The Year of Sorrow
The Passing of Abu Talib
As Abu Talib’s illness worsened and his final moments approached, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ came to his bedside. There, he found Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Umayyah sitting beside his dying uncle.
Undeterred by their presence, the Prophet ﷺ urged his beloved uncle,
“My uncle, say La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah). It is a simple phrase, and if you say it, I will plead with Allah for your salvation.”
But the two pagans refused to stay silent. They said,
“Abu Talib, will you turn away from the religion of Abdul Muttalib?”
Despite their interference, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ continued to encourage his uncle, hoping he would accept faith. Finally, he said,
“I will ask Allah to forgive you until I am forbidden to do so.”
Soon after, Allah revealed the verse:
“It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.”
(Surah At-Tawbah, 9:113)
Abu Talib passed away in either Rajab or Ramadan, ten years after the Prophet ﷺ began his mission. Although he had always protected and defended the Prophet ﷺ, he died following the faith of his forefathers.
Later, Al-‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) — another uncle of the Prophet ﷺ — asked,
“O Messenger of Allah, how could you help Abu Talib, the one who supported you and defended you?”
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The Passing of Khadijah (رضي الله عنها)
Just two months and three days after the death of Abu Talib, another heartbreak struck. The Prophet’s beloved wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (رضي الله عنها), passed away.
She was his loyal companion, trusted advisor, and the first person to believe in his message. She was known as “Umm al-Mu’minin” (Mother of the Believers).
Prophet Muhammed ﷺ once said about her:
“When no one believed in me, she believed in me. When people accused me of lying, she affirmed my truthfulness. When people deprived me, she shared her wealth with me. Allah granted me children through her, and none through my other wives.”
Once, Khadijah (رضي الله عنها) came bringing food to the Prophet ﷺ while he was receiving revelation from Jibreel (عليه السلام). The angel said,
“O Prophet, here is Khadijah coming to you with food. Convey to her greetings from her Lord, and give her glad tidings of a palace in Paradise made of pearls, where there will be neither noise nor fatigue.”
Even long after her death, the Prophet ﷺ would often remember her, speak of her virtues, and pray for Allah’s mercy upon her soul. Whenever he slaughtered a lamb, he would send portions of the meat to her friends. Thinking of her, he would often weep out of love and longing.
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Sorrow Upon Sorrow
With the passing of Abu Talib and Khadijah (رضي الله عنها), the Prophet ﷺ lost his two greatest supporters. The Quraysh, emboldened by their deaths, began to insult and ridicule him more openly.
Once, a man from Quraysh threw dust upon the Prophet’s blessed head. One of his daughters rushed to clean it off, weeping bitterly at her father’s suffering. The Prophet ﷺ gently comforted her, saying,
“Dear daughter, do not cry. Allah will protect your father.”
Later, the Prophet ﷺ said that only after Abu Talib’s death did the insults of the Quraysh begin to truly wound him.
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The Marriages to Saudah and Aishah (رضي الله عنهما)
About a month after Khadijah (رضي الله عنها) passed away, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ married Saudah bint Zam‘ah (رضي الله عنها) during the month of Shawwal. She had been married to her cousin Sakran bin ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه), and together they were among the early Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia. After his death, the Prophet ﷺ married her once her mourning period ended.
A year later, again in Shawwal, the Prophet ﷺ married Aishah bint Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنها). The marriage was solemnised in Makkah when she was six, and she joined him as his wife at the age of nine.
Aishah (رضي الله عنها) was the most beloved of his wives and one of the greatest female scholars of Islam. Her deep knowledge and vivid recollections gave Muslims precious insights into the Prophet’s ﷺ private life — his tenderness, humor, and devotion. The love and trust between them, as well as the trials they endured together, reveal the depth of their remarkable relationship.
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The Journey to Ta’if
After these sorrows, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ decided to take the message of Islam to neighboring tribes. He set out on foot to Ta’if, about thirty miles east of Makkah, accompanied by his devoted companion and former servant, Zayd bin Harithah (رضي الله عنه).
