The Character Of The Prophet

THE CHARACTER OF THE PROPHET T hat evening in Ta’if was terrifying—when the boys of the city were throwing stones at the Prophet of Islam and driving him out. He had travelled nearly fifty miles (about 85 kilometres) from Makkah to reach the summer capital of the chiefs of Ta’if, hoping to present the message of Islam to them. But instead of listening to his gentle call, the chiefs of Ta’if incited the city’s mischievous boys to turn against him. They pursued him relentlessly until sunset, when the cover of darkness finally drew a veil between him and the street urchins. His body was covered in wounds—from head to toe, he was bleeding. In that moment, exhausted and in pain, he took shelter in a grape garden. Just imagine how delicate and challenging that time must have been for any person. He once told his wife Aisha that the evening in Ta’if was the most difficult night of his life. But even during such a painful moment, not a single harsh word escaped his lips against his enemies. Instead, he said: “I hope that God will bring from their descendants people