No Food, No Mercy to Prophet’s Family! - AI Visualized - O Messenger | Ep. 4
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Imagine a hunger where you and your relatives are trapped in a blockade, while people outside have no such struggle. Babies are crying from hunger, and mothers are in deep pain because they are unable to calm them down. They cannot find anything to feed themselves, nor anything to feed their children. Everywhere you look, people are exhausted. To survive, the only thing you have eaten for days is either tree leaves or a piece of animal skin you found on the ground. You cannot ease your own hunger, nor can you ease the hunger of others. Two unbearable burdens at the same time.
All this hardship and oppression happened in the seventh year of the Prophethood, in the valley known as She'b Abi Talib (Valley of Abu Talib) in Makkah. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources. All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. In those days, Makkah witnessed Muslims tormented by hunger. But how long would this last? Two days? Three days? A week? A month? None of these. It would go on for three long years. For years, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his companions endured hardships we could not bear for even a single day.
This period would later be known as the years of boycott. So, what happened? Just when everything seemed to be getting better, how did things reach this point? Let’s take a step back. It was the seventh year of Prophethood, and the idol worshipers of Makkah still couldn't find a way to stop the spread of Islam. Despite all the torture and pressure, the number of Muslims continued to grow. Every tactic they tried was failing. And on top of that, they couldn't bring back the Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia. And when Hamza and Umar embraced Islam, the Quraysh became even more anxious. They realized that at this rate, Islam would soon dominate Makkah.
To put an end to all this, the leaders of the Quraysh gathered and swore an oath. "Whether in secret or openly, we will definitely kill Muhammad." "He is right. We agree." All of this made Abu Talib increasingly worried. So he gathered the clans of Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib and told them to stand by the Prophet ﷺ and protect him from every danger. Some of the sons of Al-Muttalib had not yet accepted Islam, but as soon as they heard Abu Talib's call, they immediately came. Because back then, no matter what, even if people followed different religions, family ties were extremely strong. No one would allow an outsider to harm their relatives. That would bring shame on the entire tribe.
So, all of Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib gathered in She'b Abi Talib (Valley of Abu Talib) and took the Messenger of Allah ﷺ under their protection. Knowing that killing the Prophet (peace be upon him) within this valley would not be easy, the Quraysh gathered in Dar Al-Nadwa (House of Assembly) to come up with a plan. And the decision they reached showed once again that the enemies of Islam had no mercy left in their hearts. According to their agreement: "No one will marry the daughters of Banu Hashim or Banu Al-Muttalib. And no one will give their daughters in marriage to them. Nothing will be sold to them, and nothing will be bought from them.
No one would enter their homes, sit with them, meet with them, or even speak to them." Unless they handed the Prophet ﷺ over to be killed, no offer of peace would ever be accepted. And absolutely no mercy would be shown to them. The terms were written down. And to give the agreement a sacred status, it was hung inside the Kaaba. Young and old, men, women, and children, all of Banu Hashim were forced into a boycott in She'b Abi Talib. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Khadija, Abu Talib, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Hamza, Ali, every single member of Banu Hashim was completely cut off from society. All except one: Abu Lahab.
He was from Banu Hashim too, but he chose to separate himself from his own people. His heart had become so dark that he even wished for his relatives to die. He would stop the caravans coming into Makkah and cry out: "O merchants! Raise the prices for Muhammad's family so high that they cannot buy a single thing from you. You know that I am wealthy and a man of my word. If you do this, I guarantee no harm will come to you." He promised to cover all their losses. And so the merchants trusted him and raised their prices many times over. And in the end, the people of Banu Hashim would return to their children who were crying from hunger with nothing in their hands.
They had run out of everything they had. But even though food was being sold at double the price, they still had to buy it. And those who had the financial means didn't hold back from spending all their wealth. The Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Talib, and Khadija sacrificed everything they owned. Just think about it. Khadija had once been one of the wealthiest people in Makkah. Yet now, she was giving away all her money without the slightest hesitation. On one side, Khadija was spending her wealth to save people from hunger, while on the other, Abu Lahab was spending his to make them starve. From the outside, it looked the same. They were both spending.
But intention makes all the difference. With their spending, one was planting the trees of Tuba (a tree in Paradise) in her Paradise, while the other was planting the trees of Zaqqum (a tree in Hell) in his Hell. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was also a successful merchant. But he had given away all his wealth to free Muslim slaves who were being tortured. And throughout his life, he would sacrifice everything he had time and time again in the path of Allah. This was how they stood by the religion of Allah. Some with their lives, some with their money, some with their words, some with their youth, and some with their patience and struggle in the face of hardship.
In Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter of Repentance), Allah says: "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth in exchange for Paradise." Those were the people who were honored with that promise. During that time, Abu Talib was making extra efforts to protect his nephew from any possible danger. Every night, he would tell the Prophet (peace be upon him) to lie down in his bed where everyone could see him. But once everyone had fallen asleep, he would quietly take his nephew from there and bring him to his side without anyone noticing. And in the Prophet's place, he would have someone else lie down. In this way, he was trying to prevent any harm from reaching him.
Abu Talib was his uncle, and so was Abu Lahab. But while one was protecting him, the other wished for his death. One was working hard to keep his nephew safe, while the other was oppressing him. And this contrast would continue like that until the end. During the boycott, Banu Hashim gave up everything they owned. Yet even that wasn't enough to save them from hunger. But despite all the hardships, they never gave up. For all generations to come, they showed what it truly means to stay firm and steadfast when you dedicate yourself to a cause. In contrast, the behavior of the Quraysh was the exact opposite. They showed how far they could go in disbelief, in cruelty, and in mercilessness.
On one of those difficult days, a man managed to buy some flour with the little means he had and secretly brought it to the entrance of the valley. That man was Hakim ibn Hizam, the nephew of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). Disturbed by the cruel oppression of the Quraysh, he set out to give what little help he could. There were others like Hakim who were also troubled by this injustice, but most people did not dare to show such courage and help them because of the pressure of the idolaters. In fact, far from helping, anyone who entered the valley, even by mistake, was harshly scolded.
Hakim tried to slip in secretly, but Abu Jahl noticed him and refused to let him bring in the food. "Stop right there!" He even grabbed him by the collar. At that moment, one of the Quraysh leaders, Abu Al-Bakhtari, saw what was happening. He became furious at what Abu Jahl did. He said: "How can you stop him from bringing his aunt the food that belongs to her? Get out of his way and let him go where he has to go." When Abu Jahl persisted, he picked up a bone from the ground and struck Abu Jahl on the head, splitting it open. Then he knocked him down and kicked him again and again and walked away.
In this way, from time to time, both believers and non-believers would secretly deliver some food into She'b Abi Talib (Valley of Abu Talib). But it was never enough. The Mushrikun (polytheists) supposedly allowed them to buy and sell only during the pilgrimage season. Just for one month. I say supposedly, because even then, the Quraysh tried different ways to block Muslims from getting supplies. Merchants were either threatened not to sell them anything... "You won't sell them anything, okay?" ...or their entire stock would be bought up so that nothing would be left for the Muslims. Since no one traded with Banu Hashim, they had no source of income either.
They had already consumed everything they had. Now, the children had begun crying out from hunger. But those cruel oppressors, with their hearts darkened, shut their ears to these cries, and some even seemed to enjoy them. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas was one of the Muslims who lived through this hardship. One night, unable to sleep from hunger, he went outside. Later, he described what happened in these words: "I found a piece of camel skin among the thorns. I took it, dried it in the sun, and for days I survived on that piece of skin." Some tried to stay alive by eating animal skins, while others would eat tree leaves. Three long years of hunger and hardship passed in this way.
Yet, the situation could not be resolved. But there were still some people who had not lost their conscience. In fact, some of them were troubled from the very beginning. The one who wrote down the terms of the agreement was Mansur ibn Ikrimah. And it is said that from that day on, he could no longer use the hand he wrote with. When this happened, some people said: "Mansur was struck with calamity because we oppressed the sons of Hashim." But out of fear of the Quraysh, they remained silent. They were waiting for someone to take the first step. And that step was finally taken by five men. Abu Al-Bakhtari, Mut'im ibn 'Adi, Hisham ibn 'Amr, Zuhair ibn Abi Umayya, and Zam'a ibn Al-Aswad.
These men came together and made a plan. The next day, they would go to the Kaaba when it was crowded, and each of them would stand in a different corner, pretending not to be aware of each other. By making it look like different voices were calling for the same thing, they would finally call for this cruel treaty to be torn down. The next day, those five men went to the Kaaba and mingled with the crowd in different places. Zuhair was the first to speak. "O Quraysh! Is what we are doing acceptable for any human being? While we enjoy every blessing, does it not bother you that the sons of Hashim are left in misery? This treaty must be broken!" Then Zam'a ibn Al-Aswad spoke up.
"Zuhair is right. Even when that page was first written, we did not agree to it. Now it's time to put an end to this oppression!" One by one, each of them raised their voices against the injustice from where they stood. The crowd around them grew bigger, and the voices of objection grew louder. Abu Jahl tried to claim that it was all planned, but no one paid any attention to him. This event damaged the prestige of the treaty and became one of the turning points that led to the end of the boycott. But the real event that brought it to an end was this: By Allah's command, a small worm was sent to the page that was hung inside the Kaaba.
This tiny worm ate through the whole page except for the words "Bismikallahumma" (In your name, O Allah). Angel Jibreel informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) of this, and he immediately shared the good news with his uncle Abu Talib. And once Abu Talib heard it, he gathered the young men of Banu Hashim and went to meet the leaders of Quraysh. He then made this proposal to them: "According to what my nephew has told me, Allah has sent a worm upon the page you hung in the Kaaba. It has eaten everything except the name of Allah. It ate up all the words of oppression, breaking family ties, and slander. Now go and see it for yourselves.
If what my nephew says is true, then stop this injustice and cruelty now. But if he is lying, then I will hand him over to you myself. Whether you kill him or let him live, the choice is yours." Even though the Quraysh didn't believe him at first, they feared that his words might be true. Besides, Abu Talib had promised to hand him over if the news turned out to be false. So they hurried to the Kaaba. As always, its door was locked. They opened it, went inside, and looked at the page hanging on the wall. And saw that once again, Allah had not allowed His Messenger to be proven false. With their own eyes, they saw exactly what Abu Talib had described.