Along the way, the Prophet ﷺ invited every tribe he met to accept Islam. When he finally reached Ta’if, he met three brothers — the chieftains of the Thaqif tribe. He called them to Islam and asked for their help in spreading the message. They, however, responded with mockery and arrogance.
Still hopeful, the Prophet ﷺ continued preaching in the town for several days, but no one accepted his message. Instead, the leaders incited their servants, slaves, and even children to throw stones and chase him out. His blessed feet began to bleed, and Zayd (رضي الله عنه) tried to shield him, suffering several injuries himself.
The Prophet ﷺ and Zayd (رضي الله عنه) eventually took refuge three miles away, in an orchard belonging to ‘Utbah and Shaybah, the sons of Rabi‘ah.
There, beneath the shade of a wall covered in grapevines, the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands and made the heartfelt Du‘aa al-Mustad‘afeen (The Supplication of the Oppressed):
“O Allah, I complain to You of my weakness, my lack of means, and my humiliation before the people. You are the Most Merciful — the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord.
To whom have You entrusted me? To an enemy who will mistreat me?
As long as You are not angry with me, I do not mind. Yet Your mercy is more than enough for me.
I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every matter is set right — lest Your anger descend upon me.
I desire only Your pleasure. There is no power and no might except through You.”
The sons of Rabi‘ah, seeing the Prophet ﷺ resting under their vines, were moved by the sight of his pain and exhaustion. They sent their servant Addas to him with a bunch of grapes.
The Prophet ﷺ said “Bismillah” before eating. Addas, surprised, remarked, “People of this land never say such words!”
The Prophet ﷺ asked him, “Where are you from, and what is your religion?”
Addas replied, “I am a Christian from Nineveh.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “From the city of the righteous man Yunus bin Matta?”
Addas asked, “How do you know him?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied, “He is my brother — he was a prophet, and so am I.”
The Prophet ﷺ then recited verses from the Qur’an about Prophet Yunus (عليه السلام). Addas was so moved that he embraced Islam immediately.
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The Angel of the Mountains
As the Prophet ﷺ and Zayd (رضي الله عنه) continued their journey back to Makkah, they reached Qarn al-Manazil. There, a cloud appeared above them, and from it descended Jibreel (عليه السلام) along with another angel.
Jibreel (عليه السلام) said,
“Allah has sent to you the angel of the mountains. He is at your command.”
The angel said,
“O Muhammad ﷺ, if you wish, I will crush the people of Ta’if between these two mountains.”
But Prophet Muhammed ﷺ, ever merciful and patient, replied,
“No. I hope that Allah will bring forth from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone without associating partners with Him.”
This response reflected his deep mercy and unwavering hope.
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The Jinn Hear the Qur’an
The Prophet ﷺ then continued to Nakhlah, where he stayed for a few days. One morning, while reciting Fajr prayer, a group of jinn heard him reciting the Qur’an. They listened intently, and when he finished, they returned to their own people warning them of disbelief and calling them to faith.
The Prophet ﷺ did not know of their presence until Allah revealed the event in the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Ahqaf and Surah Al-Jinn — confirming that those jinn had accepted Islam.
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Return to Makkah
When the Prophet ﷺ neared Makkah, he hesitated to enter without protection. He sent a messenger to Akhnas bin Shurayq, asking for refuge, but Akhnas declined, saying he was allied with Quraysh.
He then sent a message to Suhayl bin ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه), but Suhayl too refused, as his tribe opposed the Prophet ﷺ.
Finally, the Prophet ﷺ sent a request to Mut‘im bin ‘Adiy (رضي الله عنه), whose grandfather, Naufal, was the brother of Hashim ibn ‘Abd Manaf, the Prophet’s great-grandfather. Honoring their kinship, Mut‘im (رضي الله عنه)** agreed to protect him.
He and his sons armed themselves and escorted Prophet Muhammed ﷺ safely into Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ entered the Ka‘bah, performed tawaf, prayed two rak‘ahs, and then returned home under their guard.
When the Quraysh saw this, Abu Jahl said, “We shall honor the protection of Mut‘im bin ‘Adiy (رضي الله عنه).” And thus, by Allah’s will, the Prophet ﷺ reentered Makkah safely.