An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
17. Calling Mankind To The Truth
~ 313 ~
whole day!” burst out Abu Lahab. “Have you called
us together to hear only this?”
(IBN KATHIR,
SIRAH)
BRINGING ISLAM WITHOUT
CONDESCENSION, TO EVERYONE
Severely wounded, the Prophet was returning from
Taif, and, on the way, took refuge in a vineyard
belonging to Utbah and Shaybah, sons of a Makkan
chieftain. Both Utbah and Shaybah, being in the
vineyard at the time, saw the state the Prophet was
in and sent their Christian slave, Addas, to him
with some grapes. As the Prophet began to eat
them, he recited the words: “In God’s name.”
Addas expressed his surprise at the Prophet having
made such a dedication, and the Prophet asked him
where he came from. “From Nainevah,” replied
Addas. “Oh, from the town of the good Jonah, son
of Matthew,” said the Prophet. And Addas was
even more surprised to hear that the Prophet knew
about Jonah, whereupon the Prophet recited to him
that portion of the Qur’an which had been revealed
to him concerning Jonah. “The Prophet,” writes
Abu Nuaim, “did not behave with condescension
