The Day They Threw Stones

The Story

After his beloved wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib had passed away, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ felt very alone. He decided to walk to a city called Ta'if. He hoped the people there would listen to his message about Allah.

But when the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Ta'if, the leaders would not even speak to him kindly. They laughed at him. They told him to leave. And that was not the worst part.

As the Prophet ﷺ walked through the streets of Ta'if, the people there began to throw stones at him — trying to chase him away. Stones flew. His feet bled. His heart ached.

The Prophet ﷺ found a quiet garden to rest in. He sat under a tree — hurt, tired, and alone. He raised his hands and spoke to Allah. Not to complain about the people. Not to ask for revenge. Just to ask for strength.

Suddenly an angel appeared beside him. 'O Messenger of Allah,' the angel said gently. 'If you wish, I can destroy this city and everyone in it. Just say the word.' The Prophet ﷺ looked up. His eyes were tired, but they were full of mercy.

'No,' the Prophet ﷺ said softly. 'Do not destroy them. Maybe they don’t understand today. But maybe their children — or their children’s children — will come to love Allah one day.' And he forgave them. Even after the stones. Even after the bleeding. That is how the Prophet of Mercy answered the people who hurt him.

Dua of the Week: Dua for Forgiving Others

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Allahumma ighfir li qawmi fa'innahum la ya'lamoon

"O Allah, forgive my people — for they do not know."

The Prophet ﷺ made similar duas of forgiveness whenever people hurt him. Instead of asking Allah to punish them, he asked Allah to guide them. When someone hurts us, we can make duas like this too. It turns anger into mercy.

Quran Verse: Surah Fussilat 41:34

وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ

"Good and evil are not equal. Repel [evil] with what is better, and then the one between you and whom was enmity will become like a close friend."

Family Discussion

The Prophet ﷺ was hurt badly but chose not to hurt back. Think about a time someone hurt your feelings. Did you want to get back at them? What happened when you chose to forgive instead?

Good Deed Challenge

This week, forgive one person who upset you — even if they haven't said sorry. Make the dua of the Prophet ﷺ in your heart: 'O Allah, forgive them, they don't know.' Then be kind to them anyway.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 3231, Sahih Muslim 1795, Seerah Ibn Hisham (Ta'if incident)