Yet even though they were astonished, they still refused to accept it as a miracle. Instead, they said: "This too is nothing but magic." After this incident, it was announced to the people that the treaty was canceled and the boycott was lifted. So, what happened after the boycott ended? During those three years, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) could only convey the message to travelers who came to visit Makkah. He couldn't spread Islam widely with his words. But through his patience and struggles, he planted seeds of faith in many hearts. Seeing his sincerity in his cause, many people came to him and openly declared their faith.
At this point, let's try to understand what the Quraysh might have been thinking as they witnessed all this. The Prophet (peace be upon him), once known as one of the most respected men of Makkah, was now being accused of being a liar and a magician. He refused all offers of wealth and status, and he endured severe persecution. Could anyone go through all this for the sake of a lie? Lies are always tied to some kind of personal gain. Yet in the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), there was nothing but hardship. While liars live in fear of being exposed and are constantly seeking comfort, this man was living a life of sacrifice and struggle.
If his goal had been worldly gain, he could have easily reached the highest status through other means. But his true purpose was only to spread the religion of Allah and to guide people to eternal happiness. On the other hand, let's look at it from Khadija's perspective. Why did she choose to go through all of this? Why did she spend all her wealth on this cause? If she hadn't seen the truth in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), would she accept all this so willingly? She was the closest person to him. She knew him better than anyone else. Every detail of his life. If, Ma'zallah (God forbid), he had been lying, wouldn't she be the first to realize it?
And if she had even the slightest doubt, would she have endured such hardships? And it was not only Khadija. Throughout his life, both his friends and enemies would watch his every word and action with careful eyes. Yet they would never find a single trace of falsehood. We are talking about a man who was observed so closely that even the number of sips he took to finish a glass of water was recorded. Just as it would be impossible for a villager to pretend to be a king for years without being exposed, it was equally impossible for anyone to pretend to be the Messenger of Allah. A man of the highest character and morals.
Through a lie, could anyone truly appear to be the most truthful, the most upright in character? Could such a role be carried on for 23 years without ever slipping, without ever being found out? Not even the slightest trace of a liar could be found in him. And that's why those who saw the truth accepted faith, while those who shut their eyes continued in their hostility. With the end of the boycott, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) could finally breathe a little easier. But another trial was about to begin. The Prophet's beloved uncle, Abu Talib, had fallen seriously ill. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard about his uncle's condition, he was deeply shaken.
Abu Talib had always supported him, never backing down in the face of Makkah's growing pressure and threats. But now, he was on the path of no return. And he still had not accepted Islam. This was heartbreaking for the Prophet (peace be upon him), because he knew that faith was the only key to eternal happiness. And so he stayed by his uncle's side at his deathbed, doing everything he could to bring him to Islam before it was too late. Meanwhile, the Mushrikun of Makkah also began to worry. Because if Abu Talib were to pass away, there would be no mediator left between them and Rasoolullah (peace be upon him). That's why they wanted this matter to be settled before his death.
They kept visiting Abu Talib, asking him to make his nephew give up his mission. After hearing their requests, one day Abu Talib called the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: "O son of my brother, your people have come to you. They want something from you, and they are ready to give you something." Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) replied: "Then, my uncle, what I ask of them, what I want them to accept is only a single word. And with that one word, they can rule over all the Arabs and non-Arabs." Everyone was filled with curiosity. What was that single word?
Abu Jahl stepped forward and said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Tell us what that word is, and for that one word, we will give you ten more." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared the word everyone was waiting for. "Say La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah) and throw away with your own hands the idols you worship besides Him." But even though they had just promised "for one word we will give you ten more," this single word was too heavy for them. They did not like what they heard at all. "O Muhammad! Do you want to turn all these gods into just one God? We are truly astonished by what you say." And so, unable to get what they wanted, they walked away.
After the Quraysh had left, Abu Talib said: "O son of my brother, by Allah, I do not see anything in what you asked of them that is against truth and justice." Hearing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) began to hope that his uncle might accept Islam. He said: "O my uncle, at least you, say La ilaha illallah, so that I may intercede for you in the hereafter." But sadly, his uncle did not give him the answer that would bring comfort to his heart.
Instead, he said: "O son of my brother, if it were not for my fear that after I am gone, people would insult you and our forefathers, and that Quraysh would think I only said the Shahada (testimony of faith) out of fear of death, I would have said what you ask of me." And so, standing right at the threshold of Islam, Abu Talib held back because of fear of people's reactions. And tragically, he did not accept faith. Still, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept saying to him: "O my uncle, say La ilaha illallah so that I can make shafa'ah (intercession) for you in the hereafter." But as he was trying to persuade him, Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Umayya were also there. "O Abu Talib!
Will you turn away from the religion of Abdul-Muttalib?" But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept calling him to say it again and again. And in the end, referring to himself, Abu Talib said: "He is upon the religion of Abdul-Muttalib." And then passed away. He was in his eighties. The Prophet (peace be upon him) felt a painful emptiness inside. Abu Talib's support had immeasurable value. From the age of eight, he had lived under his uncle's care. Despite all the pressure, Abu Talib had always stood by him, always showing him kindness and compassion. But his love and compassion were for Muhammad as his nephew, not as the Messenger of Allah.
And so, without uttering the testimony of faith, he passed away. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was now left with this heavy grief. He stayed in his home and did not go out for some time. Just three days after Abu Talib's death, our mother Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) also fell seriously ill. While the grief over his uncle was still fresh in the Prophet's ﷺ heart, he was now shaken by the illness of his beloved wife, his closest companion in life. The long years of boycott had left her very weak and exhausted. She was 65 years old. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was right there by her side, trying to ease her pain.
He was doing everything he could to bring her comfort, but day by day, her condition was growing worse. It was becoming clear where the illness was leading. These were the final days of his dearest companion, the one who had walked beside him for 25 years. Khadija lived the best days and the best years of her life with the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was a marriage without a single moment of regret. In the hardest times, she comforted and supported the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). In every joy and sorrow, he always found her right by his side. Khadija was his safe harbor, the one he always turned to.
On the night of the first revelation, he had said to her: "Cover me, cover me." And now, it was the Prophet's turn to cover her. The best of women, Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), passed away in the year 619, at the age of 65. Later, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) would say: "The best woman of her time was Maryam, the mother of Jesus, and the best woman of this time is Khadija." These losses were so heavy for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he himself named that year "The Year of Sorrow." It was as if both his wings had been broken. Without the support of Abu Talib, the Quraysh now found the chance to continue their insults and oppression more freely than ever.
As the persecution grew harsher day by day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) could no longer carry out his mission in Makkah. Despite Rasoolullah's 10 years of effort, the Quraysh showed no change. And as long as the Muslims remained a minority, their attitude didn't seem likely to change either. He was looking for a new way forward. A new land where Islam could spread more easily and reach many more people. That day had come.
The days that the Prophet (peace be upon him) described as "the hardest day of my life." In one Hadith, he said: "The people who are tested the most severely with trials are first the Prophets, then the next best, and the next best people according to their religious commitment." A person can imagine being caught in a heavy rainstorm. With rain pouring down like a flood. But no one can imagine being caught in a storm of stones. Being pelted with countless of them, each one painfully striking your body, with nowhere to take shelter. Isn't it terrifying even to imagine? So, this severe trial was about to happen to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself.
He was going to face an oppression unlike any other. All for the sake of his Ummah (nation). He would suffer pain like never before. He would be drenched in blood, and call that dark day "the hardest day of my life." This painful journey was the journey to Ta'if. Ten years had passed since the first revelation. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) had tried every possible way. Yet, the number of Muslims was only around 300. Some were in Makkah, some in Abyssinia, and a few were among other tribes. They were separated from one another. Under the hostility of Quraysh, it didn't seem possible for them to live together in peace. Compared to Makkah's population, they weren't even one-tenth.
And in the Arabian Peninsula, they were an even smaller minority. But the goal was never limited to that region. It was the entire world. Despite Rasoolullah's 10 years of effort, the Quraysh showed no change. And as long as the Muslims remained a minority, their attitude didn't seem likely to change either. He was looking for a new way forward. A new land where Islam could spread more easily and reach many more people. This new land had to be a place close to Makkah, and also strongly connected to Quraysh. This would make it much easier for them to accept Islam. And for this very reason, the Prophet (peace be upon him) chose Ta'if. A city about 120 kilometers away from Makkah.
It was famous for its vineyards and gardens. And it had strong trade relations with Quraysh. So if Ta'if were to accept Islam, spreading it in Makkah would become easier as well. With this hope, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took his adopted son Zayd with him and set out for Ta'if on foot. In Ta'if, three brothers were in positions of authority: Abd Yalil, Mas'ud, and Habib. Rasoolullah first wanted to meet with these three influential figures. So he went to see them. He declared to them that he was the Messenger of Allah. Then he invited them to Islam and asked for their support in spreading this religion. They were given a huge opportunity.
Because if they were to believe, many people in the region might follow them. After that, it might even become easier for Quraysh to accept Islam. They could serve as a key to open all the locked doors. But they dismissed this opportunity completely. And on top of that, they began to mock the Messenger of Allah arrogantly. They said things even worse than what Quraysh had said. "If Allah chose you to be a prophet, then I might as well tear down the curtains of the Kaaba." This was an extremely harsh statement. For the Arabs, it meant falling into the most disgraceful state imaginable.
"Couldn't Allah find anyone other than you to send as a prophet?" "By Allah, I will never speak to you, because if you really are a prophet sent by Allah as you claim, I wouldn't want to put myself in great danger by rejecting you. And if you are lying about Allah, claiming I am the Messenger of Allah, then I would have no reason to speak with you at all." Their hearts were darkened. And every word they spoke was hurting the heart of our Prophet (peace be upon him) deeply. He had stayed there for ten days, going from house to house, speaking with the leaders of Ta'if. He explained his mission, but the response was always the same.
And when the leaders refused to believe, their people also stayed away. They even came to a point where they could no longer stand the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). They were afraid that the youth might change their minds. So they said: "Get out of our land! And go wherever you go, and don't ever return. When your own people and tribe did not accept what you said, you came running to us. By Allah, we too will stay away from you as much as we can, and we will never accept what you ask of us." Could every action of a tribe be this hurtful? But this wasn't the worst cruelty they were going to show. They gathered thugs and children of all ages and lined them up along the road.
