Expulsion from the Tribes

Seerah as a Movement Abd Yaleel.’ In the words of Urwah ibn Zubayr, ‘When Abu Talib died, and the Prophet’s affliction became more intense, he took himself to the Thaqeef tribe3 in the hope that they would grant him asylum and support.’ But one can judge what savage treatment the Prophet received at their hands from this prayer that he made on his return to Makkah: “Lord, I complain to You of my weakness and helplessness. How vulnerable I am among men, most Merciful One!” While coming back from Taif, the Prophet said to them, “Let the news of your behaviour to me not reach Makkah, otherwise they would become more audacious. The Prophet, unable to live within the city, stayed outside, and sent messages to various people, asking them to take him under their personal protection so that he could return to the city. Eventually Mut’im ibn Adi agreed to extend protection to the Prophet, who, shielded by the swords of Mut’im’s sons, once again entered the city walls. Fairs, attended by tribes from all over Arabia, used to be held in various places in those days. The Prophet would attend these and speak to different tribes, in the hope that one of them would agree to extend him protection. He explained his plight to his uncle Abbas. “I am not safe here with you and your relatives. Will you take me to the fair tomorrow, so that we can visit people in their tents and talk to them?” The Prophet would then go into people’s tents and presenting himself before them, would enquire what protection they could afford him. He would tell them that his people had rejected him and expelled him from their midst. ‘Protect me and grant me refuge so that I can continue to preach the faith that God has revealed to me.’ Historians have mentioned the names of fifteen tribes that the Prophet approached individually, only to meet with one refusal after another. Although it was considered a shameful matter for someone to seek refuge with a tribe, and his request not be granted—in fact, this was the first notable example in Arab The Thaqeef were the tribe that inhabited Taif.