The Journey to Taif and the Unprayable Prayer

The Life of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)

Dr. Muhammad Husayn Haykal



Muhammad's Excursion to Ta'if (628 C.E.)

The Qoresh doubled and redoubled their injuries to Muhummad and his followers until Muhammad could bear it no longer. Accompanied by Zaid bin Harith, he undertook a trip to the city of Ta'if where he solicited the support of the tribe of Thaqif after calling them to Islam. When they refused, he asked them not to spread the news of their refusal to his enemies that they might not rejoice at his failure. The tribe of Thaqif, however, not only repudiated Muhammad's call but sent their servants to insult him and throw him out of their city. He ran away from them and took shelter near a wall which belonged to Utbah and Shaybah, sons of Rabia. There, he sat under a vine pondering his defeat, within sight of the sons of Rabia. He raised his hands to heaven and prayed with noticeable pain
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The Prophet's Trip To Taif
By Adil Salahi


This new situation meant that the Prophet had to explore new avenues in his search for support. After long deliberation, he set out on foot for Taif, a mountainous town about 110 kilometers from Makkah. His only companion on this trip was his faithful servant, Zayd ibn Harithah.



Taif was populated by the Thaqif, the second largest tribe in Arabia. As he began his journey, Muhammad was full of hope. If the Thaqif would respond favorably to the call of Islam, that would signify a new, happier phase in the history of the Divine message.



Once at Taif, the Prophet approached its leading personalities explaining his message and calling on them to believe in God and to support him in his efforts to establish the Islamic code of living. Taif was the town where the major idol, al-Lat, had its temple. The Thaqif had tried to give al-Lat a special status and to make its temple one to be visited by other Arabs, on a similar footing to the Kabah.



"If it is true that you are God's Messenger, you are too great for me to speak to you. If, on the other hand, you are lying, you are not worth answering." - One of the Prophet's opponents.
The Thaqif were fully aware of what the Prophet advocated. Its leaders had similar considerations to those of the Quraysh in determining their attitude to the Prophet. For then days the Prophet spoke to one chief after another.



None gave him a word of encouragement. The worst response came from three brothers, the sons of Amr ibn Umayr. These three brothers, Abd Yalil, Masud and Habib, were the recognized leaders of Taif.

One of them was married to a Qurayshi woman and the Prophet hoped that this relationship would work in his favor. In the event the three men were extremely rude in their rejection of the Prophet's approach.



The first one said: "I would tear the robes of the Kabah if it was true that God has chosen you as His Messenger." The second said: "Has God found no one other than you to be His Messenger?" The third said: "By God, I will speak to you. If it is true that you are God's Messenger, you are too great for me to speak to you. If, on the other hand, you are lying, you are not worth answering."



Fearing that the news of their rejection would serve to intensify the Quryah's hostility to Islam, the Prophet requested the Thaqif notables not to publicize his mission. They refused him even that. Instead they set on him crowd of their teenagers and servants, who chased and stoned him. His feet were soon bleeding and he was in a very sorry state.

Zayd tried hard to defend him and protect him from the stones. The Prophet then sought refuge in an orchard which belonged to two brothers from Makkah. They were in their orchard and they saw Muhammad when he entered. At first they watched him quietly but he did not see them.

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It was then that our Holy Prophet uttered the unprayable prayer. Here is a transliteration and translation of the prayer of Ta'if by our Holy Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him), whose existence is a source and fountain of blessings in this world and in the world here-after



Allahumma ilayka ashkoo


O God to you alone do I complain


Dhu'fa quwwati,


Of my weakness


Wa qillata hilaty,


And my lack of excuse


Wa hawany alla nas,


And the humiliation I suffer at the hands of my fellow-men.


Ya arham-ar rahimin


O Most merciful of those who are
merciful.


Anta rabbul mustadaafeen,


You are the Lord of the Weakened


Wa anta rabbi,


And you are my Lord


Ila man takilny,


To whom would You entrust me?


Ila baeedin yatajahhammuny ,


To a distant person who is hostile and antagonistic?


Am ila aduwwin mallaktahu amry,


or to an enemy You have given authority over me ?


In lam yakun bika ghadabun alayy ,


If You are not angry with me


Falaa ubaali


I do not care


Wa laakinn aafiyatuka heeya awsa'uw lee


Your forgiveness is all that matters to me


A'uzu biNoori wajhik allazee


I seek protection in the light of Your face


Ashraqtu lahuz- zulumatu


Which dispels all darkness


Wa saluha 'alayhi amrud-dunya wal-akhirah


And solves all the problems in this life and hereafter


Min an yanzila bi ghadabuka,


Lest Your wrath descend upon me


Aw yahilla alayya sakhatuka ,


I desire Your pleasure and satisfaction


Lakal utba


to You is the supplication


Hatta tardha


Until You are pleased


Wa la hawla


And there is no Power


Wa la quwwata


And no Force


illa bika


other than You. (Ameen)


Reference: Sirah Ibn Hisham
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