Episode Summary
Following the rejection at Ta’if, the Prophet (saw) and Zayd bin Haditha began their journey back toward Makkah, stopping at a location called Nakhlah. While the Prophet performed night prayers, a group of seven jinn listened to his recitation of the Qur’an, recognizing it as a divine message confirming the scriptures of Moses. This event provided profound comfort to the Prophet, showing that while humans in Makkah and Ta’if had turned away, another creation of Allah was responding to his call. Upon reaching the outskirts of Makkah, the Prophet navigated the complexities of tribal protection, eventually finding a principled ally in Mut’im bin ‘Adi. Mut’im provided an armed escort for the Prophet's re-entry, ensuring his safety through a display of honor and tribal authority that even his fiercest enemies respected.
Key Highlights
- Seven jinn passing through Nakhlah listened to the Prophet's recitation and returned to their tribe as warners.
- The jinn's reaction in Surat Al-Ahqaf served as an unexpected victory and source of comfort for the Prophet.
- Akhnas bin Shuraikh and Suhayl bin Amr both declined to grant the Prophet protection for his return to Makkah.
- Mut’im bin ‘Adi, despite not being a Muslim, granted the Prophet protection based on his own principles of ethics and honor.
- Mut’im’s seven sons provided an armed security detail for the Prophet during his re-entry tawaaf at the Ka’bah.
- The Prophet remained so indebted to Mut’im that he stated he would have released all prisoners of Badr if Mut’im had asked.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Jinn of Nakhlah: An Unexpected Audience
After resting at Qablal Manazen and departing from Ta’if, the Prophet and Zayd bin Haditha stopped to camp at a place called Nakhlah, situated immediately outside of Makkah. During the evening, as the Prophet was offering qiyam (night prayers) and reciting the Qur’an, a group of seven jinn passing through the area stopped to listen. This event is documented in Surat Al-Ahqaf, which describes how the jinn commanded one another to be silent and listen intently to the captivating recitation.
Upon the conclusion of the prayer, these jinn returned to their people as warners, testifying that they had heard a book revealed after Moses that guides to the straight path. They urged their tribe to respond to the Caller of Allah (Muhammad), demonstrating an understanding that the Prophet and the Qur’an are connected and inseparable sources of guidance. This encounter provided the Prophet with divine comfort, proving that while his message fell on deaf ears among the Arabs for ten years, an entirely different creation had accepted his call.
2. Seeking Protection: The Diplomatic Mission
The Prophet did not believe it was safe to enter Makkah immediately, either fearing an ambush or having received warnings from Sahaba that the city was not yet safe. He sent Abdullah bin Uraiqet as a messenger to several leaders of the Quraysh to request yujiru/yijara (protection). The first request was sent to Akhnas bin Shuraikh, who declined to help. The second request was sent to Suhayl bin Amr, a pragmatic leader who also refused, stating he could not intervene because he belonged to Banu Amr and viewed the situation as a Banu Hashim issue.
The Prophet then sent Abdullah to Mut’im bin ‘Adi, a leader of the Quraysh known for his principles and ethics. Mut’im was the same man who had previously organized a delegation to end the three-year social boycott in the Shib of Abu Talib. Recognizing the Prophet’s need, Mut’im agreed to grant him his protection, and the Prophet and Zayd spent the night as guests in Mut’im’s home.
3. The Armed Escort and Re-entry into Makkah
The following day, Mut’im bin ‘Adi and his seven sons—all armed with swords—escorted the Prophet and Zayd to the Haram. Upon entering the Ka’bah, the seven sons took their positions, forming a semi-circle with their backs to the Ka’bah and their hands on their swords, ready to draw at any moment. Mut’im instructed the Prophet to perform his re-entry tawaaf, a birthright for Makkans returning home.
As the Prophet made dhikr and performed tawaaf, the presence of this armed security detail left opponents like Abu Sufyan and Abu Jahl stunned. Their plans to ambush the Prophet were thwarted by the reputation of Mut’im, who was known not only as a diplomat but as a man who could “throw down” and had personally trained his sons in fighting skills.
4. Abu Sufyan’s Reaction and Tribal Honor
Abu Sufyan approached Mut’im peacefully to clarify his position, asking if he had actually followed the Prophet or was simply granting him protection. Mut’im clarified that he did not believe in the message but was acting as a mujir (protector). Respecting the code of tribal honor, Abu Sufyan acknowledged that Mut’im’s word would not be violated, as harming the Prophet would be equivalent to disrespecting Mut’im himself. To signal his commitment to this peace, Abu Sufyan sat with Mut’im in the Haram until the Prophet had safely departed.
5. A Legacy of Prophetic Gratitude
The Prophet never forgot Mut’im bin ‘Adi’s kindness and honor. When news reached the Prophet in Medina that Mut’im had passed away, he allowed the Sahabi and poet Hassan bin Thabit to commemorate Mut’im from the masjid minbar. Hassan’s poetry expressed that the Believers were indebted to Mut’im for the support and dignity he showed the Messenger of Allah during his time of need.
This gratitude was most famously expressed after the Battle of Badr, where more than 70 Quraysh prisoners were captured. While the Sahaba debated ransom and education as terms for release, the Prophet declared that if Mut’im bin ‘Adi were still alive and had asked for the release of the captives, the Prophet would have released all of them to him as a gift. This statement underscored the immense respect the Prophet held for the man of principle who had stood by him during his most vulnerable hour.