2 of 2 · 10th year of prophethood · after Ta'if · Makkah
Al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi
Under His Protection
After Abu Talib died, the Prophet ﷺ went to Ta'if to call its people, and they drove him out. Coming back, he could not safely re-enter Makkah without a protector. Ibn Ishaq reports that he sent a message to al-Akhnas ibn Shariq and then to Suhayl ibn 'Amr, and both declined.
Then he sent to al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi, who agreed. Al-Mut'im armed himself, his sons and his clan, and they stood around the Ka'bah. The Prophet ﷺ entered, made tawaf, prayed two rak'ahs and went home, with al-Mut'im's people around him.
Some biographers report that Abu Jahl asked him, "Are you protecting him, or following him?" Al-Mut'im replied that he was only protecting him, and Abu Jahl said, "Then we protect whom you protect." He gave the Prophet ﷺ his protection without accepting his message, and he kept his word.
When no one else would open the door, a man who did not believe opened it. Allah protects His Messenger ﷺ by whatever means He wills.
Do you recognise the help Allah sends you, even when it comes from an unexpected person?
- Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (the return from Ta'if)Historical report
- Ibn Sa'd, al-Tabaqat al-KubraHistorical report
- Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa'l-NihayahHistorical report
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