islam and would proclaim the religion of truth. Due to the kind nature of the Prophet (saw), the city was saved from destruction.

And indeed, ALLAH answered the Prophet's (saw) prayer. HE made the people of Taif good Muslims even until today. People in Taif are extremely friendly. The weather there is nice and not as warm as in Makkah or Madinah. Cool breeze and nice weather the whole time we stayed there. Even Shaykh Hamzah Yusuf loves Taif's weather a lot that he said he would sleep in the villa with the windows open.

We were stopped at the check point to Taif for about 4 hours. And when we finally had to return back to Jeddah, our bus broke down and we had to wait for another 2 hours for another bus to pick us up. Felt like the whole day was wasted. We got tired and disappointed. But then, came the good news from the Emirate that we are allowed to go for umrah the next day to compensate the incident. Yay! Felt like how the Prophet (saw) realised that the Jinns were listening to his words and his (saw) efforts were not wasted. This happened on his (saw) journey back to Makkah, the Prophet (saw) and Zayd (ra) rested for a while in a place called Nakhlah and the Prophet (saw) recited the Qu'ran. As he (saw) recited the verses of the Qu'ran, he did not realise that even in the darkness of the desert, there was an audience listening to and admiring these verses. Later on, a few verses of the Qu'ran were revealed which told the Prophet (saw) that a group of Jinns had come and had marvelled at these beautiful words. The Jinns had gone and spoke to their companions about these verses. This audience of Jinns then sat, filling the valley, listening to the beautiful recital.

"Say: It has been revealed to me that a company of Jinns listened (to the Qur'an). They said, 'We have really heard a wonderful Recital! It gives guidance to the Right, and we have believed therein: we shall not join (in worship) any (gods) with our Lord."

~ The Holy Qur'an: Surah Al-Jinn (Chapter 72: The Jinn) verse 1-2