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Summary

The following points below are summary from this week's Friday Sermon:

• After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) said that he would continue mentioning the Battle of Ta’if.
• His Holiness (aba) said that there was a companion who went to speak with the people of Ta’if, and the people of Ta’if had ensured his security. However when he reached them, he was martyred by them. Despite this treachery committed by the people of Ta’if, the Holy Prophet (sa) did not abandon his efforts towards establishing peace. He then sent Hazrat Hanzalah (ra) to the people of Ta’if. When he reached near the fortress some of the people of Ta’if came out to speak with him. Hazrat Hanzalah (ra) asked if they wished to come to an agreement. Instead of speaking, they attacked Hazrat Hanzalah (ra) and attempted to take him into the fortress. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) asked who would go and save Hazrat Hanzalah (ra) and receive a reward equal to that of all the soldiers combined. Hazrat Abbas (ra) raced ahead and saved Hazrat Hanzalah (ra). 
• His Holiness (aba) said that as it was mentioned before, the people of Ta’if and the Banu Hawazin had deep familial ties with the people of Makkah. As such, Hazrat Abu Sufyan bin Harb (ra) and Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (ra) also went to the fortress to negotiate peace, however they were unsuccessful as well. However, the people of Ta’if did send a message requesting that on account of their familial bonds, their orchards should be left alone. Despite their actions, it was upon this request that the Holy Prophet (sa) retracted his instruction to ruin some of their orchards. This is an exemplary aspect of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) character. His instruction of cutting down some of their orchards would have swayed that battle in favour of the Muslims; however, when the people of Ta’if made a request citing their familial bonds, the Holy Prophet (sa) accepted their request despite it bringing with it the possibility of a negative outcome in the battle. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that the Holy Prophet (sa) announced that any slave who left the fortress and came to the Muslims would be freed. Upon this, 23 slaves left the fortress and went to the Muslims, and they were subsequently freed. The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed that they should be taught the faith well. Later, when the people of Ta’if accepted Islam, they requested that those same slaves be returned to them, however the Holy Prophet (sa) refused this request. Some of these slaves went on to make a name for themselves in the history of Islam on account of their righteousness, such as Hazrat Abu Bakra (ra). 
• His Holiness (aba) said that Uyainah bin Hisn Fuzari (ra) requested the Holy Prophet (sa) for permission to go to the fortress and invite the Banu Thaqif to Islam. He had accepted Islam before the Conquest of Makkah, however later during the time of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) caliphate he became apostate and then later repented and reverted to Islam. The Holy Prophet (sa) had said regarding him that he was an unwise leader. In any case, when he made this request the Holy Prophet (sa) granted him permission, however, rather than inviting the Banu Thaqif to Islam, when he reached the fortress he told them to continue standing their ground as the Muslim army’s strength was weakening. When Uyainah (ra) returned, the Holy Prophet (sa) asked him what he had said. He replied saying he had invited them to Islam. However, God had already informed the Holy Prophet (sa) what Uyainah had said, and so he repeated to Uyainah everything that he had said. Uyainah said this was true, and sought forgiveness. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that the Holy Prophet (sa) consulted Hazrat Naufal (ra) regarding the siege and upon his advice, he decided to leave the siege , and had Hazrat Umar (ra) announce this to everyone. It appears that the Holy Prophet (sa) would have received some divine guidance with regards to leaving the siege at that time, as in the past, the Holy Prophet (sa) had achieved victory under even more difficult circumstances. However in this instance, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed that the siege should end despite not yet having achieved victory. However, every single thing that the Holy Prophet (sa) did was in accordance with the will of God. His life was a testament of ‘Say, “my Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”’ (The Holy Qur’an, 6:163)
• His Holiness (aba) said that there are two clear indicators that the Holy Prophet (sa) ended this siege in accordance with divine guidance. The Holy Prophet (sa) had seen a dream during the siege that he had received some butter in a vessel as a gift, however a bird pecked at it causing it to fall. The Holy Prophet (sa) related this to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), who interpreted it to mean that they would not receive from the Banu Thaqif when they had intended. The Holy Prophet (sa) agreed with this interpretation. Then, there is a narration in which Hazrat Khaulah (ra) requested the Holy Prophet (sa) that when God would grant him victory over Ta’if she should be given the jewelry of Badia bint Ghailan, for she had the most valuable jewelry of the Banu Thaqif. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked her, ‘What if I am not permitted victory over the Thaqif?’ She went and related this to Hazrat Umar (ra), and he went to ask the Holy Prophet (sa) if he had indeed said this and the Holy Prophet (sa) confirmed he had. Hazrat Umar (ra) asked the Holy Prophet (sa) whether he had been given permission with regards to victory over the Thaqif, to which the Holy Prophet (sa) said no. It was upon this that the instruction to leave the siege was announced. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that some zealous youngsters wondered why they were leaving without having achieved victory. They went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and said that they would fight. The Holy Prophet (sa) said that they could return the next morning. So they fought the next day, but received nothing but injuries. The Holy Prophet (sa) said that they would now return, and now everyone was happy with this decision. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that three disbelievers were killed in this battle, however there are not many details in this regard. Similarly, there are not many details regarding any Muslims martyrs, however there is some mention regarding those Muslims who were injured. For example, Hazrat Abu Sufyan bin Harb (ra) was struck in the eye with an arrow, causing his eye to fall out into his hand. He went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and said that if he wished, he would pray for him and his eye would be restored, but if he did not wish for his eye to be restored, then he would be granted paradise. Abu Sufyan (ra) said that Paradise was dearer to him, and then he threw his eye away. Then, there was the son of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Abdullah (ra) who sustained such a deep wound that it ultimately became the cause of his demise during the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). There were a total of 12 Muslims martyred during this battle. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that the Holy Prophet’s (sa) wives Hazrat Umm Salamah (ra) and Hazrat Zainab (ra) accompanied him. Two tents were set up for them, and the Holy Prophet (sa) would offer prayers between their two tents. 

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Summary prepared by The Review of Religions