Guardian Uncle Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and Khadija tul Kubra (sa) were the main supporters of the Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT). It was so destined that they passed away within a few days of each other, on the 10th year of the Proclamation of Islam in 619 CE, leaving the Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) to lament the bereavement. Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) had lost a caring uncle and a loving wife.
The enemies were now relieved, because Hazrat Abu Talib (as) was no more to protect. A few days after Hazrat Abu Talib's (as) death, when Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) was once passing through a lane, a woman emptied her garbage from a window upon his head. He returned home with his head soiled. His young daughter Fatima al-Zahra (sa) sat beside him, consoling and washing off the dirt.
As things became intolerable in Makkah, Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) decided to move to Taif, a town about sixty miles east of Makkah, along with his adopted son Zaid ibn Harithah, where he thought he would convey the message of Allah (SWT) to the tribe of Thaqeef. Taif was known for its pleasant climate and beautiful scenery.
Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) knew very well that people at Taif were no different from Makkans. They also idols worshippers and were in constant contact with the people in Makkah. But he did not despair. As he entered Taif, and proclaimed his prophethood, people jeered at him. One said: "God did not find anyone else for His message except you?" Another said: "I must be naive or a thief if I believed you to be a prophet." And so it went on.
Then in order to prevent him from preaching Islam, people of Taif set a group of children and vagabonds behind him. They pestered him and threw stones at him. It was Imam Ali (as) who protected Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) and drove the stone throwing children away from Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT). Zaid ibn Harithah, noticed that there was so much blood in the Prophet's shoes that his feet were stuck. Tired, forsaken and wounded, he sought refuge in a nearby garden. It belonged to Atabah and Shaibah, two wealthy chiefs of Quraish. They were both there when Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) entered and sat under a distant tree. He was alone. Then he raised his face towards heaven and prayed:
"O Allah (SWT)! I raise unto you my complaint for my weakness, my helplessness, and for the ridicule to which I have been subjected. O Merciful of all the Merciful! You are the Master of all oppressed people, You are my God! So to whom would You consign me? To the strangers who would ill-treat me, or to the enemies who have an upper hand over me? If whatever has befallen me is not because of Your wrath, then I fear not. No doubt, the field of Your security and care is wide enough for me. I seek refuge in Your light which illuminates darkness and straightens the affairs of this world and hereafter, that Your displeasure and wrath may not descend upon me. For the sake of Your pleasure, I remain pleased and resigned to my fate. No change in this world occurs without Your Will."
Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) remained optimistic about the situation and the future. When Allah (SWT) sent angels who gave him a choice to destroy the people of Taif for the way they had treated this Messenger of Allah (SWT), his response was this: "No, I hope that Allah (SWT) will bring out from their offspring people who worship Him alone and associate no partners with Him."
Atabah and Shaibah were watching. They sent for their servant named Addas and gave him a plate full of grapes. "Take this to that man under the tree," they ordered.
Addas was a Christian. He brought the grapes to Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) and bid him eat. As Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) picked a bunch he said: "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim," (In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate). Addas had never heard this before. He was impressed by it, because the man was invoking mercy and compassion of Allah (SWT) in spite of his desolate state.
"Who are you?" Addas asked.
"I am the Prophet of Allah (SWT)." Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) replied.
"Where do you come from?" Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) asked.
"I am Addas, a Christian. I come from Nineveh." Addas replied.
"Nineveh? You come from a place where my brother Yunus bin Mati (Jonah) lived," Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said.
Addas was surprised to hear the name.
"What do you know of Yunus bin Mati? Here no one seems to know him. Even in Nineveh there were hardly few people who knew his father's name."
Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said: "Yes, I know him because just like me, he was a Prophet of Allah (SWT)."
Addas fell on his knees before Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah (SWT), kissed his hand and embraced Islam.
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