Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
9. The Prophetic Method
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was the enemy’s turn to take flight. The Muslims
won the day, along with booty amounting to 24,000
camels, 40,000 goats and 40,000 ounces of silver.
They also took some 6,000 prisoners.
Despite this victory, the situation continued to
deteriorate. The Thaqif were the second most
prominent tribe in the whole of Arabia. They also
owned the only fortified town in the peninsula.
They were now besieged in Ta’if, but during the
three weeks siege they inflicted more losses on the
Muslims than they themselves had received at
Hunayn. Their opposition to Islam was so deep-
rooted that when one of their number, ‘Urwah ibn
Mas’ud Thaqafi—who was reputed to be “dearer to
his people than sweet maidens”—came to the
Prophet and accepted Islam, they forgot their
previous affection for him, and cruelly riddled him
with arrows.
Once again the Prophet’s inner strength came to his
rescue. As
the siege was tightened, ‘Umar asked the
Prophet to pray for the destruction of the people of
Ta’if; but instead the Prophet prayed for their
guidance. He was entirely free of anger and
