The Opposition Intensifies

THE OPPOSITION INTENSIFIES was praying in the Kabah, Abu Jahl put a piece of cloth around his neck and twisted it hard. He would have strangled the Prophet had not Abu Bakr rushed to his help in time. Day by day, the situation worsened. So the Prophet decided to go to Taif, a neighbouring town about 40 miles from Makkah, to spread God’s word. He was accompanied only by his servant, Zayd. He spoke to the leaders of Taif and invited them to accept Islam. They paid no heed to his message. They were such evil people that they did not stop at that. When the Prophet left the town in a sad state, these chiefs sent street urchins to chase him. They abused him and threw stones at him as he walked out of the town. They continued to pelt stones at him until it became too dark for them to see him. He stopped on the way in an orchard to rest. He was severely hurt, bleeding profusely. However, he only prayed for the guidance of his foes. He did not curse them. In all humility, he said thus: “I rather hope that God will raise from among their descendants people who will worship God