It is said that the Saudi city of Ta’if is the place meant in the final supplication of the father of prophets, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) after he left his wife Hajar and their son Isma’il beside the Ka‘bah and departed for the land of al-Sham:
“Our Lord! I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.” (Surah Ibrahim, verse 37)
According to this narration, Allah Almighty responded to Ibrahim’s prayer: “So Jibreel, the Trustworthy, was commanded to uproot a village from al-Sham and carry it-with its springs, trees, and orchards—and he circled the Ka‘bah with it and set it in its place. It was named Ta’if.” Some say its origin is from the Ghawr of Jordan in Hawran, from the land of al-Sham.
Remarkably, one of Ta’if’s most famous springs is called Ain Barada — the same name as the Barada River in Damascus, the capital of al-Sham. Many affirm that the taste and sweetness of its water is no different from that of the well-known river, just as its fruits and vegetables are nearly identical in quality and taste to those of fertile al-Sham.
The Andalusian scholar al-Mayurqi wrote in his book “Bahjat al-Muhaj” that “Ta’if’s blessing is greater than the blessing of al-Sham (Levant), because it circled the Ancient House (the Ka‘bah).” Ibn Abi Hatim and al-Azraqi narrated from al-Zuhri that Allah transported a village from the villages of al-Sham and placed it in Ta’if in response to Ibrahim’s supplication.
It is also said that when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) supplicated, “and provide for them from the fruits,” Allah commanded Jibreel (peace be upon him) to cut a piece of land from al-Sham — and it is even said specifically from Palestine — and carry it on his wing. When he reached above the Ka‘bah, he circled it seven times, hence it was called Ta’if (meaning “one that circles”) and then placed it in its known location. Its soil thus yields all the fruits of Palestine — figs, grapes, pomegranates, and more — and its climate mirrors that of Palestine. This is one of Allah’s blessings, and Allah has power over all things.
Imam al-Suyuti recorded in “Al-Durr al-Manthur” when interpreting the verse “and provide its people with fruits” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 126) various reports supporting this. Al-Azraqi narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from the Prophet (peace be upon him): “When Allah established the Haram (the Sacred Sanctuary), He brought Ta’if from Palestine.” Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim al-Ta’ifi who said: “It reached me that when Ibrahim supplicated for the Haram — ‘and provide its people with fruits’ — Allah brought Ta’if from Palestine.” Similar reports were transmitted by al-Zuhri, Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib, and others, who mentioned that when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed that his people be provided with fruits, Allah moved the land of Ta’if from al-Sham and placed it nearby as provision for the Haram.
Imam al-Shawkani mentioned likewise: Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim al-Ta’ifi that “when Ibrahim prayed for the Haram, Allah transported Ta’if from Palestine,” a narration similarly transmitted by al-Zuhri and others through various chains.
The History of Ta’if
Ta’if is considered the second of the great Arab cities after Makkah, with its history dating back to before the birth of Prophet ‘Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him). Some historians trace its origins to the era of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Ta’if remains one of the oldest cities in the world, and it is rare to find a book on the history of the Arabian Peninsula that does not mention it. It was historically under the rule of the Thaqif tribe.
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