Their hands were full of stones. On that dark day, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) faced a scene he had never expected. And soon, they began stoning him mercilessly. Stones, spit, insults, and laughter. It was a terrifying moment. They were running after them, and they were constantly throwing stones. We don't know what kind of words Rasoolullah ﷺ heard that day, because they were too painful for him to ever speak of again. Zayd tried to shield the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his own body. But it was in vain. Stones were coming from every direction. He cried out: "O people of Ta'if!
Do you realize that the person you are stoning is a prophet?" He didn't care about the stones striking him, but the ones that hit the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were hurting him deeply. Both Rasoolullah and Zayd were drenched in blood. "O Messenger of Allah! Are you well?" After a while, the pain became so intense that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had to sit down. Just think about it. A 50-year-old man was going through this. He wasn't young. He had no strength left to walk. Yet the oppressors did not stop. They forced him to stand up again in that miserable state and once more pelted him with stones. They were laughing and really enjoying it. His legs were covered in blood.
Each stone was pain, and each step was another. Every time he fell, the people of Ta'if pulled him up only to throw more stones. The same thing happened over and over again. And this went on for two and a half kilometers. That means more than 3,000 steps. Can you imagine? Zayd's head was split open. Yet he kept thinking of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: "If only these stones had struck me instead." At last, at the end of the road, they came across a vineyard and quickly took shelter inside. Only in this way did they finally manage to escape. They were exhausted and completely covered in blood. Zayd ibn Harithah's heart was breaking every time he looked at Rasoolullah (peace be upon him).
And how could it not break? Your Prophet is right there drenched in blood, and you can do nothing. By the edge of the vineyard, they finally had a moment to breathe. They washed their wounds and cleaned themselves. Do you know what else Rasoolullah ﷺ did there? He knew that true comfort could only be found in the presence of his Lord. So he made wudu (ablution), prayed two rak'ahs, and raised his hands to the sky. He poured out all the pain and oppression he had suffered to his Lord. "O Allah, to You alone I present and complain of my weakness, my helplessness, and my humiliation in the eyes of people. O Allah, You are the Most Merciful of all those who have mercy.
You are the Lord of the oppressed. To whom are You handing me over? To a stranger who receives me with hostility, or to a close relative You have given power over me? Ya Allah! As long as You are not angry with me, I do not care. But Your protection is easier for me." Even in such a moment, he thought only of pleasing Allah, the Almighty. He did not rebel. Instead, he was looking for the fault in himself. This world was a place of trials. And in every hardship, he was seeking refuge only in his Master. He always fulfilled the duty of being Allah's servant at the highest level. In Surah Al-Baqarah, it is said: "O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer.
Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient." So that's what the Messenger of Allah did. He sought Allah's help through patience and prayer. For he knew that great help always comes as a result of patience. They had just finished the prayer when they noticed a man standing nearby. He had been sent by the owners of the vineyard where they had taken shelter. But who were the owners? Two brothers from Makkah, Utbah and Shaybah. They had seen what happened and felt sorry for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). So they sent their slave Addas with a plate of grapes. "Addas, take these grapes to them." Imagine Rasoolullah's ﷺ need for those grapes at that moment.
Yet even in that state, he did not forget one thing: the true Owner of the vineyard and the grapes. He said "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) and then began to eat them. Addas found this phrase very surprising. He said: "By Allah, the people of this land do not know or say such words." Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) noticed his curiosity and asked him his name.
Then he asked: "O Addas, where are you from?" "I am from Nineveh." Rasoolullah said: "So you are from the same city as Yunus ibn Matta (Jonah)." Addas became even more surprised and asked: "How do you know Yunus ibn Matta?" Seeing the sparkle in his eyes, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Yunus ibn Matta was a Prophet, and like all the other Prophets, he is my brother." What he saw and heard filled his heart with light. He became certain that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had come with the true religion.
He said: "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah (I bear witness there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)." At that very moment, the salvation of that one person made the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forget all the suffering he had faced. The attack on his honor, the insults he endured, the unparalleled torment along that long road... the testimony of just one man eased all his pain in an instant. Later, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) would say: "By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels." In other words, it was more valuable than the most precious wealth of that time.
Rasoolullah ﷺ and Zayd ibn Harithah headed back to Makkah. The Prophet was in deep thought. He knew very well that after returning to Makkah, things would not be easy. He was sure that when the Quraysh heard about what had happened in Ta'if, they would only increase their pressure. As he continued on his way with these thoughts, Jibreel (peace be upon him) appeared from the clouds and said: "Indeed, Allah has heard what your people said to you. He has sent you the Angel in charge of the Mountains.
You may command him to do whatever you wish about them." Then the Angel of the Mountains said that if the Messenger of Allah wished, he could crush the polytheists by bringing together the mountains of Abu Qubays and Quayqa'an. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "No, I don't want such a thing. The only thing I want is that Allah the Almighty bring forth from their descendants a generation who will worship Him alone without associating any partners with Him." Now, imagine being stoned for two and a half kilometers, unable to do anything. If what Jibreel said had been offered to us, how many of us wouldn't give in to anger and accept it?
But he was the Prophet of compassion and mercy. He put aside his own pain and the desire for revenge and instead thought of the possibility that the people of Ta'if might one day accept Islam. Even though that was not certain, just the hope of it was enough for him. And this verse beautifully describes that side of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds." And so, Allah would not leave his hope unanswered, and in time, the people of Ta'if would embrace Islam. It was the 27th night of Rajab, in the 11th year of Prophethood. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was at the house of his cousin Umm Hani.
After all the hardships he had gone through, he was trying to rest and regain his strength. The past 11 years had not been easy at all. Persecutions, insults, all kinds of torment, years of boycott, the Year of Sorrow, and Ta'if. His only support was Allah. And in that moment of loneliness, he felt this more deeply than ever. He was asleep, unaware of what was going to happen. Jibreel had already received the great command and was on his way to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). One of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind was about to take place. When his servant was in his darkest hour, Allah was going to grant him the greatest comfort.
Isn't that how His order always works? With every hardship comes ease. Suddenly, Jibreel (peace be upon him) appeared and woke the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). But this visit was unlike the others. Allah was inviting His most beloved servant to His presence. After all the hardships he had endured, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was now being called to a meeting that would bring peace to his heart and comfort to his soul. For the journey, Jibreel had brought a riding animal called Buraq. He then placed the Prophet on it. And the destination was Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, where hundreds of prophets had once lived. And that is how this unique journey began.
The distance between Masjid Al-Haram and Masjid Al-Aqsa was about 1,500 kilometers. In those days, such a journey would take nearly 30 days. But this was no ordinary journey. With Allah's permission, the Prophet (peace be upon him) reached there in just seconds. Since Allah is the One who owns time and space, He can bend them however He wills. The laws of nature apply to us, not to the One who created them and sustains them. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived at Masjid Al-Aqsa, he saw an incredible scene. All the Prophets who had ever lived throughout history were right there in front of him. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) stepped forward and led all the prophets in prayer.
Imagine, every prophet who had ever lived, and at the front, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prayed two rak'ahs in congregation. And so, he would take on the responsibility of all the Prophets' nations and become a guide for all of humanity until the Day of Judgment. From the moment Rasoolullah ﷺ was awakened by Jibreel up until this point is what we call Isra, the Night Journey. With that, Isra came to an end. And the next stage was about to begin. The Mi'raj. Jibreel then placed the Prophet (peace be upon him) upon a rock known as Hajar al-Mu'allaq. And from there, the ascent to the heavens began. The Messenger of Allah was going to pass through the seven heavens.
And in each one, he would witness different scenes, see the entire realm of creation, and observe the glorious manifestations of Allah's names. He would meet and talk with some of the prophets he called his brothers. Then, he would rise all the way to Sidrat al-Muntaha. And in the end, he would be granted an honor that no servant had ever received before. He would cross into another realm and meet with Allah Azza wa Jal Himself. As I was reading about Mi'raj in our sources, I thought to myself: What extraordinary events happened that night. But then another thought came. How difficult could any of this be in the face of Allah's power?
He built the sky and decorated it with countless stars, more than grains of sand. He sets the planets spinning at tremendous speeds. Yet, when He makes the Earth rotate, nothing upon it is scattered. He doesn't let it collide with any other heavenly body. He creates a star as easily as a flower. And He fashions a flower with as much artistry as a planet. Every spring, He brings the dead Earth back to life again and keeps millions of species alive in perfect order without confusion. And while doing all this, He doesn't forget even the smallest need of a tiny flea. He grants it its provision as well. Nothing He does prevents Him from doing anything else.
He fulfills the countless needs of countless beings all at once. So, what could possibly be difficult before such might? Could it be hard for Him to take the blessed body of His Messenger (peace be upon him) on such a journey? Never. Ma'zallah (God forbid). Finally, after Rasoolullah ﷺ had witnessed all that was shown to him, he returned. Once again, with Jibreel (peace be upon him) by his side, he descended from the heavens to Masjid Al-Haram, and from there, back to his bed. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) still could not find a new land for Islam. So, what would he do now? It was the 11th year of his Prophethood.
He did not give up conveying his message, while his enemies did not give up their stubbornness and pressure. And then, the Hajj season came. That year too, thousands of people came to Makkah from different parts of the Arabian Peninsula for pilgrimage. This might be an opportunity for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. One by one, he was going to meet the tribe leaders who came to Makkah and invite them to Islam. And Allah would not let the efforts of His Messenger go to waste. He would place six remarkable men before him. And what would these six men lead to? We will see when the time comes. But for now, we should know that even finding those six people would not be easy.
Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) was working tirelessly during the Hajj season, which would last for about a month. He was going into the tents of more than ten tribes, one after another, introducing himself and explaining his mission. He was looking for a tribe that would support the cause of Islam and offer a place for migration. At the same time, he did not stop calling people openly. He would say: "O people! Say La ilaha illallah and you will be saved!" Wherever he went, people who heard this voice would come to listen, and crowds would gather around him. Yet, not a single voice answered his call. Only one voice was heard. Someone who followed him like a shadow.
