Muhammad Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==== Attempt to establish himself in Ta'if ==== {{Main|Muhammad's visit to Ta'if}} In 619, Muhammad faced a period of sorrow. His wife, [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadija]], a crucial source of his financial and emotional support, died.{{sfn|Lapidus|2012|p=184}} In the same year, his uncle and guardian, [[Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abu Talib]], also died.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=134}}{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=22}} Despite Muhammad's persuasions to Abu Talib to embrace Islam on his deathbed, he clung to his polytheistic beliefs until the end.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=135}}{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=22}} Muhammad's other uncle, [[Abu Lahab]], who succeeded the [[Banu Hashim]] clan leadership, was initially willing to provide Muhammad with protection. However, upon hearing from Muhammad that Abu Talib and [[Abd al-Muttalib]] were destined for hell due to not believing in Islam, he withdrew his support.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=135}}<ref name="Holt" /> Muhammad then went to [[Taif|Ta'if]] to try to establish himself in the city and gain aid and protection against the Meccans,{{Sfn|Towghi|1991|p=572}}{{sfn|Buhl|Welch|1993|p=365}}{{Sfn|Adil|2002|p=145}} but he was met with a response: "If you are truly a prophet, what need do you have of our help? If God sent you as his messenger, why doesn’t He protect you? And if [[Allah]] wished to send a prophet, couldn’t He have found a better person than you, a weak and fatherless orphan?"{{Sfn|Adil|2002|p=145–6}} Realizing his efforts were in vain, Muhammad asked the people of Ta'if to keep the matter a secret, fearing that this would embolden the hostility of the Quraysh against him. However, instead of accepting his request, they pelted him with stones, injuring his limbs.{{Sfn|Adil|2002|p=146}} On Muhammad's return journey to Mecca, news of the events in Ta'if had reached the ears of [[Amr ibn Hisham|Abu Jahl]], and he said, "They did not allow him to enter Ta'if, so let us deny him entry to Mecca as well." Knowing the gravity of the situation, Muhammad asked a passing horseman to deliver a message to [[Al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq|Akhnas ibn Shariq]], a member of his mother's clan, requesting his protection so that he could enter in safety. But Akhnas declined, saying that he was only a confederate of the house of [[Quraysh]]. Muhammad then sent a message to [[Suhayl ibn Amir]], who similarly declined on the basis of tribal principle. Finally, Muhammad dispatched someone to ask [[Muṭʽim ibn ʽAdi|Mut'im ibn 'Adiy]], the chief of the [[Banu Nawfal]]. Mut'im agreed, and after equipping himself, he rode out in the morning with his sons and nephews to accompany Muhammad to the city. When Abu Jahl saw him, he asked if Mut'im was simply giving him protection or if he had already converted to his religion. Mut'im replied, "Granting him protection, of course." Then Abu Jahl said, "We will protect whomever you protect."{{Sfn|Adil|2002|p=148}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page