Mnamo mwezi wa Shawwal (mwishoni mwa Mei au mwanzoni mwa Juni 619 A.D.), miaka kumi baada ya kupokea utume wake kutoka kwa Mola wake, Mtume ﷺ alianza safari kuelekea At-Ta’if, takriban kilomita 60 kutoka Makkah, akiwa pamoja na mtumwa wake aliyemwacha huru, Zaid bin Haritha, akiwalingania watu kwenye Uislamu. Lakini kinyume na matarajio yake, hali ya jumla ilikuwa ya uadui mkubwa. Alikwenda kwa familia ya ‘Umair, ambao walihesabiwa miongoni mwa watu mashuhuri wa mji huo. Lakini, kwa kusikitisha kwake, wote walipuuza ujumbe wake na kutumia lugha ya matusi kuhusu lengo tukufu ambalo alikuwa akijitahidi kulifikia. Ndugu watatu kutoka miongoni mwa viongozi wa Thaqeef — ‘Abd Yaleel, Mas‘ud na Habeeb — wana wa ‘Amr bin ‘Umair Ath-Thaqafy, walikutana na Mtume ﷺ, ambaye aliwaalika wasilimu na kumwabudu Allah, lakini walimdhihaki kwa kiburi na kukataa mwaliko wake. “Yeye anararua nguo za Al-Ka‘bah; je, ni kweli kwamba Allah amekutuma wewe kuwa Mtume?” alisema mmoja wao. “Je, Allah hakupata mtu mwingine wa kumkabidhi Ujumbe Wake?” alisema wa pili. “Naapa kwa Allah kwamba sitakuwa na mawasiliano yoyote nawe kamwe. Ikiwa kweli wewe ni Mtume wa Allah, basi wewe ni mzito mno kujibiwa; na ikiwa unamkadhibisha Allah, basi naona ni lazima nisiongee nawe.” alisema wa tatu. Mtume wa Allah ﷺ, alipoona kwamba hawa walikuwa ni watu wasiotarajiwa kubadilika, alisimama na kuondoka akiwaambia: “Mkiendelea na mambo haya yenu, msiniambie kamwe kuyahusu.”

In Shawwal (in the last of May or in the beginning of June 619 A.D.), ten years after receiving his mission from his Lord, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) set out towards At-Ta’if, about 60 kilometres from Makkah, in the company of his freed slave Zaid bin Haritha inviting people to Islam. But contrary to his expectations, the general atmosphere was terribly hostile. He approached the family of ‘Umair, who were reckoned amongst the nobility of the town. But, to his disappointment, all of them turned deaf ear to his message and used abusive language as regards the noble cause he had been striving for. Three brothers from the chieftains of Thaqeef —‘Abd Yaleel, Mas‘ud and Habeeb — sons of ‘Amr bin ‘Umair Ath-Thaqafy met the Prophet (Peace be upon him) , who invited them to embrace Islam and worship Allâh, but they impudently jeered at him and refused his invitation. “He is tearing the cloths of Al-Ka‘bah; is it true that Allâh has sent you as a Messenger?” said one of them. “Has not Allâh found someone else to entrust him with His Message?” said the second. “I swear by Allâh that I will never have any contact with you. If you are really the Messenger of Allâh, then you are too serious to retort back; and if you are belying Allâh, then I feel it is imperative not to speak to.” said the third. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) , finding that they were hopeless cases, stood up and left them saying: “Should you indulge in these practices of yours, never divulge them to me.”.

Kwa siku kumi alikaa huko akiwafikishia ujumbe wake watu kadhaa, mmoja baada ya mwingine, lakini yote bila mafanikio. Watu, wakichochewa kuharakisha kuondoka kwa mgeni asiyekaribishwa, walimzomea katika vichochoro, wakamrushia mawe, na kumlazimisha kukimbia mji huo huku kundi lisilokoma likimfuatia. Damu ilitiririka chini ya miguu yake yote miwili; na Zaid, akijitahidi kumkinga, alijeruhiwa kichwani. Kundi hilo halikuacha hadi walipomfukuza kwa maili mbili au tatu kupitia tambarare zenye mchanga mpaka chini ya milima iliyouzunguka. Huko, akiwa amechoka na kudhoofika, alijihifadhi katika moja ya bustani nyingi za miti, akaegemea ukuta wa shamba la mizabibu. Wakati ambapo dunia nzima ilionekana kugeuka dhidi yake, Muhammad ﷺ alimgeukia Mola wake akajitolea kwa sala, na maneno haya ya kugusa moyo bado yamehifadhiwa kama yale ambayo nafsi yake iliyodhulumiwa ilitoa kwayo huzuni yake. Alikuwa amechoka na amejeruhiwa lakini akiwa na imani juu ya msaada wa Mola wake:

