Early history
In the 6th century the city of Tā'if was dominated by the Banu Thaqif tribe.
The town is about 100 km (62 mi) southeast of Mecca. The walled city was a religious centre as it housed the idol of the goddessAllāt, who was then known as "the lady of Tā'if." Its climate marked the city out from its dry and barren neighbours closer to there Sea. Wheat, vines, and fruit were grown around Tā'if and this is how the city earned its title "the Garden of the Hejaz."
During the Year of the Elephant, this city was involved in the events.
Both Ta'if and Mecca were resorts of pilgrimage. Ta'if was more pleasantly situated than Mecca itself and the people of Ta'if had close trade relations with the people of Mecca. The people of Ta'if carried on agriculture and fruit growing in addition to their trade activities.
620 – 632: Muhammad's era
630: The Battle of Hunayn and the Conversion of the City
In 630, the Battle of Hunayn took place at Hunayn, close to this city. Shortly after that, the unsuccessful Siege of Ta'if took place. The city was assaulted by catapults from Banu Daws, but it repelled the attacks. The Battle of Tabouk in 631 left Tā'if completely isolated so members of Thaqīf arrived in Mecca to negotiate the conversion of the city to Islam. The idol of Al-lāt was destroyed along with all of the other signs of the city's previously pagan existence.
1517: Surrender to the Ottoman Empire
On 17 July 1517 the Sharif of Mecca capitulated to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I. As a sign of this, he surrendered to him the keys of the Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina. As part of the Hejaz, Ta'if was also given over to Ottoman control.
1802 – 1813: Retaking by the Saudi and reconquest by the Ottomans
The city remained Ottoman for a further three centuries, until in 1802 it was retaken by Saudi revolt, who were in alliance with the House of Saud. These forces then
