had been delivering the message of Allah in Mecca and making all out efforts to guide and reform
his community. Excepting a few persons who had either embraced Islam or who helped him though
not accepting . his creed , all the rest in Mecca left no stone unturned in persecuting him and his followers.
His uncle Abu Talib was one of those goodhearted people who helped him, in spite of his not entering
into the fold of Islam.
The following year, on the death of Abu Talib, the Qureysh got a free hand and therefore accelerated
their sinister pursuits without check and hindrance. At Taif, the second biggest town of Hijaz, there lived
Banu Thaqif, a clan strong in number. The Prophet (Sallallaho aiaiho wasallam) left for Taif with the hope
of winning them over to Islam,thus giving quarter to Muslims from the persecution of the Qureysh,and
also establishing a base for the future propagation of Islam. On reaching Taif he visited the three chieftains
of the clan separately,and placed before each of them the message, of Allah, and called upon them to stand
by his Prophet's ( Sallallaho aiaiho wasallam) side. Insted of accepting his message, they refused even to
listen to him and, notwithstanding the proverbial Arab hospitality. each of them treated him most
contemptuously and rudle. They plainly told him that they not like his stay in their town. The Prophet
(Sallallaho aiaiho wasallam) had expected a civil, even a cordial treatment and due courtesy in speech
from them, as they were the heads of the clan. But one of them sneered:
