An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
8. Manners In Speech
~ 180 ~
ANSWER, BUT DO NOT REBUKE
At the outset of his mission, the Prophet was able to
continue with his work, because he had the
protection of his uncle, Abu Talib. But, in the tenth
year of his mission, his uncle died, and the People of
Makkah, now able to take action against the Prophet,
cut him off from the tribal brotherhood, thus forcing
him to search for a new patron. Accompanied by his
uncle Abbas, the Prophet went to the fair of Ukaz,
where he visited the tents of various tribes to ask
them to extend their patronage to him, so that he
could continue his preaching work. But, for fear of
the Quraysh, no one was willing to do this. The next
year, the Prophet once again visited Arab fairs in
search of a patron. This time he met six men of the
Aus and Khazraj tribes of Yathrib (Madinah) whom
he talked to about Islam. When they asked him
about the nature of the revelation he had received,
the Prophet recited some Quranic verses from the
chapter of “Abraham” to them. It took only this to
melt the hearts of these men from Madinah, and they
accepted Islam. It was nighttime and their voices
were overheard by Abbas ibn Abd al Muttalib as he
passed nearby. Recognizing the Prophet’s voice, he
