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The Battle of Ta'if

Anonymous

category: History & Biographies

source: Seerah.net

reads: 10983

The warriors of Thaqif who fled from Hunayn returned to Ta’if. They closed the gates of the city after storing stocks of food enough to serve them for a year. Thus, they prepared themselves in time for another encounter with the Muslims.

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) went at once to Ta’if. After establishing his camp outside the city, he set about besieging it in order to humble the enemy. The siege lingered on for sometime, but the Muslims, whose avenues of entry had already been blocked up by the defenders, were unable to enter Ta’if. Thaqif combatants were good archers, so that the thick volley of arrows released by them appeared as if they were like swarms of locusts.

SIEGE OF TA’IF

As the Muslims’ camp was just within the range of arrows shot from the rampart of Ta’if, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) transferred it to another side of the city. The siege continued for some twenty-five to thirty nights during which the two opponents fought tooth and nail to get the better of one another as they traded a barrage of arrows. The Prophet, used for the first time catapults in the siege of Ta’if whose ingress and egress were completely blocked. The arrows shot by the enemy took its toll on the lives of several Muslims. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, pp. 478-83)

KINDNESS IN THE BATTLEFIELD

When the siege did not have the desired effect, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) threatened to cut down the vineyards of Thaqif. The enemy was extremely perturbed for its economy depended on the fine quality of grapes grown in these vineyards. Thaqif populace begged the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in the name of God and their relationship with him to spare their orchards and farms as a whole. Taking pity on the enemy, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Certainly, I leave it to God and to the kinship between us.”

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) issued an announcement declaring that if any slave originating from Thaqif came to him from the city, he would be set free. One of the ten or more so slaves who deserted Ta’if was Abu Bakrah. Later on, he distinguished himself by his profound knowledge of the Traditions. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) freed all of them and asked the Muslims to take care of their deeds. However, the people of Ta’if were greatly irked on the desertion of their slaves.(62)

THE SIEGE RAISED

Allah had not willed the fall of Ta’if. ‘Umar (radiallahu 'anhu) was asked by the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) to announce the deferral of the siege and return of the army. Feeling disappointed, some of the people raised an outcry at the sudden order of retreat. They said. “Shall we go back without reducing Ta’if?” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Alright, mount an attack.” They bore down on the enemy but were confronted with losses of lives. Then the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “God willing, we shall return very soon.” The people then felt relieved and started making preparations for breaking the camp. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) smiled when he saw them returning.(63)

THE SPOIL OF HUNAYN

On his way back from Ta’if, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) stayed over J’irrana with his men. He intended to give an opportunity to the Hawazin to make amends by calling upon him and accepting Islam. Thereafter, he distributed the spoils. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) gave out first to those whose hearts were to be won. Abu Sufyan and his two sons Yazid and Mu’awiya were doled out handsome gifts. Hakim b. al-Hizam, Nadr b. al-Harith, ‘Ala’ b. al-Haritha and other Qurayshite leaders were treated generously and then every man in the army was awarded his share of the spoils.(64)

LOVE FOR ANSAAR AND THEIR SELFLESSNESS

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) partitioned a large portion of the spoils to the Quraysh who had to be reconciled to Islam while the Ansaar was also meted out its petty share. Some of the lads among the Ansaar aired their grievances at the meager gifts turned over to them. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) ordered the Ansaar to assemble in an enclosure. Then he delivered an extremely moving speech that tugged at the inner crevices of their hearts and which finally brought them on the verge of tears.

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "Did I not come to you when you were aberrant and God guided you through me; you were poor and God made you rich; you were divided and He softened your hearts to unite?”

The Ansaar replied, “Yes, indeed, God and His Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) are most kind and generous.”

But, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) again queried: “O Ansaar, why don’t you answer me?”

They said, “What answer can we give! “O Messenger of God, kindness and generosity belongs to God and His Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam)."

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) continued, “Had you wished, you could have said - and verily you would have spoken the truth and I would have acknowledged if you had replied - you came discredited and we believed you; you came deserted and we helped you; you were fugitive and we gave you shelter; you were poor and comforted you.”

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) then turned to speak out something which expressed the love he had for the Ansaar and, at the same time substantiated the disparity in the distribution of the pillage. He said, “do you have some misgivings about me, O Ansaar, because of what I have given to them for the short-lived bloom of this life by which they may become Muslims while I have entrusted you to Islam?” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) then posed a question which inflamed the Ansaar with love of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). He inquired, “O Ansaar, are you not satisfied that these men should take away sheep and goats while you go back with the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) of God? By him who has the life of Muhammad in His hand, what you take back with you would be better than the things with which they would return. Had there been no migration, I would have been one of the Ansaar myself. If all the people go one way in a wadi and the Ansaar take another, I would take the way of the Ansaar. The Ansaar are the undergarment and the others are the overgarments. O Allah, have mercy on the Ansaar, their sons and their sons’ sons’.”

All the Ansaar wept until tears rolled down their beards as they said, “We are satisfied and happy that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) falls to our lot.”(65)

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