Wicked people adopt many ways to suppress the truth. One of their methods is to spread false propaganda against the person who calls to the truth. They try to stop the people from coming into contact with such person and let them not to listen to him.
Those who know not the truth fall an easy prey to such false propaganda and keep themselves away from such person. But at the same time it is also a fact that as and when people come to know the truth and it appeals their good sense, they cannot remain a silent spectator and follow the truth with spirit and fevour. The case of Hadrat Tufail Doosi (Allah be pleased with him) is an illuminating example of the fact stated above.
Hadrat Tufail bin ‘Amar Dosi (Allah be pleased with him) belonged to a prosperous tribe of Yemen called Doos and was the chief of his tribe. By profession he was a merchant. He often visited Mecca in connection with his business. He was a poet also and had very good relations with the elite of Mecca.
When the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) invited the Meccans to follow the path of truth and embrace Islam, Tufail bin ‘Umar Doosi happened to be present in Mecca. His friends extended to his hospitality and entertainment as usual, but they gave him a warning also. They said, “Beware of the person called Muhammad. Do not listen to him, otherwise you will fall a prey to him. His discourse is so charming that anyone who listens to him follows him blindly. He separates the brother from his brother, wife from her husband, and the son from his father. He has played havoc in our city and has ruined our peace and tranquility. You are our guest, so we have given you a piece of advice ; otherwise you are intelligent enough to know what is good or bad.”
The friends misled Tufail Doosi (Allah be pleased with him) in such a manner that he said to himself, “They are my well-wish-ers. Whatever they say must be true. Why should I meet that man Muhammad!” Then he plugged both of his ears with pads of cotton so that he could not hear the voice of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) , But, he was destined by Allah to be blessed with Islam and all these devices proved futile.
One day as he passed by the Ka’aba he saw the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) saying his prayers. The recitation of Qur’anic verses came to his ears. He stopped to listen to it as the charm of the verses attracted him. He said to himself, “What a fool I am! I am myself a good poet and can judge very well the standard and quality of a piece of literature, why shouldn’t I listen and talk to him. If it is worth appreciation I must acknowledge it with open heart; if it is something worthless then I will certainly not fall a prey to him.
Hadrat Tufail (Allah be pleased with him) stopped near the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and listened attentively to the Qura’nic verses recited by him. After the prayers when the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) proceeded towards his house, Tufail (Allah be pleased with him) followed him and met him at his residence. He told him what ever the Meccans had said about him adding, “I plugged my ears with cotton pads so that I could not hear the Holy Qur‘an. The pagans deceived me. Kindly recite some more verses from the Holy Book.”
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) at first told him about Islam and its teachings and then recited some verses from the Qur ‘an. When Tufail bin Umar Doosi (Allah be pleased with him) heard the Holy verses, he was struck with awe. Suddenly he exclaimed, “By Allah! My ears never heared any verses better than this before; nor my eyes have ever seen a religion more attractive than Islam. I accept with all my heart the teachings and commandments of the true religion of Allah.”
After embracing Islam, Hadrat Tufail bin Umar Doosi (Allah be pleased with him) returned to Yemen. He had learnt by heart the teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He, therefore, started propagating Islam in his country. In the first instance he invited his own father towards Islam. He accepted the faith. Then he preached to his wife. She too accepted Islam. Thus, he invited his whole family to Islam all of whom accepted it. After that all of whom accepted it. After that all the members of his family began to work for Islam, but they gained little success in their mission. Hence he again went to Mecca. He met the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and requested him to pray to Allah for guiding the people of Yemen to the right path. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed and then said to Tufail (Allah be pleased with him) “Invite the people to Islam politely and affectionately.” The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) gave this advice, because Tufail (Allah be pleased with him) was a wealthy person of his clan and such persons develop aristocratic manners.
Tufail bin Umar Doosi (Allah be pleased with him) returned home with the new instructions from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He started preaching Islam to the individuals he found receptive and intelligent and within a short period most of the people of his tribe turned Muslims.
Hadrat Tufail preached Islam in his own land and visited Mecca off and on to see the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). In Mecca he heard about the atrocities committed on the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers. He saw that the torments and cruelties on the Muslims were becoming unbearable. He was the owner of a strong fort in Yemen. His entire family has accepted Islam. So he invited the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to migrate to Yemen. He gave him every guarantee for his safety and peace of mind. But the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) waited for a sign from Allah. He did not agree to migrate and said, “Please go to your tribe and try to bring the rest of the people to Islam.”
Hadrat Tufail (Allah be pleased with him) returned to his country and engaged himself in preaching Islam. By his influence a great number of people of Yemen embraced Islam. When he heard after some time that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had migrated to Medina, Hazrat Tufail also left for Medina with people of the Doosi clan. They heard at Medina that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was out on an expendition to Khyber. At Khyber the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) posted young men of that party at strategic positions. These brave youngmen proved their worth. After the conquest of Khyber they returned to Medina in the company of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and stayed there. Hadrat Tufail engaged himself in the service of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and attained full knowledge of Islam.
He was very eager to die as martyr. After the death of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and during the reign of Hazrad Abu Bakr Siddiq (Allah be pleased with him), his long felt, desire was fulfilled. He took part in the battle of Yamama and laid down his life to uphold the Kalima which he had recited while embracing Islam. May Allah be pleased with him.
