After Abu Talib and Khadijah died, Quraysh intensified their efforts to harm the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), so the Messenger of Allah decided to leave to another place other than Mecca, to call the people there to Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) thought he might find people who would support and aid him, in order for him to spread the Message of towheed (the oneness and uniqueness of Allah).
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) left for Taif. He thought his call might be welcomed there and he would find people who would support the call. But the trip was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stayed with them ten days. There was no noble there but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went and talked to him. However, they said, ‘Leave our city.’ And their foolish ones and young boys started to attack him. And when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wanted to leave, those foolish ones followed him, making two rows to throw stones at him and swear at him. They stoned the lower part of his legs until blood covered his noble feet and his sandals were filled with blood. Zaid ibn Harith (may Allah be pleased with him) stood in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to protect him, and as a result, he was wounded on his head. He brought the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to the wall of the garden of Atbah and Shibah, the sons of Rabi’ah, and the foolish ones from Taif who had followed him returned to their city. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took shade under a grapevine, sitting down under it. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) became calmer, he prayed to his Lord, referring to his difficult situation, [The Prophet’s Biography by Ibn Hesham with a chain of narrators which is considered good but mursal, one whose chain only reaches a Tabi’een (from the generation after the Companions)].
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) referred to this event and how painful it was, as Aisha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, related that she asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), <‘Have you ever had a day which was more difficult than the battle of Uhud?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied, ‘I experienced from the people of yourcountry (i.e. Arabs) what I experienced [of difficulties]. The most difficult time I experienced was the day of Aqaba when I presented myself to Ibn Abd Yalail ibn Abd Kulal, but he did not respond to me as I wanted. Therefore, I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and I could not relax until I found myself at a tree where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me. I looked up and saw Gibrael in it. He called me, saying, ‘Allah (Glorified is He) has heard what your countryfolk said to you and how they have responded to you. And He has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.’ The Angel of the Mountains came close to me and greeted me with peace. Then he said, ‘O Muhammad, order what you wish. If you like, I will let the two mountains (two large mountains near Mecca) fall on them.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ‘No, rather I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone, without associating partners with him.’> [related by Al-Bukhari].
Prophet Muhammad's m...
