When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) left Taif, on his way back to Mecca, he passed through a valley of Nakhla near Mecca to pray and read Quran in the middle of the night. A group of jinn came to him, and when they heard him, they stayed to listen to the Messenger of Allah’s recitation when he was praying. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished praying, the jinn announced their faith in Islam. They then left to go to their fellow jinn to call them to Islam. This was a victory and good tidings that the Messenger of Allah’s call will be victorious, after the difficulties he experienced in Taif.
Allah (Glorified is He) refers to the jinn embracing Islam, saying, {And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur'an. And when they attended it, they said, ‘Listen quietly.’ And when it was finished, they went back to their people as warners. They said, ‘O our people, indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it, which guides to the truth and to a straight path. O our people, respond to the Messenger of Allah and believe in him; Allah will forgive for you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment. But he who does not respond to the caller to Allah will not cause failure [to Allah] on the earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error’} [Surah Al-Ahqaf: 29 – 32].
Allah (Glorified is He) also says in Surah Jinn, {Say, [O Muhammad], ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, “Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur'an. It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone’”} [Surah Jinn: 1, 2] until ayah 15 [see The Prophet’s Biography by Ibn Hesham].
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prepared to return to Mecca, to which Zaid ibn Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him) said (referring to Quraysh) <‘How can you return to them and they have pushed you out?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
‘Oh Zaid, Allah arranged what you saw as a form of relief and a way out of difficulties. Allah will truly make His religion victorious and support His Prophet’>
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept walking until he reached Hira mountain near Mecca. He sent a man from Khuza’ah to Al-Akhnas ibn Shareeq to ask him for protection. He replied, “I am only a supporter (of Quraysh). And supporters cannot give protection to anyone against Quraysh.” So he sent someone to Suhayl ibn Amr. Suhayl said, “Banu Amir do not offer protection to anyone from Banu Kaab.” Then he sent someone to Al-Mut’im Ibn Adi. Al-Mut’im agreed (to offer protection). He then picked up his weapon and called his sons and tribe, saying, “Pick up your weapons and stay at the corners of the House (Kaaba), as I have offered protection to Muhammed.” Then he sent a message to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), saying, “Enter (Mecca).” Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered Mecca with Zaid ibn Harithah and reached the Sacred Mosque. Al-Mutam mounted his ride and called out, “Oh people of Quraysh, I have offered protection to Muhammed, so no one should bother him.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stopped at the corner of the House, greeted it and prayed two rakats of prayer, and then went to his home. Al-Mutam and his sons kept watching the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) (to guarding him) until he entered his house. It is said that Abu Jahl asked Al-Mutam, “Have you offered him protection, or have you followed his ways (i.e. become a Muslim)?” Al-Mutam replied, “We have just offered him protection,” to which Abu Jahl replied, “We offer protection to the one you have offered protection.” In this way, Al-Mutam protected the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). About the captives of the battle of Badr, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, <If Al-Mutam ibn Adi was alive and he asked me to free these mean captives, I would have set them free>[The Sealed Nectar and other sources].