For ten days he stayed there delivering his message to several people, one after another, but all to no purpose. Stirred up to hasten the departure of the unwelcome visitor, the people hooted him through the alley-ways, pelted him with stones and obliged him to flee from the city pursued by a relentless rabble. Blood flowed down both his legs; and Zaid, endeavouring to shield him, was wounded in the head. The mob did not desist until they had chased him two or three miles across the sandy plains to the foot of the surrounding hills. There, wearied and exhausted, he took refuge in one of the numerous orchards, and rested against the wall of a vineyard. At a time when the whole world seemed to have turned against him, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) turned to his Lord and betook himself to prayer and the following touching words are still preserved as those through which his oppressed soul gave vent to its distress. He was weary and wounded but confident of the help of his Lord:

• "Ee Allah! Kwako Wewe peke yako ninalalamika juu ya udhaifu wangu, uchache wa rasilimali zangu, na unyonge wangu mbele ya watu. Wewe ndiye Mwenye huruma zaidi kati ya wenye huruma. Wewe ndiye Mola wa wanyonge na dhaifu, Ee Mola wangu! Utaniacha mikononi mwa nani: mikononi mwa jamaa wa mbali asiye na huruma atakayenikunjia uso kwa chuki, au mikononi mwa adui ambaye amepewa mamlaka juu ya mambo yangu? Lakini kama ghadhabu yako haitanishukia, basi sina la kuhofia."

• “O Allâh! To You alone I make complaint of my helplessness, the paucity of my resources and my insignificance before mankind. You are the most Merciful of the mercifuls. You are the Lord of the helpless and the weak, O Lord of mine! Into whose hands would You abandon me: into the hands of an unsympathetic distant relative who would sullenly frown at me, or to the enemy who has been given control over my affairs? But if Your wrath does not fall on me, there is nothing for me to worry about.”.

"Ninajilinda chini ya nuru ya Uso Wako, unaoangaza mbingu na kuondoa giza, na unaosimamia mambo yote ya dunia hii pamoja na Akhera. Isiwe kamwe nikastahili ghadhabu Yako, wala Wewe usiwe na ghadhabu juu yangu. Hakuna uwezo wala nguvu isipokuwa kwa Wewe pekee."

“I seek protection in the light of Your Countenance, which illuminates the heavens and dispels darkness, and which controls all affairs in this world as well as in the Hereafter. May it never be that I should incur Your wrath, or that You should be wrathful to me. And there is no power nor resource, but Yours alone.”.

Akiona hali yake ya kusikitisha, wana wawili wa Rabi‘a, Wamakka matajiri, waliguswa kwa sababu ya undugu na huruma, wakamtumia mmoja wa watumishi wao Wakristo akiwa na sahani ya zabibu. Mtume ﷺ alikipokea kile kitunda kwa maneno ya ibada: "Kwa Jina la Allah." Mtumishi Mkristo, ‘Addas, alivutiwa sana na maneno hayo, akasema: "Haya ni maneno ambayo watu wa nchi hii kwa kawaida hawayatumii." Mtume ﷺ alimuuliza anatoka wapi na anaifuata dini gani. ‘Addas akajibu: "Mimi ni Mkristo kwa imani, na ninatoka Ninawi." Mtume ﷺ kisha akasema: "Wewe unatoka mji wa Yunus mwana wa Matta, mtu mwema." ‘Addas alimuuliza kwa wasiwasi kama anajua chochote kuhusu Yunus. Mtume ﷺ akasema kwa msisitizo: "Yeye ni ndugu yangu. Alikuwa Nabii, nami pia ni Nabii." Hapo ‘Addas akamheshimu Muhammad ﷺ, akabusu mikono yake. Mabwana zake walimkemea kwa kitendo hicho, lakini yeye akajibu: "Hakuna duniani aliye bora kuliko yeye. Amenifunulia ukweli ambao ni nabii tu anayeweza kuufanya." Wakamkemea tena, wakasema: "Tunakuonya dhidi ya matokeo ya kuacha dini ya babu zako. Dini unayoifuata ni bora zaidi kuliko ile unayoelekea kuifuata."

