Tufayl ibn Amr al-Dawsi Embraces Islam
Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه was a highly accomplished poet. Once, he came to Makkah. When the Quraysh heard of his arrival, they gathered around him.
They said to Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه:
«“You have come among us at a time when this man has made our situation extremely complicated. He has completely torn apart our unity and created division among us. There is something like magic in his words. He has even caused division between two biological brothers. Now we are also worried about you and your people. Therefore, do not speak to him at all, and do not listen to anything he says.”»
They put so much pressure on him that he was forced to say:
«“I will neither listen to anything Muhammad says nor speak to him.”»
The next day, Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه went to the Kaaba to perform Tawaf. He stuffed pieces of cloth into his ears so that none of the Prophet’s ﷺ words would reach his ears.
The Prophet ﷺ was offering prayer in the Kaaba at that time. Tufayl رضي الله عنه stood quite close to him.
Allah had destined that some of the Prophet’s ﷺ words would reach his ears. Thus, he heard extremely pure and beautiful words.
He began saying to himself:
«“I can distinguish between good and bad. So what harm is there in listening to what this man has to say? If he says something good, I will accept it, and if it is something bad, I will leave it.”»
After some time, the Prophet ﷺ finished his prayer and headed toward his home. Tufayl رضي الله عنه said:
«“O Muhammad! Your people told me such and such things about you. Because of this, I had stuffed cloth into my ears to avoid hearing your words. But now present your message to me.”»
Hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ presented Islam to him and recited the Holy Qur’an before him.
After listening to the Qur’an, Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه exclaimed:
«“By Allah, I have never heard words better than these.”»
After this, he recited the Kalimah and became a Muslim.
Then he said:
«“O Prophet of Allah ﷺ! I hold a high position among my people. They all listen to me and obey me. I will return and invite my people to Islam. Therefore, please pray for me.”»
The Prophet ﷺ prayed for him.
Then Tufayl رضي الله عنه departed.
When he approached his settlement, he saw groups of travelers gathered near the water. At exactly that moment, a light appeared between his two eyes, like a lamp. This happened because of the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer for him.
It was also a dark night. At that time, he prayed:
«“O Allah! Place this light somewhere other than my face. I fear that my people may say that my appearance has been disfigured because I changed my religion.”»
Immediately, the light moved from his face to his whip. His whip now shone like a lantern.
Because of this, Hazrat Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه came to be known as Dhu an-Nur, meaning the one possessing the light.
When he reached home, his father came to him. Tufayl رضي الله عنه said to him:
«“Do not come near me. I have no relationship with you anymore, nor do you have any relationship with me.”»
Hearing this, his father asked:
«“Why, my son? What has happened?”»
He replied:
«“I have become a Muslim. I have accepted the religion of Muhammad ﷺ.”»
As soon as his father heard this, he said:
«“My son, whatever your religion is, that is my religion too.”»
Then Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه told him to take a bath and put on clean clothes.
When he had done so, Tufayl رضي الله عنه presented Islam to him. He immediately recited the Kalimah and became a Muslim.
Then his wife came to him. She also accepted Islam.
After this, Tufayl رضي الله عنه presented Islam to the people of his tribe.
They became upset and rejected it…