But his purpose was neither to support the Messenger of Allah ﷺ nor to seek the truth. He went from tent to tent shouting: "Muhammad has abandoned the religion of his forefathers! He is making up lies! Do not believe him!" This voice belonged to his uncle, Abu Lahab. By then, his life's purpose had become to deny the Prophet (peace be upon him) and fight against Islam. He had grown old and believed that after death, he would no longer exist. Yet he was so blinded by his hatred that he was spending his entire life on this path.
Seeing his dedication, one cannot help but ask: If he put in so much effort for a false cause, how much effort am I putting in for the religion of Allah, which is the ultimate truth? Some of the tribe leaders looked down on the Prophet (peace be upon him) and spoke against him. Some did not want to leave the path of their forefathers. And others were afraid of the possibility of turning other tribes against them. Every tent he entered gave him a negative response. Yet he never lost hope, and he moved on to the next tent. Of all the tribes, the most positive response came from the sons of Shayban ibn Tha'labah.
When Rasoolullah ﷺ recited verses of the Quran to them, one of their leaders was moved and said: "By Allah, O brother from Quraysh! You have invited me to the highest morals and the best of deeds. The people who called you a liar have slandered you and opposed you." Then another leader spoke: "O brother from Quraysh! I have listened to what you said and I confirmed them." These answers filled the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with great excitement. Had he finally found the new home for Islam? Would all the sufferings now be over? But then another tribe leader spoke.
"In my opinion, without carefully considering the consequences of what you are calling us to, for us to abandon our own religion and follow yours would be nothing but poor judgment and a mistake, foolishness, and in the end, shortsightedness." When he had said this, the opinions of the other leaders changed as well. The tribe of Shayban lost the opportunity to become the land where Islam could spread. What they didn't know was that this religion was not carried forward by those who weigh the costs and benefits, but by those who were willing to sacrifice. And from that day on, it would continue in this way.
Those who attained happiness both in this world and the next would be the ones who are ready to make sacrifices. Yet, he remained patient. And each time, he turned to a new tribe and went to share this message. Some people found what he said reasonable, but they would say: "We will come next year and give our pledge of loyalty to you then." They were postponing the most important matter of the universe. The very purpose for which they were sent to this world: believing in Allah and His Messenger. And as time passed, they would lose their initial awareness and interest and give up on pledging allegiance. Some of them did not even live to see the following year.
They paid a heavy price for their delay. For some, there was no return. As the days went by like this, the Hajj season was drawing to a close. But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) still could not find what he was hoping for. But every winter is followed by spring, and every night by morning. So one day, he came across six young men in a place called Aqaba. First, he asked who they were. The young men said: "We are from the tribe of Khazraj." This tribe was one of the two major tribes of Madinah, which at that time was known as Yathrib.
Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) asked: "Are you neighbors and allies of the Jews?" The young men replied: "Yes." Upon this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall we sit and talk with you for a while?" They agreed, and all sat down together. Rasoolullah recited verses from the Quran and invited them to believe in the oneness of Allah and to accept Islam. His message felt strangely familiar to the young men. They remembered their conflicts with the Jews in Yathrib. The Jews often spoke of the final Prophet to come, saying that they would follow him when he comes and in this way would dominate the Arabs. The six young men realized that the final Prophet was standing right before them.
They said among themselves: "By Allah, this must be the prophet the Jews have been telling us about. We mustn't let them believe in him before us." Immediately, in front of the Messenger of Allah, they took Shahada. As'ad ibn Zurara. Awf ibn Harith. Rafi' ibn Malik. Qutba ibn Amir. Uqba ibn Amir. Jabir ibn Abdullah. May Allah be pleased with them all. Out of dozens of tents and thousands of people, it was only these six young men. They became the first Muslims of Madinah. And just as in Makkah, in Madinah too, this cause would spread first at the hands of the youth. The young men asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for permission to return to Yathrib, to Madinah, and invite their people to Islam.
Before leaving, they made a promise to meet again a year later, and then set out for Yathrib. When they arrived back in their city, the believers were no longer just six individuals. They were six households. Because after hearing the message, their families embraced Islam too. They began to plant the seeds of faith in the hearts of others as well. And day by day, the number of believers grew. So much so that before the year was over, in many homes, people were talking about Islam. And now, the time for their meeting had arrived. The young men from Yathrib kept their word and returned to Makkah. But this time, they were twelve. But was this really all who had believed in an entire year?
No, there were others too. One night, they secretly gathered with Rasoolullah ﷺ in a narrow valley called Aqaba. It was the 12th year of Prophethood. At this historic meeting, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) took their pledge on six principles. "We won't associate anything with Allah. We won't steal. We won't commit adultery. We won't kill our children. We won't slander anyone. And we will obey the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in all good matters." After this pledge, they returned to Yathrib. But they needed someone. A teacher who would not only recite and explain the Quran to them but also teach them the manners and rulings of Islam.
Rasoolullah accepted their request and chose Mus'ab ibn Umair to be sent to Yathrib. Mus'ab was known for his intelligence, gentle manners, kind heart, and eloquent speech. He would carry out the mission of calling to Islam in an excellent way. When he arrived in Madinah, he stayed at the house of As'ad ibn Zurara, which soon became a center of Islam in the city. With his gentle words and eloquent speech, he would explain Islam to those who came to him and recite verses from the Quran. Many who listened were moved by this message and embraced Islam. But just as there were those who liked it, there were also those who did not.
One day, Mus'ab and As'ad were sitting by a well, explaining Islam to the crowd gathered around them. One of the tribe leaders was disturbed by the curiosity on the young men's faces. Aws was one of the two Arab tribes in Madinah, and the leader of one of his clans was Sa'd ibn Mu'adh. He and his close friend, Usayd ibn Hudayr, decided to take action. They were furious. Usayd took his spear, gripped it firmly, and went over to them. In a loud voice, he shouted: "Why have you come to us? You are deceiving and misleading some of the weak and simple-minded among us. If you don't want to get killed, leave here at once." But Mus'ab showed extraordinary calmness and dignity.
He said: "Hold on a moment. Just sit down and listen to us, understand our purpose. If you like it, you may accept it. If not, then you may stop us." Usayd was not expecting such a reply. He set aside his warrior manner and said: "Fair enough." Then he sat down. Mus'ab began to explain Islam and recited some verses from the Quran. That day, Usayd was fully convinced. So he took Shahada and became Muslim. Anyone who tastes the sweetness of faith would not want to keep it to himself. He would want to share it with others. So Usayd said: "Let me go and send someone to you.
If he too accepts faith, then there will be no one left in this land who does not believe." The Quran carried such a light that many who came in anger would leave with peace in their hearts. Usayd returned to Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, but he did not tell him that he had become Muslim. Because if he had said "I have believed," Sa'd might have become angry and reacted harshly. Instead, he told him to go and speak with them himself. And in this way, he sent Sa'd to Mus'ab. When Sa'd came to Mus'ab and As'ad, he shouted: "O As'ad!
If we didn't have family ties, I could never have tolerated the disgraceful things you've brought into our tribe." With the same calm manner, Mus'ab invited Sa'd to listen and try to understand his words. Sa'd agreed, sat down, and began to listen. Mus'ab explained what Islam was, spoke of the beauties of this religion brought by the Prophet (peace be upon him), and recited the opening verses of Surah Az-Zukhruf (The Ornaments of Gold). Sa'd too was deeply moved by the truths of the Quran. He had never heard such words before. He asked: "What should I do to enter this religion?" Mus'ab explained the principles and manners of Islam.
And right then and there, Sa'd, the leader of the Aws tribe, took Shahada and embraced Islam. After this, he went straight to his clan and gathered them together. He asked: "How do you know me?" "You are our leader, and the most honored among us." "Then believe in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. If you do not, I will never speak to you again." Upon these words, all of the Banu Abd al-Ashhal clan embraced Islam. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah. (I bear witness there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Except for one man who would later also accept Islam.
With these influential figures now becoming Muslim, the mission of Dawah (invitation to Islam) gained strength. In Yathrib, Islam was now being spoken of in many homes. At the end of that year, Mus'ab ibn Umair came to Makkah with 75 Muslims. Both to inform the Prophet (peace be upon him) of the developments in Madinah and to perform Hajj. To avoid drawing attention, Mus'ab ibn Umair first went alone to meet the Prophet (peace be upon him) and told him how Islam was spreading in Yathrib. Then they agreed to meet at night in Aqaba. But Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) gave him one instruction. If anyone was asleep at the appointed time, they should not be woken up.
And if anyone was late, no one should wait for them. Because if a person could not sacrifice even a single night's sleep, they could not be part of that gathering. So, was there anyone who fell asleep or came late? No. All 75 were there, right on time, without exception. And Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) came with his uncle Abbas. He had not yet embraced Islam, but he did not want to send his nephew alone. Abbas addressed the people of Madinah and said: "You have believed in him and accepted what he has brought. I think you know that you are taking on a heavy burden. One that is both difficult and carries great responsibility. So, will you be able to protect him from his enemies?
Do you have the strength to stand firm against all the Arabs who will come at you like arrows shot from a single bow? If you find that strength within yourselves, then I have nothing more to say. But if, after taking him away from here, you would abandon him when hardship comes, then turn back from this pledge right now. Let him remain in his homeland, living among us." The leader of the Muslims from Madinah, As'ad ibn Zurara, declared their loyalty to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He said that even though the religion they were invited to was difficult, they had accepted it and would protect the Messenger of Allah ﷺ no matter what.
Then he continued: "O Messenger of Allah, take from us whatever pledge you wish for yourself, and set whatever condition you wish for your Lord." Upon this, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) recited some verses and then said: "My condition regarding Allah the Almighty is this: You worship Him without associating any partners with Him, establish the prayer, and give Zakat (alms giving). And what I ask for myself is that you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah, and that you protect me as you protect yourselves, your children, and your women." At that moment, Abdullah ibn Rawaha asked: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!
If we do these things as you have said, what is there for us?" Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) replied: "Paradise." An eternal Paradise in exchange for spending 60 or 70 years of life within the bounds of Islam. That would be the greatest and most profitable trade one could ever make. Their hearts were filled with joy and courage. They said: "Then this is indeed the best and most profitable trade." And for the rest of their lives, they remained faithful to their word. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ could see the gates of a city opening, where he would be able to spread Islam more freely. This was the beginning of an epic journey.
