The hard years and hope

Abyssinia. To protect those most at risk, the Prophet ﷺ allowed a group of Muslims to leave for Abyssinia (today's Ethiopia), ruled by a Christian king, the Negus, known for his justice. Quraysh sent envoys to bring them back. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib then explained Islam to the king and recited the beginning of Surah Maryam (19). The Negus refused to hand the Muslims over. (Account reported by Umm Salama, Musnad Aḥmad 1740 [À VÉRIFIER])

The boycott. Quraysh then decided to stop trading and intermarrying with the Prophet's ﷺ clan, the Banu Hashim, who were protecting him. According to most historians, this boycott lasted about three years, in a valley near Mecca, with hunger and illness.

The Year of Sorrow. Shortly after the boycott ended came two great losses: the death of Khadija, his wife and first support, then that of his uncle Abu Talib, who had protected him. This year is often called "the Year of Sorrow".

Ta'if. The Prophet ﷺ went to Ta'if, a nearby town, to call its people to Islam. Its leaders rejected him and had stones thrown at him. Later, he told how the angel of the mountains had offered to crush the town between two mountains. He replied: "Rather, I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone, associating nothing with Him." (Bukhari 3231, Muslim 1795)

The Night Journey. In this hard period, Allah honoured His Prophet ﷺ with the Night Journey (al-Isra') from Mecca to Jerusalem, then the Ascension (al-Mi'raj) through the heavens: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا "Glory be to the One who took His servant on a journey by night" (meaning of part of verse 17:1). It was during this journey that the five daily prayers were prescribed (Bukhari 349, Muslim 162 [À VÉRIFIER : numéro Muslim]). The exact date of this journey is debated by historians.

What we take from it: after loss, rejection and exhaustion, the Prophet ﷺ did not answer with anger, and Allah opened a door for him.

And you? When someone has hurt you, is the Prophet's ﷺ answer at Ta'if easy to follow? What could help you hope for good for the other person rather than harm?

Understanding the lesson

Explanation These years form a chain of trials: the exile of some of the Muslims, the boycott, the loss of Khadijah and Abu Talib, the rejection at Ta'if. Looking at them together helps us see how the Prophet ﷺ went through hardship.

Abyssinia shows that justice can be found where we do not expect it: Muslims found safety with a just Christian king. And when Ja'far presented Islam, he spoke about what Islam had changed in their behaviour: truthfulness, keeping trusts, respect for neighbours.

During the boycott, members of the clan of Banu Hashim who were not Muslims still shared the Prophet's ﷺ hunger in order to protect him. Family solidarity played its part.

The Prophet ﷺ was sad, truly sad, after the deaths of Khadijah and Abu Talib. Sadness is not a lack of faith. Later, when his son Ibrahim died, he said: "The eyes shed tears, the heart grieves, and we say only what pleases our Lord." (Bukhari 1303)

At Ta'if, at the very moment he could have asked for punishment, he chose to hope for future generations. And a few years later, the people of Ta'if did become Muslims. Then came the night journey, with the gift of the five prayers. Allah says: "Indeed, with hardship comes ease" (meaning of 94:5-6).

Lessons to draw from it • Being sad after a loss is human; we can weep without losing trust in Allah. • Answering harm with hope and supplication takes strength, and it is often what changes hearts over time. • Justice and solidarity can come from people who do not share our religion: we recognise it and thank them. • Prayer is a refuge given in the hardest moments: we return to it when everything seems closed.

Key points to remember • Some Muslims found refuge in Abyssinia, with the Negus. • The boycott lasted about three years; then came "the year of sorrow" (the deaths of Khadijah and Abu Talib). • After Ta'if, Allah honoured His Prophet ﷺ with the Isra' and Mi'raj, when the five prayers were prescribed.

The main message After loss and rejection, the Prophet ﷺ chose hope over revenge, and Allah opened a door for him: ease comes with hardship.