Seeing him in this helpless situation, Rabi‘a’s two sons, wealthy Makkans, were moved on grounds of kinship and compassion, and sent to him one of their Christian servants with a tray of grapes. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) accepted the fruit with pious invocation: “In the Name of the Allâh.” The Christian servant ‘Addas was greatly impressed by these words and said: “These are words which people in this land do not generally use.” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) inquired of him whence he came and what religion he professed. ‘Addas replied: “I am a Christian by faith and come from Nineveh.” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) then said: “You belong to the city of the righteous Jonah, son of Matta.” ‘Addas asked him anxiously if he knew anything about Jonah. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) significantly remarked: “He is my brother. He was a Prophet and so am I.” Thereupon ‘Addas paid homage to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and kissed his hands. His masters admonished him at this act but he replied: “None on the earth is better than he is. He has revealed to me a truth which only a Prophet can do.” They again reprimanded him and said: “We forewarn you against the consequences of abandoning the faith of your forefathers. The religion which you profess is far better than the one you feel inclined to.”.

Akiwa na huzuni na msongo wa mawazo, Muhammad ﷺ alianza safari ya kurudi Makka. Alipofika Qarn Al-Manazil, Allah, Mtukufu, alimtuma Gabriel pamoja na malaika wa milima. Huyo wa mwisho alimwomba Mtume ﷺ ruhusa ya kuizika Makka kati ya Al-Akhshabain, yaani milima ya Abu Qubais na Qu‘ayqa‘an. Simulizi kamili ya tukio hili ilitolewa na ‘Aishah (Mwenyezi Mungu amridhie), mke wa Mtume ﷺ. Alisema: "Nilimwuliza Mtume ﷺ kama aliwahi kukutana na siku mbaya zaidi kuliko siku ya Uhud. Alijibu kwamba alikumbana na mateso mengi kutoka kwa watu hao (washirikina), lakini yaliyomuumiza zaidi yalikuwa siku ya ‘Aqabah. Nilikwenda kutafuta msaada kwa Ibn ‘Abd Yalil bin ‘Abd Kalal, lakini alinikataa. Nilirudi nimechoka na nimehuzunika, nisijali chochote kilichonizunguka, hadi ghafla nikagundua kuwa nilikuwa Qarn Ath-Tha‘alib, inayoitwa Qarn Al-Manazil. Hapo nilinyanyua macho na kuona wingu likinitia kivuli, na Gabriel akiniambia: Allah amesikia maneno ya watu wako, na amekutumia malaika wa milima awe msaada wako. Huyo malaika aliniita, akanisalimia, na akaniomba ruhusa ya kuizika Makka kati ya Al-Akhshabain, milima miwili inayoizunguka Makka. Nilimjibu kwamba ningependa zaidi kupata kutoka katika kizazi chao mtu atakayemwabudu Allah, Mwenye Nguvu Zote, bila kumshirikisha." Jibu fupi lenye maana, linaloonyesha wazi tabia ya Mtume ﷺ isiyo na mfano na upole wake usiopimika.

Heart-broken and depressed, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) set out on the way back to Makkah. When he reached Qarn Al-Manazil, Allâh, the Almighty sent him Gabriel together with the angel of mountains. The latter asked the Prophet (Peace be upon him) for permission to bury Makkah between Al–Akhshabain —Abu Qubais and Qu‘ayqa‘an mountains. Full narration of this event was given by ‘Aishah (May be pleased with her) (the Prophet’s spouse). She said: “I asked the Prophet (Peace be upon him) if he had ever experienced a worse day than Uhud. He answered that he had suffered a lot from those people (the idolaters) but the most painful was on the day of ‘Aqabah. I went seeking support from Ibn ‘Abd Yalil bin ‘Abd Kalal, but he spurned me. I set out wearied and grieved heedless of anything around me until I suddenly realized I was in Qarn Ath-Tha‘alib, called Qarn Al-Manazil. There, I looked up and saw a cloud casting its shade on me, and Gabriel addressing me: Allâh has heard your people’s words and sent you the angel of mountains to your aid. The latter called and gave me his greetings and asked for my permission to bury Makkah between Al-Akhshabain, the two mountains flanking Makkah. I said in reply that I would rather have someone from their loins who will worship Allâh, the All–Mighty with no associate.” A concise meaningful answer fully indicative of the Prophet’s matchless character and the fathomless magnanimous manners.

Mtume wa Allah ﷺ kisha alirejea katika hali ya kuamka, na moyo wake ulitulia kwa nuru ya msaada huo usioonekana uliotolewa na Mwenyezi Mungu. Akaelekea Wadi Nakhlah, ambako alikaa kwa siku chache.

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) then came back to wakefulness and his heart was set at rest in the light of that invisible Divinely provided aid. He proceeded to Wadi Nakhlah where he stayed for a few days.