All that remained was to wait for the divine permission to leave Makkah. And that permission would soon come. And the blessed journey that marked a turning point in Islamic history would begin. The hardships that would be faced along the way, the struggles fought with courage, and the trials endured with deep faith and trust in Allah. We will witness a journey in which every step holds invaluable lessons. All of this will be in the next episode. Stay tuned.
All this hardship and oppression happened in the seventh year of the Prophethood, in the valley known as She'b Abi Talib (Valley of Abu Talib) in Makkah. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources. All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. In those days, Makkah witnessed Muslims tormented by hunger. But how long would this last? Two days? Three days? A week? A month? None of these. It would go on for three long years. For years, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his companions endured hardships we could not bear for even a single day.
This period would later be known as the years of boycott. So, what happened? Just when everything seemed to be getting better, how did things reach this point? Let’s take a step back. It was the seventh year of Prophethood, and the idol worshipers of Makkah still couldn't find a way to stop the spread of Islam. Despite all the torture and pressure, the number of Muslims continued to grow. Every tactic they tried was failing. And on top of that, they couldn't bring back the Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia. And when Hamza and Umar embraced Islam, the Quraysh became even more anxious. They realized that at this rate, Islam would soon dominate Makkah.
To put an end to all this, the leaders of the Quraysh gathered and swore an oath. "Whether in secret or openly, we will definitely kill Muhammad." "He is right. We agree." All of this made Abu Talib increasingly worried. So he gathered the clans of Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib and told them to stand by the Prophet ﷺ and protect him from every danger. Some of the sons of Al-Muttalib had not yet accepted Islam, but as soon as they heard Abu Talib's call, they immediately came. Because back then, no matter what, even if people followed different religions, family ties were extremely strong. No one would allow an outsider to harm their relatives. That would bring shame on the entire tribe.
So, all of Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib gathered in She'b Abi Talib (Valley of Abu Talib) and took the Messenger of Allah ﷺ under their protection. Knowing that killing the Prophet (peace be upon him) within this valley would not be easy, the Quraysh gathered in Dar Al-Nadwa (House of Assembly) to come up with a plan. And the decision they reached showed once again that the enemies of Islam had no mercy left in their hearts. According to their agreement: "No one will marry the daughters of Banu Hashim or Banu Al-Muttalib. And no one will give their daughters in marriage to them. Nothing will be sold to them, and nothing will be bought from them.
No one would enter their homes, sit with them, meet with them, or even speak to them." Unless they handed the Prophet ﷺ over to be killed, no offer of peace would ever be accepted. And absolutely no mercy would be shown to them. The terms were written down. And to give the agreement a sacred status, it was hung inside the Kaaba. Young and old, men, women, and children, all of Banu Hashim were forced into a boycott in She'b Abi Talib. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Khadija, Abu Talib, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Hamza, Ali, every single member of Banu Hashim was completely cut off from society. All except one: Abu Lahab.
He was from Banu Hashim too, but he chose to separate himself from his own people. His heart had become so dark that he even wished for his relatives to die. He would stop the caravans coming into Makkah and cry out: "O merchants! Raise the prices for Muhammad's family so high that they cannot buy a single thing from you. You know that I am wealthy and a man of my word. If you do this, I guarantee no harm will come to you." He promised to cover all their losses. And so the merchants trusted him and raised their prices many times over. And in the end, the people of Banu Hashim would return to their children who were crying from hunger with nothing in their hands.
They had run out of everything they had. But even though food was being sold at double the price, they still had to buy it. And those who had the financial means didn't hold back from spending all their wealth. The Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Talib, and Khadija sacrificed everything they owned. Just think about it. Khadija had once been one of the wealthiest people in Makkah. Yet now, she was giving away all her money without the slightest hesitation. On one side, Khadija was spending her wealth to save people from hunger, while on the other, Abu Lahab was spending his to make them starve. From the outside, it looked the same. They were both spending.
But intention makes all the difference. With their spending, one was planting the trees of Tuba (a tree in Paradise) in her Paradise, while the other was planting the trees of Zaqqum (a tree in Hell) in his Hell. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was also a successful merchant. But he had given away all his wealth to free Muslim slaves who were being tortured. And throughout his life, he would sacrifice everything he had time and time again in the path of Allah. This was how they stood by the religion of Allah. Some with their lives, some with their money, some with their words, some with their youth, and some with their patience and struggle in the face of hardship.
In Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter of Repentance), Allah says: "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth in exchange for Paradise." Those were the people who were honored with that promise. During that time, Abu Talib was making extra efforts to protect his nephew from any possible danger. Every night, he would tell the Prophet (peace be upon him) to lie down in his bed where everyone could see him. But once everyone had fallen asleep, he would quietly take his nephew from there and bring him to his side without anyone noticing. And in the Prophet's place, he would have someone else lie down. In this way, he was trying to prevent any harm from reaching him.
Abu Talib was his uncle, and so was Abu Lahab. But while one was protecting him, the other wished for his death. One was working hard to keep his nephew safe, while the other was oppressing him. And this contrast would continue like that until the end. During the boycott, Banu Hashim gave up everything they owned. Yet even that wasn't enough to save them from hunger. But despite all the hardships, they never gave up. For all generations to come, they showed what it truly means to stay firm and steadfast when you dedicate yourself to a cause. In contrast, the behavior of the Quraysh was the exact opposite. They showed how far they could go in disbelief, in cruelty, and in mercilessness.
On one of those difficult days, a man managed to buy some flour with the little means he had and secretly brought it to the entrance of the valley. That man was Hakim ibn Hizam, the nephew of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). Disturbed by the cruel oppression of the Quraysh, he set out to give what little help he could. There were others like Hakim who were also troubled by this injustice, but most people did not dare to show such courage and help them because of the pressure of the idolaters. In fact, far from helping, anyone who entered the valley, even by mistake, was harshly scolded.
Hakim tried to slip in secretly, but Abu Jahl noticed him and refused to let him bring in the food. "Stop right there!" He even grabbed him by the collar. At that moment, one of the Quraysh leaders, Abu Al-Bakhtari, saw what was happening. He became furious at what Abu Jahl did. He said: "How can you stop him from bringing his aunt the food that belongs to her? Get out of his way and let him go where he has to go." When Abu Jahl persisted, he picked up a bone from the ground and struck Abu Jahl on the head, splitting it open. Then he knocked him down and kicked him again and again and walked away.
In this way, from time to time, both believers and non-believers would secretly deliver some food into She'b Abi Talib (Valley of Abu Talib). But it was never enough. The Mushrikun (polytheists) supposedly allowed them to buy and sell only during the pilgrimage season. Just for one month. I say supposedly, because even then, the Quraysh tried different ways to block Muslims from getting supplies. Merchants were either threatened not to sell them anything... "You won't sell them anything, okay?" ...or their entire stock would be bought up so that nothing would be left for the Muslims. Since no one traded with Banu Hashim, they had no source of income either.
They had already consumed everything they had. Now, the children had begun crying out from hunger. But those cruel oppressors, with their hearts darkened, shut their ears to these cries, and some even seemed to enjoy them. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas was one of the Muslims who lived through this hardship. One night, unable to sleep from hunger, he went outside. Later, he described what happened in these words: "I found a piece of camel skin among the thorns. I took it, dried it in the sun, and for days I survived on that piece of skin." Some tried to stay alive by eating animal skins, while others would eat tree leaves. Three long years of hunger and hardship passed in this way.
Yet, the situation could not be resolved. But there were still some people who had not lost their conscience. In fact, some of them were troubled from the very beginning. The one who wrote down the terms of the agreement was Mansur ibn Ikrimah. And it is said that from that day on, he could no longer use the hand he wrote with. When this happened, some people said: "Mansur was struck with calamity because we oppressed the sons of Hashim." But out of fear of the Quraysh, they remained silent. They were waiting for someone to take the first step. And that step was finally taken by five men. Abu Al-Bakhtari, Mut'im ibn 'Adi, Hisham ibn 'Amr, Zuhair ibn Abi Umayya, and Zam'a ibn Al-Aswad.
These men came together and made a plan. The next day, they would go to the Kaaba when it was crowded, and each of them would stand in a different corner, pretending not to be aware of each other. By making it look like different voices were calling for the same thing, they would finally call for this cruel treaty to be torn down. The next day, those five men went to the Kaaba and mingled with the crowd in different places. Zuhair was the first to speak. "O Quraysh! Is what we are doing acceptable for any human being? While we enjoy every blessing, does it not bother you that the sons of Hashim are left in misery? This treaty must be broken!" Then Zam'a ibn Al-Aswad spoke up.
"Zuhair is right. Even when that page was first written, we did not agree to it. Now it's time to put an end to this oppression!" One by one, each of them raised their voices against the injustice from where they stood. The crowd around them grew bigger, and the voices of objection grew louder. Abu Jahl tried to claim that it was all planned, but no one paid any attention to him. This event damaged the prestige of the treaty and became one of the turning points that led to the end of the boycott. But the real event that brought it to an end was this: By Allah's command, a small worm was sent to the page that was hung inside the Kaaba.
This tiny worm ate through the whole page except for the words "Bismikallahumma" (In your name, O Allah). Angel Jibreel informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) of this, and he immediately shared the good news with his uncle Abu Talib. And once Abu Talib heard it, he gathered the young men of Banu Hashim and went to meet the leaders of Quraysh. He then made this proposal to them: "According to what my nephew has told me, Allah has sent a worm upon the page you hung in the Kaaba. It has eaten everything except the name of Allah. It ate up all the words of oppression, breaking family ties, and slander. Now go and see it for yourselves.
If what my nephew says is true, then stop this injustice and cruelty now. But if he is lying, then I will hand him over to you myself. Whether you kill him or let him live, the choice is yours." Even though the Quraysh didn't believe him at first, they feared that his words might be true. Besides, Abu Talib had promised to hand him over if the news turned out to be false. So they hurried to the Kaaba. As always, its door was locked. They opened it, went inside, and looked at the page hanging on the wall. And saw that once again, Allah had not allowed His Messenger to be proven false. With their own eyes, they saw exactly what Abu Talib had described.
Yet even though they were astonished, they still refused to accept it as a miracle. Instead, they said: "This too is nothing but magic." After this incident, it was announced to the people that the treaty was canceled and the boycott was lifted. So, what happened after the boycott ended? During those three years, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) could only convey the message to travelers who came to visit Makkah. He couldn't spread Islam widely with his words. But through his patience and struggles, he planted seeds of faith in many hearts. Seeing his sincerity in his cause, many people came to him and openly declared their faith.
