In this article, I would like to discuss the attitude of the prophet Muhammad towards somebody never imagined to be dealt kindly. This is because this person hurt the feelings of the prophet for many years. Moreover, when that person came to the prophet, it was not out of desire in Islam, but to argue and maneuver the prophet!! He is most significant person in Peninsula wholly. He is`Abd Yalil ibn `Amr Athaqafi, the chief of the renowned Thaqif tribe: his history with the prophet Muhammad was too bad.

The story begins when the prophet Muhammad went to At-Taif after the death of his uncle Abu-Talib and the crucial condition of conveying Islam. The prophet went to At-Taif to call them to Islam hoping that they will approach him kindly. The prophet met with the chiefs of Thaqif who were three and `Abd Yalil ranked first to them. The prophet presented Islam, but he was repulsed to a degree he never imagined. Moreover, he found them ridiculous to the extent that their chief `Abd Yalil said: if it is really he is sent by Allah, he will desecrate the Holly House[1]).

As well-known, `Abd-Yalil and his partisans incited their boys and the foolish to chase the prophet and his companion Zayd ibn Harithah by stones and insults until they drove them ultimately from At-Taif.

This foolish situation hurt the feelings of the prophet Muhammad very much and the state of Dawah was hopeless for many successive years. Just few numbers of Thaqif people embraces Islam, rather it was only the venerable companion Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah[2] from Taif tribe who embraced Islam before the opening of Mecca.

Tahqif tribe joined in alliance with Hawazin tribe to form a massive party aiming at eradicating Muslims in the battle of Hunain at the 8th year of Hijra[3].

On being defeated, their armies fled to the forts of At-Taif. The prophet besieged them for a total of one month[4], yet, he could not get them out of the forts. Accordingly, the prophet left them without opening At-Taif. This was a shock to the companions of the prophet who in turn soothed them and invoked Allah to endow His guidance on Thaqif.

The question of Thaqif aggravated when they killed their chief `Urwah ibn Mas`ud[5] who embraced Islam and went to them calling them to embrace Islam. This incident hurt the feelings of the prophet very much.

The kindness of the prophet Muhammad with `Abd Yalil ibn `Amr Athaqafi

Days passed, in Ramadan month on the 9th year of Hijra, Thaqif contemplated on the issue of Muslims and how they became the major power in peninsula, especially after the Roman armies fled in the Day of Tabuk. Accordingly, they deeply thought over coming to Medina to embrace Islam.

It was apparent that they are not seeking Islam, however; they came only due to their inner conviction that they can no more confront Muslims. Thus, they formed a delegation arguing the prophet trying to reach the best solutions. `Abd Yalil was at the head of this delegation, the old chief who one day mocked the prophet Muhammad. But, at that moment, he came humble before the prophet Muhammad who was empowered to the land and became a major power.

The prophet received the delegation of Thaqif headed by `Abd Yalil. It was hearty reception. The prophet Muhammad mentioned nothing concerning their past with him. The prophet has not mentioned their mockery when he went to them asking for their support. The prophet has not said to them: tit for tat. On the contrary, the prophet welcomed them and received them with hospitality and presents. Moreover, the prophet sat with them listening to their suggestions which were very foolish, yet, the prophet has not became angry with them, but he calmly discussed them. They asked the prophet to embrace Islam but conditionally. They asked the prophet to permit usury, adultery and wine to them. They asked to be excluded from performing prayers and to keep their idol Al-Lat[6] unhurt[7].

Their requests were silly reflecting the fact that they still ignorant of the real message of Islam. Though the silly are their requests, the prophet has not become angry with them, not even he left them, however; he kept explaining Islam to them leniently. He kept discussing them daily after Isha (night) prayer to the extent that he made a tent to them inside the prophetic mosque[8] valuing them, they were non-Muslims.

In the end, the delegation of Thaqif accepted Islam wholly and was most steadfast to Islam even at the tome of apostasy.

No doubt that they would not embrace Islam if the prophet dealt with them harshly or revenged himself. If they were to keep a state of non-Muslims, they would be a stumbling block to safety in peninsula. However, the prophet always pays our attentions through his deeds to the Hadith: (Allah, Almighty, is kind and He

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