Wakati wa kukaa kwake huko, Allah alimtumia kundi la majini waliomsikiliza akisoma Qur'ani Tukufu.

During his stay there, Allâh sent him a company of jinns who listened to him reciting the Noble Qur’ân:

“Na (kumbukeni) pale Tulipowaelekezea [Muhammad (Amani iwe juu yake)] kundi la majini (wapatao watatu hadi kumi), wakisikiliza Qur’ani kwa makini. Walipohudhuria mbele yake walisema: ‘Nyamazeni mpate kusikiliza!’ Ilipomalizika, walirejea kwa watu wao kama waonyaji. Wakasema: ‘Enyi watu wetu! Hakika tumesikia Kitabu (hii Qur’ani) kimeteremshwa baada ya Musa, kikithibitisha yale yaliyokitangulia; kinaongoza kwenye Haki na kwenye Njia Iliyonyooka (yaani Uislamu). Enyi watu wetu! Mwitikieni (kwa utii) mwitaji wa Allah [yaani Mjumbe wa Allah Muhammad (Amani iwe juu yake)], na mwamini yeye (yaani aminini yale aliyoyaleta Muhammad (Amani iwe juu yake) kutoka kwa Allah, na mfuate). Atakusamehe dhambi zenu, na atakuokoa na adhabu chungu (yaani Moto wa Jahannamu).’” [46:29-31].

• “And (remember) when We sent towards you [Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ] Nafran (three to ten persons) of the jinns, (quietly) listening to the Qur’ân, when they stood in the presence thereof, they said: ‘Listen in silence!’ And when it was finished, they returned to their people, as warners. They said: ‘O our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Qur’ân) sent down after Moses, confirming what came before it, it guides to the Truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islam). O our people! Respond (with obedience) to Allâh’s Caller [i.e. Allâh’s Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ], and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has brought from Allâh and follow him). He (Allâh) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire).’” [46:29-31].

Tukio hilohilo linatajwa katika Surat Al-Jinn:

The same incident is referred to in Sûrah Al-Jinn:

•"Sema: [Ewe Muhammad ﷺ] "Imefunuliwa kwangu kwamba kikundi (cha majini watatu hadi kumi) kilisikiliza (Qur'ani hii). Wakasema: 'Hakika sisi tumesikia Qur'ani ya ajabu! Inaongoza kwenye Njia iliyo sawa, na tumeiamini, wala hatutamshirikisha Mola wetu na yeyote kamwe.'" [72:1,2] … Hadi mwisho wa aya ya 15.

•“Say [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ]: “It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinns listened (to this Qur’ân). They said: ‘Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur’ân)! It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allâh).’” [72:1,2] … Till the end of the 15th verse.

Kutokana na muktadha wa aya hizi na tafsiri yake husika, tunaweza kuthibitisha kwa uhakika kwamba Mtume ﷺ hakuwa na habari ya uwepo wa kundi hilo la majini. Ilikuwa ni pale tu Allah alipoteremsha aya hizo ndipo alipopata kujua jambo hilo. Aya hizo pia zinathibitisha kwamba huo ulikuwa ni mara ya kwanza kwao kuja. Hata hivyo, muktadha wa matoleo mbalimbali unaonyesha kwamba majini hao walirudia ziara zao baadaye. Uwepo wa kundi hilo la majini unakuja katika muktadha wa msaada wa Mwenyezi Mungu kwa Mjumbe Wake ﷺ, na unawakilisha ishara njema ya ushindi wa mwisho na mafanikio kwa Da'wah ya Uislamu. Unatoa ushahidi usiotetereka kwamba hakuna nguvu, hata iwe kubwa kiasi gani, inayoweza kubadilisha kile kinachoamuliwa na Allah.

From the context of these verses and their relevant interpretation, we can safely establish it that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was not aware of the presence of that group of jinns. It was only when Allâh revealed those verses that he came to know of it. The verses also confirm that it was the first time they came. However, the context of the different versions suggests that the jinns repeated their visits later on. The presence of that company of jinns comes in the context of the Divine support givto His Messenger, and constitutes a propitious sign of ultimate victory and success for the Call of Islam. It provides an unshakable proof that no power however mighty could alter what is wrought by Allâh:

• "Na yeyote asiyeitikia wito wa Mwenyezi Mungu, hawezi kukimbia duniani, wala hatakuwa na walinzi (wenye kumlinda) badala ya Mwenyezi Mungu (kutokana na adhabu ya Mwenyezi Mungu). Hao wamo katika upotevu wa wazi." [46:32].