At this point, let's try to understand what the Quraysh might have been thinking as they witnessed all this. The Prophet (peace be upon him), once known as one of the most respected men of Makkah, was now being accused of being a liar and a magician. He refused all offers of wealth and status, and he endured severe persecution. Could anyone go through all this for the sake of a lie? Lies are always tied to some kind of personal gain. Yet in the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), there was nothing but hardship. While liars live in fear of being exposed and are constantly seeking comfort, this man was living a life of sacrifice and struggle.
If his goal had been worldly gain, he could have easily reached the highest status through other means. But his true purpose was only to spread the religion of Allah and to guide people to eternal happiness. On the other hand, let's look at it from Khadija's perspective. Why did she choose to go through all of this? Why did she spend all her wealth on this cause? If she hadn't seen the truth in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), would she accept all this so willingly? She was the closest person to him. She knew him better than anyone else. Every detail of his life. If, Ma'zallah (God forbid), he had been lying, wouldn't she be the first to realize it?
And if she had even the slightest doubt, would she have endured such hardships? And it was not only Khadija. Throughout his life, both his friends and enemies would watch his every word and action with careful eyes. Yet they would never find a single trace of falsehood. We are talking about a man who was observed so closely that even the number of sips he took to finish a glass of water was recorded. Just as it would be impossible for a villager to pretend to be a king for years without being exposed, it was equally impossible for anyone to pretend to be the Messenger of Allah. A man of the highest character and morals.
Through a lie, could anyone truly appear to be the most truthful, the most upright in character? Could such a role be carried on for 23 years without ever slipping, without ever being found out? Not even the slightest trace of a liar could be found in him. And that's why those who saw the truth accepted faith, while those who shut their eyes continued in their hostility. With the end of the boycott, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) could finally breathe a little easier. But another trial was about to begin. The Prophet's beloved uncle, Abu Talib, had fallen seriously ill. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard about his uncle's condition, he was deeply shaken.
Abu Talib had always supported him, never backing down in the face of Makkah's growing pressure and threats. But now, he was on the path of no return. And he still had not accepted Islam. This was heartbreaking for the Prophet (peace be upon him), because he knew that faith was the only key to eternal happiness. And so he stayed by his uncle's side at his deathbed, doing everything he could to bring him to Islam before it was too late. Meanwhile, the Mushrikun of Makkah also began to worry. Because if Abu Talib were to pass away, there would be no mediator left between them and Rasoolullah (peace be upon him). That's why they wanted this matter to be settled before his death.
They kept visiting Abu Talib, asking him to make his nephew give up his mission. After hearing their requests, one day Abu Talib called the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: "O son of my brother, your people have come to you. They want something from you, and they are ready to give you something." Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) replied: "Then, my uncle, what I ask of them, what I want them to accept is only a single word. And with that one word, they can rule over all the Arabs and non-Arabs." Everyone was filled with curiosity. What was that single word?
Abu Jahl stepped forward and said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Tell us what that word is, and for that one word, we will give you ten more." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared the word everyone was waiting for. "Say La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah) and throw away with your own hands the idols you worship besides Him." But even though they had just promised "for one word we will give you ten more," this single word was too heavy for them. They did not like what they heard at all. "O Muhammad! Do you want to turn all these gods into just one God? We are truly astonished by what you say." And so, unable to get what they wanted, they walked away.
After the Quraysh had left, Abu Talib said: "O son of my brother, by Allah, I do not see anything in what you asked of them that is against truth and justice." Hearing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) began to hope that his uncle might accept Islam. He said: "O my uncle, at least you, say La ilaha illallah, so that I may intercede for you in the hereafter." But sadly, his uncle did not give him the answer that would bring comfort to his heart.
Instead, he said: "O son of my brother, if it were not for my fear that after I am gone, people would insult you and our forefathers, and that Quraysh would think I only said the Shahada (testimony of faith) out of fear of death, I would have said what you ask of me." And so, standing right at the threshold of Islam, Abu Talib held back because of fear of people's reactions. And tragically, he did not accept faith. Still, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept saying to him: "O my uncle, say La ilaha illallah so that I can make shafa'ah (intercession) for you in the hereafter." But as he was trying to persuade him, Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Umayya were also there. "O Abu Talib!
Will you turn away from the religion of Abdul-Muttalib?" But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept calling him to say it again and again. And in the end, referring to himself, Abu Talib said: "He is upon the religion of Abdul-Muttalib." And then passed away. He was in his eighties. The Prophet (peace be upon him) felt a painful emptiness inside. Abu Talib's support had immeasurable value. From the age of eight, he had lived under his uncle's care. Despite all the pressure, Abu Talib had always stood by him, always showing him kindness and compassion. But his love and compassion were for Muhammad as his nephew, not as the Messenger of Allah.
And so, without uttering the testimony of faith, he passed away. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was now left with this heavy grief. He stayed in his home and did not go out for some time. Just three days after Abu Talib's death, our mother Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) also fell seriously ill. While the grief over his uncle was still fresh in the Prophet's ﷺ heart, he was now shaken by the illness of his beloved wife, his closest companion in life. The long years of boycott had left her very weak and exhausted. She was 65 years old. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was right there by her side, trying to ease her pain.
He was doing everything he could to bring her comfort, but day by day, her condition was growing worse. It was becoming clear where the illness was leading. These were the final days of his dearest companion, the one who had walked beside him for 25 years. Khadija lived the best days and the best years of her life with the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was a marriage without a single moment of regret. In the hardest times, she comforted and supported the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). In every joy and sorrow, he always found her right by his side. Khadija was his safe harbor, the one he always turned to.
On the night of the first revelation, he had said to her: "Cover me, cover me." And now, it was the Prophet's turn to cover her. The best of women, Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), passed away in the year 619, at the age of 65. Later, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) would say: "The best woman of her time was Maryam, the mother of Jesus, and the best woman of this time is Khadija." These losses were so heavy for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he himself named that year "The Year of Sorrow." It was as if both his wings had been broken. Without the support of Abu Talib, the Quraysh now found the chance to continue their insults and oppression more freely than ever.
As the persecution grew harsher day by day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) could no longer carry out his mission in Makkah. Despite Rasoolullah's 10 years of effort, the Quraysh showed no change. And as long as the Muslims remained a minority, their attitude didn't seem likely to change either. He was looking for a new way forward. A new land where Islam could spread more easily and reach many more people. That day had come.
The days that the Prophet (peace be upon him) described as "the hardest day of my life." In one Hadith, he said: "The people who are tested the most severely with trials are first the Prophets, then the next best, and the next best people according to their religious commitment." A person can imagine being caught in a heavy rainstorm. With rain pouring down like a flood. But no one can imagine being caught in a storm of stones. Being pelted with countless of them, each one painfully striking your body, with nowhere to take shelter. Isn't it terrifying even to imagine? So, this severe trial was about to happen to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself.
He was going to face an oppression unlike any other. All for the sake of his Ummah (nation). He would suffer pain like never before. He would be drenched in blood, and call that dark day "the hardest day of my life." This painful journey was the journey to Ta'if. Ten years had passed since the first revelation. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) had tried every possible way. Yet, the number of Muslims was only around 300. Some were in Makkah, some in Abyssinia, and a few were among other tribes. They were separated from one another. Under the hostility of Quraysh, it didn't seem possible for them to live together in peace. Compared to Makkah's population, they weren't even one-tenth.
And in the Arabian Peninsula, they were an even smaller minority. But the goal was never limited to that region. It was the entire world. Despite Rasoolullah's 10 years of effort, the Quraysh showed no change. And as long as the Muslims remained a minority, their attitude didn't seem likely to change either. He was looking for a new way forward. A new land where Islam could spread more easily and reach many more people. This new land had to be a place close to Makkah, and also strongly connected to Quraysh. This would make it much easier for them to accept Islam. And for this very reason, the Prophet (peace be upon him) chose Ta'if. A city about 120 kilometers away from Makkah.
It was famous for its vineyards and gardens. And it had strong trade relations with Quraysh. So if Ta'if were to accept Islam, spreading it in Makkah would become easier as well. With this hope, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took his adopted son Zayd with him and set out for Ta'if on foot. In Ta'if, three brothers were in positions of authority: Abd Yalil, Mas'ud, and Habib. Rasoolullah first wanted to meet with these three influential figures. So he went to see them. He declared to them that he was the Messenger of Allah. Then he invited them to Islam and asked for their support in spreading this religion. They were given a huge opportunity.
Because if they were to believe, many people in the region might follow them. After that, it might even become easier for Quraysh to accept Islam. They could serve as a key to open all the locked doors. But they dismissed this opportunity completely. And on top of that, they began to mock the Messenger of Allah arrogantly. They said things even worse than what Quraysh had said. "If Allah chose you to be a prophet, then I might as well tear down the curtains of the Kaaba." This was an extremely harsh statement. For the Arabs, it meant falling into the most disgraceful state imaginable.
"Couldn't Allah find anyone other than you to send as a prophet?" "By Allah, I will never speak to you, because if you really are a prophet sent by Allah as you claim, I wouldn't want to put myself in great danger by rejecting you. And if you are lying about Allah, claiming I am the Messenger of Allah, then I would have no reason to speak with you at all." Their hearts were darkened. And every word they spoke was hurting the heart of our Prophet (peace be upon him) deeply. He had stayed there for ten days, going from house to house, speaking with the leaders of Ta'if. He explained his mission, but the response was always the same.
And when the leaders refused to believe, their people also stayed away. They even came to a point where they could no longer stand the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). They were afraid that the youth might change their minds. So they said: "Get out of our land! And go wherever you go, and don't ever return. When your own people and tribe did not accept what you said, you came running to us. By Allah, we too will stay away from you as much as we can, and we will never accept what you ask of us." Could every action of a tribe be this hurtful? But this wasn't the worst cruelty they were going to show. They gathered thugs and children of all ages and lined them up along the road.