• “And whosoever does not respond to Allâh’s Caller, he cannot escape on earth, and there will be no Auliyâ (protectors) from him besides Allâh (from Allâh’s punishment). Those are in manifest error.” [46:32].

"Na sisi tunadhani kwamba hatuwezi kutoroka (adhabu ya) Allah duniani, wala hatuwezi kutoroka (adhabu) kwa kukimbia." [72:12].

“And we think that we cannot escape (from the punishment of) Allâ h in the earth, nor can we escape (from the punishment) by flight.” [72:12].

Kwa kuungwa mkono huu na mwanzo huu wa kutia moyo, huzuni, kukata tamaa na majonzi vilivyokuwa vikimsumbua tangu alipofukuzwa kutoka At-Ta'if, aligeuza uso wake kuelekea Makka akiwa na azma mpya ya kuendeleza mpango wake wa awali wa kuwafikishia watu Uislamu na kuufikisha Ujumbe wake kwa moyo mkuu wa bidii na hamasa isiyo na kifani.

Given this support and auspicious start, depression, dismay and sadness that used to beset him since he was driven out of At-Ta’if, he turned his face towards Makkah with fresh determination to resume his earlier plan to expose people to Islam and communicate his Message in a great spirit of zeal and matchless enthusiasm.

Zaid bin Harithah, mwandani wake, alimwambia Mtume ﷺ, "Je, unathubutu vipi kuingia Makka baada ya wao (Quraish) kukufukuza?" Mtume ﷺ akajibu: "Sikiliza Zaid, hakika Allah atatoa faraja, na bila shaka atauunga mkono dini yake na Nabii wake."

Zaid bin Harithah, his companion, addressing the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “How dare you step into Makkah after they (Quraish) have expatriated you?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) answered: “Hearken Zaid, Allâh will surely provide relief and He will verily support His religion and Prophet.”.

Alipofika karibu na Makkah, alijitenga na kwenda kwenye Pango la Hira'. Kutoka hapo, alimtuma mtu wa kabila la Khuza‘ah kwa Al-Akhnas bin Shuraiq akitafuta ulinzi wake. Huyo alijibu kwamba yeye ni mshirika wa Quraish na hana nafasi ya kutoa ulinzi. Alimtuma mjumbe kwa Suhail bin ‘Amr, lakini hakupata mafanikio pia. Hata hivyo, Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi, mtu mashuhuri huko Makkah, alijitolea kujibu ombi la Mtume ﷺ la kupata hifadhi. Aliwaambia watu wake wajiandae kikamilifu wakiwa na silaha, kisha akamwomba Muhammad ﷺ aingie mjini na moja kwa moja ndani ya Haram Takatifu. Mtume ﷺ alisali sala ya rakaa mbili, kisha akaondoka kuelekea nyumbani kwake akilindwa na walinzi wa ‘Adi waliokuwa na silaha nzito na macho ya tahadhari.

When he was a short distance from Makkah, he retired to Hira’ Cave. Whence he despatched a man from Khuza‘ah tribe to Al-Akhnas bin Shuraiq seeking his protection. The latter answered that he was Quraish’s ally and in no position to offer protection. He despatched the messenger to Suhail bin ‘Amr, but to no avail, either. Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi, a notable in Makkah, however, volunteered to respond to the Prophet’s appeal for shelter. He asked his people to prepare themselves fully armed and then asked Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to enter into the town and directly into the Holy Sanctuary. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) observed a two-Rak‘a prayer and left for his house guarded by the heavily-armed vigilant ‘Adi’s.

Imepokewa kwamba baadaye Abu Jahl, adui mkuu wa Uislamu, alimuuliza Mut‘im kama tabia yake ilionyesha ulinzi au kusilimu, naye akajibu kwamba ilikuwa ni ulinzi tu. Abu Jahl alifarijika na akasema kwamba atampa Muhammad ﷺ ulinzi kwa ajili yake.

It has been reported that later Abu Jahl, the archenemy of Islam, asked Mut‘im if his behaviour suggested protection or conversion, the latter replied it was merely protection. Abu Jahl was relieved and said that he would give Muhammad protection for his sake.

Mtume wa Allah (ﷺ) hakuwahi kusahau wema wa Mut‘im. Mwishoni mwa vita vya Badr, alitangaza hadharani kwamba, lau Mut‘im angekuwa bado hai na akaomba waachiliwe huru mateka wa Quraish, yeye asingemkatalia ombi lake.

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) never forgot Mut‘im’s favour. At the conclusion of the battle of Badr, he declared publicly that if Mut‘im had been still alive and asked for the release of the Quraishite captives, he would not deny him his request.