Their hands were full of stones. On that dark day, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) faced a scene he had never expected. And soon, they began stoning him mercilessly. Stones, spit, insults, and laughter. It was a terrifying moment. They were running after them, and they were constantly throwing stones. We don't know what kind of words Rasoolullah ﷺ heard that day, because they were too painful for him to ever speak of again. Zayd tried to shield the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his own body. But it was in vain. Stones were coming from every direction. He cried out: "O people of Ta'if!
Do you realize that the person you are stoning is a prophet?" He didn't care about the stones striking him, but the ones that hit the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were hurting him deeply. Both Rasoolullah and Zayd were drenched in blood. "O Messenger of Allah! Are you well?" After a while, the pain became so intense that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had to sit down. Just think about it. A 50-year-old man was going through this. He wasn't young. He had no strength left to walk. Yet the oppressors did not stop. They forced him to stand up again in that miserable state and once more pelted him with stones. They were laughing and really enjoying it. His legs were covered in blood.
Each stone was pain, and each step was another. Every time he fell, the people of Ta'if pulled him up only to throw more stones. The same thing happened over and over again. And this went on for two and a half kilometers. That means more than 3,000 steps. Can you imagine? Zayd's head was split open. Yet he kept thinking of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: "If only these stones had struck me instead." At last, at the end of the road, they came across a vineyard and quickly took shelter inside. Only in this way did they finally manage to escape. They were exhausted and completely covered in blood. Zayd ibn Harithah's heart was breaking every time he looked at Rasoolullah (peace be upon him).
And how could it not break? Your Prophet is right there drenched in blood, and you can do nothing. By the edge of the vineyard, they finally had a moment to breathe. They washed their wounds and cleaned themselves. Do you know what else Rasoolullah ﷺ did there? He knew that true comfort could only be found in the presence of his Lord. So he made wudu (ablution), prayed two rak'ahs, and raised his hands to the sky. He poured out all the pain and oppression he had suffered to his Lord. "O Allah, to You alone I present and complain of my weakness, my helplessness, and my humiliation in the eyes of people. O Allah, You are the Most Merciful of all those who have mercy.
You are the Lord of the oppressed. To whom are You handing me over? To a stranger who receives me with hostility, or to a close relative You have given power over me? Ya Allah! As long as You are not angry with me, I do not care. But Your protection is easier for me." Even in such a moment, he thought only of pleasing Allah, the Almighty. He did not rebel. Instead, he was looking for the fault in himself. This world was a place of trials. And in every hardship, he was seeking refuge only in his Master. He always fulfilled the duty of being Allah's servant at the highest level. In Surah Al-Baqarah, it is said: "O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer.
Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient." So that's what the Messenger of Allah did. He sought Allah's help through patience and prayer. For he knew that great help always comes as a result of patience. They had just finished the prayer when they noticed a man standing nearby. He had been sent by the owners of the vineyard where they had taken shelter. But who were the owners? Two brothers from Makkah, Utbah and Shaybah. They had seen what happened and felt sorry for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). So they sent their slave Addas with a plate of grapes. "Addas, take these grapes to them." Imagine Rasoolullah's ﷺ need for those grapes at that moment.
Yet even in that state, he did not forget one thing: the true Owner of the vineyard and the grapes. He said "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) and then began to eat them. Addas found this phrase very surprising. He said: "By Allah, the people of this land do not know or say such words." Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) noticed his curiosity and asked him his name.
Then he asked: "O Addas, where are you from?" "I am from Nineveh." Rasoolullah said: "So you are from the same city as Yunus ibn Matta (Jonah)." Addas became even more surprised and asked: "How do you know Yunus ibn Matta?" Seeing the sparkle in his eyes, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Yunus ibn Matta was a Prophet, and like all the other Prophets, he is my brother." What he saw and heard filled his heart with light. He became certain that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had come with the true religion.
He said: "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah (I bear witness there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)." At that very moment, the salvation of that one person made the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forget all the suffering he had faced. The attack on his honor, the insults he endured, the unparalleled torment along that long road... the testimony of just one man eased all his pain in an instant. Later, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) would say: "By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels." In other words, it was more valuable than the most precious wealth of that time.
Rasoolullah ﷺ and Zayd ibn Harithah headed back to Makkah. The Prophet was in deep thought. He knew very well that after returning to Makkah, things would not be easy. He was sure that when the Quraysh heard about what had happened in Ta'if, they would only increase their pressure. As he continued on his way with these thoughts, Jibreel (peace be upon him) appeared from the clouds and said: "Indeed, Allah has heard what your people said to you. He has sent you the Angel in charge of the Mountains.
You may command him to do whatever you wish about them." Then the Angel of the Mountains said that if the Messenger of Allah wished, he could crush the polytheists by bringing together the mountains of Abu Qubays and Quayqa'an. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "No, I don't want such a thing. The only thing I want is that Allah the Almighty bring forth from their descendants a generation who will worship Him alone without associating any partners with Him." Now, imagine being stoned for two and a half kilometers, unable to do anything. If what Jibreel said had been offered to us, how many of us wouldn't give in to anger and accept it?
But he was the Prophet of compassion and mercy. He put aside his own pain and the desire for revenge and instead thought of the possibility that the people of Ta'if might one day accept Islam. Even though that was not certain, just the hope of it was enough for him. And this verse beautifully describes that side of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds." And so, Allah would not leave his hope unanswered, and in time, the people of Ta'if would embrace Islam. It was the 27th night of Rajab, in the 11th year of Prophethood. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was at the house of his cousin Umm Hani.
After all the hardships he had gone through, he was trying to rest and regain his strength. The past 11 years had not been easy at all. Persecutions, insults, all kinds of torment, years of boycott, the Year of Sorrow, and Ta'if. His only support was Allah. And in that moment of loneliness, he felt this more deeply than ever. He was asleep, unaware of what was going to happen. Jibreel had already received the great command and was on his way to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). One of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind was about to take place. When his servant was in his darkest hour, Allah was going to grant him the greatest comfort.
Isn't that how His order always works? With every hardship comes ease. Suddenly, Jibreel (peace be upon him) appeared and woke the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). But this visit was unlike the others. Allah was inviting His most beloved servant to His presence. After all the hardships he had endured, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was now being called to a meeting that would bring peace to his heart and comfort to his soul. For the journey, Jibreel had brought a riding animal called Buraq. He then placed the Prophet on it. And the destination was Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, where hundreds of prophets had once lived. And that is how this unique journey began.
The distance between Masjid Al-Haram and Masjid Al-Aqsa was about 1,500 kilometers. In those days, such a journey would take nearly 30 days. But this was no ordinary journey. With Allah's permission, the Prophet (peace be upon him) reached there in just seconds. Since Allah is the One who owns time and space, He can bend them however He wills. The laws of nature apply to us, not to the One who created them and sustains them. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived at Masjid Al-Aqsa, he saw an incredible scene. All the Prophets who had ever lived throughout history were right there in front of him. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) stepped forward and led all the prophets in prayer.
Imagine, every prophet who had ever lived, and at the front, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prayed two rak'ahs in congregation. And so, he would take on the responsibility of all the Prophets' nations and become a guide for all of humanity until the Day of Judgment. From the moment Rasoolullah ﷺ was awakened by Jibreel up until this point is what we call Isra, the Night Journey. With that, Isra came to an end. And the next stage was about to begin. The Mi'raj. Jibreel then placed the Prophet (peace be upon him) upon a rock known as Hajar al-Mu'allaq. And from there, the ascent to the heavens began. The Messenger of Allah was going to pass through the seven heavens.
And in each one, he would witness different scenes, see the entire realm of creation, and observe the glorious manifestations of Allah's names. He would meet and talk with some of the prophets he called his brothers. Then, he would rise all the way to Sidrat al-Muntaha. And in the end, he would be granted an honor that no servant had ever received before. He would cross into another realm and meet with Allah Azza wa Jal Himself. As I was reading about Mi'raj in our sources, I thought to myself: What extraordinary events happened that night. But then another thought came. How difficult could any of this be in the face of Allah's power?
He built the sky and decorated it with countless stars, more than grains of sand. He sets the planets spinning at tremendous speeds. Yet, when He makes the Earth rotate, nothing upon it is scattered. He doesn't let it collide with any other heavenly body. He creates a star as easily as a flower. And He fashions a flower with as much artistry as a planet. Every spring, He brings the dead Earth back to life again and keeps millions of species alive in perfect order without confusion. And while doing all this, He doesn't forget even the smallest need of a tiny flea. He grants it its provision as well. Nothing He does prevents Him from doing anything else.
He fulfills the countless needs of countless beings all at once. So, what could possibly be difficult before such might? Could it be hard for Him to take the blessed body of His Messenger (peace be upon him) on such a journey? Never. Ma'zallah (God forbid). Finally, after Rasoolullah ﷺ had witnessed all that was shown to him, he returned. Once again, with Jibreel (peace be upon him) by his side, he descended from the heavens to Masjid Al-Haram, and from there, back to his bed. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) still could not find a new land for Islam. So, what would he do now? It was the 11th year of his Prophethood.
He did not give up conveying his message, while his enemies did not give up their stubbornness and pressure. And then, the Hajj season came. That year too, thousands of people came to Makkah from different parts of the Arabian Peninsula for pilgrimage. This might be an opportunity for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. One by one, he was going to meet the tribe leaders who came to Makkah and invite them to Islam. And Allah would not let the efforts of His Messenger go to waste. He would place six remarkable men before him. And what would these six men lead to? We will see when the time comes. But for now, we should know that even finding those six people would not be easy.
Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) was working tirelessly during the Hajj season, which would last for about a month. He was going into the tents of more than ten tribes, one after another, introducing himself and explaining his mission. He was looking for a tribe that would support the cause of Islam and offer a place for migration. At the same time, he did not stop calling people openly. He would say: "O people! Say La ilaha illallah and you will be saved!" Wherever he went, people who heard this voice would come to listen, and crowds would gather around him. Yet, not a single voice answered his call. Only one voice was heard. Someone who followed him like a shadow.
But his purpose was neither to support the Messenger of Allah ﷺ nor to seek the truth. He went from tent to tent shouting: "Muhammad has abandoned the religion of his forefathers! He is making up lies! Do not believe him!" This voice belonged to his uncle, Abu Lahab. By then, his life's purpose had become to deny the Prophet (peace be upon him) and fight against Islam. He had grown old and believed that after death, he would no longer exist. Yet he was so blinded by his hatred that he was spending his entire life on this path.
Seeing his dedication, one cannot help but ask: If he put in so much effort for a false cause, how much effort am I putting in for the religion of Allah, which is the ultimate truth? Some of the tribe leaders looked down on the Prophet (peace be upon him) and spoke against him. Some did not want to leave the path of their forefathers. And others were afraid of the possibility of turning other tribes against them. Every tent he entered gave him a negative response. Yet he never lost hope, and he moved on to the next tent. Of all the tribes, the most positive response came from the sons of Shayban ibn Tha'labah.
When Rasoolullah ﷺ recited verses of the Quran to them, one of their leaders was moved and said: "By Allah, O brother from Quraysh! You have invited me to the highest morals and the best of deeds. The people who called you a liar have slandered you and opposed you." Then another leader spoke: "O brother from Quraysh! I have listened to what you said and I confirmed them." These answers filled the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with great excitement. Had he finally found the new home for Islam? Would all the sufferings now be over? But then another tribe leader spoke.
"In my opinion, without carefully considering the consequences of what you are calling us to, for us to abandon our own religion and follow yours would be nothing but poor judgment and a mistake, foolishness, and in the end, shortsightedness." When he had said this, the opinions of the other leaders changed as well. The tribe of Shayban lost the opportunity to become the land where Islam could spread. What they didn't know was that this religion was not carried forward by those who weigh the costs and benefits, but by those who were willing to sacrifice. And from that day on, it would continue in this way.
Those who attained happiness both in this world and the next would be the ones who are ready to make sacrifices. Yet, he remained patient. And each time, he turned to a new tribe and went to share this message. Some people found what he said reasonable, but they would say: "We will come next year and give our pledge of loyalty to you then." They were postponing the most important matter of the universe. The very purpose for which they were sent to this world: believing in Allah and His Messenger. And as time passed, they would lose their initial awareness and interest and give up on pledging allegiance. Some of them did not even live to see the following year.
They paid a heavy price for their delay. For some, there was no return. As the days went by like this, the Hajj season was drawing to a close. But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) still could not find what he was hoping for. But every winter is followed by spring, and every night by morning. So one day, he came across six young men in a place called Aqaba. First, he asked who they were. The young men said: "We are from the tribe of Khazraj." This tribe was one of the two major tribes of Madinah, which at that time was known as Yathrib.
Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) asked: "Are you neighbors and allies of the Jews?" The young men replied: "Yes." Upon this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall we sit and talk with you for a while?" They agreed, and all sat down together. Rasoolullah recited verses from the Quran and invited them to believe in the oneness of Allah and to accept Islam. His message felt strangely familiar to the young men. They remembered their conflicts with the Jews in Yathrib. The Jews often spoke of the final Prophet to come, saying that they would follow him when he comes and in this way would dominate the Arabs. The six young men realized that the final Prophet was standing right before them.
They said among themselves: "By Allah, this must be the prophet the Jews have been telling us about. We mustn't let them believe in him before us." Immediately, in front of the Messenger of Allah, they took Shahada. As'ad ibn Zurara. Awf ibn Harith. Rafi' ibn Malik. Qutba ibn Amir. Uqba ibn Amir. Jabir ibn Abdullah. May Allah be pleased with them all. Out of dozens of tents and thousands of people, it was only these six young men. They became the first Muslims of Madinah. And just as in Makkah, in Madinah too, this cause would spread first at the hands of the youth. The young men asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for permission to return to Yathrib, to Madinah, and invite their people to Islam.
Before leaving, they made a promise to meet again a year later, and then set out for Yathrib. When they arrived back in their city, the believers were no longer just six individuals. They were six households. Because after hearing the message, their families embraced Islam too. They began to plant the seeds of faith in the hearts of others as well. And day by day, the number of believers grew. So much so that before the year was over, in many homes, people were talking about Islam. And now, the time for their meeting had arrived. The young men from Yathrib kept their word and returned to Makkah. But this time, they were twelve. But was this really all who had believed in an entire year?
No, there were others too. One night, they secretly gathered with Rasoolullah ﷺ in a narrow valley called Aqaba. It was the 12th year of Prophethood. At this historic meeting, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) took their pledge on six principles. "We won't associate anything with Allah. We won't steal. We won't commit adultery. We won't kill our children. We won't slander anyone. And we will obey the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in all good matters." After this pledge, they returned to Yathrib. But they needed someone. A teacher who would not only recite and explain the Quran to them but also teach them the manners and rulings of Islam.
Rasoolullah accepted their request and chose Mus'ab ibn Umair to be sent to Yathrib. Mus'ab was known for his intelligence, gentle manners, kind heart, and eloquent speech. He would carry out the mission of calling to Islam in an excellent way. When he arrived in Madinah, he stayed at the house of As'ad ibn Zurara, which soon became a center of Islam in the city. With his gentle words and eloquent speech, he would explain Islam to those who came to him and recite verses from the Quran. Many who listened were moved by this message and embraced Islam. But just as there were those who liked it, there were also those who did not.
One day, Mus'ab and As'ad were sitting by a well, explaining Islam to the crowd gathered around them. One of the tribe leaders was disturbed by the curiosity on the young men's faces. Aws was one of the two Arab tribes in Madinah, and the leader of one of his clans was Sa'd ibn Mu'adh. He and his close friend, Usayd ibn Hudayr, decided to take action. They were furious. Usayd took his spear, gripped it firmly, and went over to them. In a loud voice, he shouted: "Why have you come to us? You are deceiving and misleading some of the weak and simple-minded among us. If you don't want to get killed, leave here at once." But Mus'ab showed extraordinary calmness and dignity.
He said: "Hold on a moment. Just sit down and listen to us, understand our purpose. If you like it, you may accept it. If not, then you may stop us." Usayd was not expecting such a reply. He set aside his warrior manner and said: "Fair enough." Then he sat down. Mus'ab began to explain Islam and recited some verses from the Quran. That day, Usayd was fully convinced. So he took Shahada and became Muslim. Anyone who tastes the sweetness of faith would not want to keep it to himself. He would want to share it with others. So Usayd said: "Let me go and send someone to you.
If he too accepts faith, then there will be no one left in this land who does not believe." The Quran carried such a light that many who came in anger would leave with peace in their hearts. Usayd returned to Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, but he did not tell him that he had become Muslim. Because if he had said "I have believed," Sa'd might have become angry and reacted harshly. Instead, he told him to go and speak with them himself. And in this way, he sent Sa'd to Mus'ab. When Sa'd came to Mus'ab and As'ad, he shouted: "O As'ad!
If we didn't have family ties, I could never have tolerated the disgraceful things you've brought into our tribe." With the same calm manner, Mus'ab invited Sa'd to listen and try to understand his words. Sa'd agreed, sat down, and began to listen. Mus'ab explained what Islam was, spoke of the beauties of this religion brought by the Prophet (peace be upon him), and recited the opening verses of Surah Az-Zukhruf (The Ornaments of Gold). Sa'd too was deeply moved by the truths of the Quran. He had never heard such words before. He asked: "What should I do to enter this religion?" Mus'ab explained the principles and manners of Islam.
And right then and there, Sa'd, the leader of the Aws tribe, took Shahada and embraced Islam. After this, he went straight to his clan and gathered them together. He asked: "How do you know me?" "You are our leader, and the most honored among us." "Then believe in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. If you do not, I will never speak to you again." Upon these words, all of the Banu Abd al-Ashhal clan embraced Islam. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah. (I bear witness there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Except for one man who would later also accept Islam.
With these influential figures now becoming Muslim, the mission of Dawah (invitation to Islam) gained strength. In Yathrib, Islam was now being spoken of in many homes. At the end of that year, Mus'ab ibn Umair came to Makkah with 75 Muslims. Both to inform the Prophet (peace be upon him) of the developments in Madinah and to perform Hajj. To avoid drawing attention, Mus'ab ibn Umair first went alone to meet the Prophet (peace be upon him) and told him how Islam was spreading in Yathrib. Then they agreed to meet at night in Aqaba. But Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) gave him one instruction. If anyone was asleep at the appointed time, they should not be woken up.
And if anyone was late, no one should wait for them. Because if a person could not sacrifice even a single night's sleep, they could not be part of that gathering. So, was there anyone who fell asleep or came late? No. All 75 were there, right on time, without exception. And Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) came with his uncle Abbas. He had not yet embraced Islam, but he did not want to send his nephew alone. Abbas addressed the people of Madinah and said: "You have believed in him and accepted what he has brought. I think you know that you are taking on a heavy burden. One that is both difficult and carries great responsibility. So, will you be able to protect him from his enemies?
Do you have the strength to stand firm against all the Arabs who will come at you like arrows shot from a single bow? If you find that strength within yourselves, then I have nothing more to say. But if, after taking him away from here, you would abandon him when hardship comes, then turn back from this pledge right now. Let him remain in his homeland, living among us." The leader of the Muslims from Madinah, As'ad ibn Zurara, declared their loyalty to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He said that even though the religion they were invited to was difficult, they had accepted it and would protect the Messenger of Allah ﷺ no matter what.
Then he continued: "O Messenger of Allah, take from us whatever pledge you wish for yourself, and set whatever condition you wish for your Lord." Upon this, Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) recited some verses and then said: "My condition regarding Allah the Almighty is this: You worship Him without associating any partners with Him, establish the prayer, and give Zakat (alms giving). And what I ask for myself is that you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah, and that you protect me as you protect yourselves, your children, and your women." At that moment, Abdullah ibn Rawaha asked: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!
If we do these things as you have said, what is there for us?" Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) replied: "Paradise." An eternal Paradise in exchange for spending 60 or 70 years of life within the bounds of Islam. That would be the greatest and most profitable trade one could ever make. Their hearts were filled with joy and courage. They said: "Then this is indeed the best and most profitable trade." And for the rest of their lives, they remained faithful to their word. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ could see the gates of a city opening, where he would be able to spread Islam more freely. This was the beginning of an epic journey.
All that remained was to wait for the divine permission to leave Makkah. And that permission would soon come. And the blessed journey that marked a turning point in Islamic history would begin. The hardships that would be faced along the way, the struggles fought with courage, and the trials endured with deep faith and trust in Allah. We will witness a journey in which every step holds invaluable lessons. All of this will be in the next episode. Stay tuned.