PROPHET MUAMMAD S W W A.. PART 2

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The Hijra - People of Yathrib (Madina) welcome Muslims
The Prophet then selected twelve men out of their number to act as his delegates. Thus was
concluded the second covenant of Al Aqaba. The Yathribites returned home leaving the Prophet
to arrange for the journey to their city. The Prophet directed his followers to seek immediate
safety at Yathrib, which they accordingly did. About one hundred families silently disappeared
from Mecca and proceeded to Yathrib, where they were received with enthusiasm and much
hospitality. Finally, all the disciples had gone to Yathrib. The Prophet alone remained at Mecca,
keeping with him only his young cousin, 'Ali, and his devoted friend Abu Bakr.
The Makkans plot to kill Allah's Prophet
The Meccans, fearing the consequence of this new alliance, began to think seriously of preventing
Muhammad from escaping to Yathrib. They met in all haste. After several milder expedients had
been rejected, they decided that he should be killed. They agreed that one man should be chosen
out of every tribe and that each man should strike a blow at him with his sword so that
responsibility of the guilt would rest equally on all tribes. The Bani Hashim, Muhammad's own
tribe, were much inferior and therefore would not be able to revenge their kinsman's death.
A number of noble youths were selected for the bloody deed. As the night advanced, the assassins
posted themselves round the Prophet's dwelling. They watched all night long, waiting to murder
Muhammad when he should leave his house at the early dawn. By some the Prophet had warned
of the danger, and he directed 'Ali to lie down in his place and wrap himself up in his green clock,
which he did. The Prophet miraculously escaped through the window and he repaired to the house
of Abu Bakr, unperceived by door. These, in the meantime, looking through a crevice and seeing
'Ali, whom they mistook for Muhammad himself, asleep, continued watching there until morning.
When 'Ali arose, they found themselves deceived. The fury of the Quraish was now unbounded.
The news that the would be assassins had returned unsuccessful and that Muhammad had escaped
aroused their whole energy. A price of a hundred camels was set upon Muhammad's head.
A narration Aisha Bint Abu Bakr (Prophet's Wife)
Narrated 'Aisha Bint Abu Bakr (the wife of the Prophet): "I never remembered my parents
believing in any religion other than the true religion (Islam), and (I don't remember) a single day
passing without our being visited by Allah's Messenger in the morning and in the evening. When
the Muslims were put to test (troubled by the pagans), Abu Bakr set out migrating to the land of
Abyssinia (Ethiopia), and when he reached Bark-al-Ghimad, Ibn Ad-Daghina, the chief of the
tribe of Qara, met him and said, 'O Abu Bakr! Where are you going?' Abu Bakr replied: 'My
people have turned me out (of my country), so I want to wander on the earth and worship my
Lord.' Ibn Ad-Dhagina said: 'O Abu Bakr! A man like you should not leave his homeland, nor
should he be driven out, because you help the destitute, earn their living, and you keep good
relations with your kith and kin, help the weak and the poor, entertain guests generously, and help
the calamity-stricken persons. Therefore, I am your protector. Go back and worship your Lord in
your town.'
"So Abu Bakr returned and Ibn Ad-Daghina accompanied him. In the evening Ibn Ad-Dhagina
visited the nobles of Quraish and said to them. 'A man like Abu Bakr should not leave his
homeland, nor should he be driven out. Do you (Quraish) drive out a man who helps the destitute,
earns their living, keeps good relations with his kith and kin, helps the weak and poor, entertain
guests generously and helps the calamity-stricken persons?' So the people of Quraish could not
refuse Ibn Ad-Dhagina's protection, and they said to Ibn Ad-Daghina: 'Let Abu Bakr worship his
Lord in his house. He can pray and recite there whatever he likes, but he should not hurt us with
it, and should not do it publicly, because we are afraid that he may affect our women and
children." Ibn Ad-Dhagina told Abu Bakr all of that. Abu Bakr stayed in that state, worshipping
his Lord in his house. He did not pray publicly, nor did he recite Quran outside his house.
Abu Bakr builds Mosque
"Then a thought occurred to Abu Bakr to build a mosque in front of his house, and there he used
to pray and recite the Quran. The women and children of the pagans began to gather around him
in great number. They used to wonder at him and look at him. Abu Bakr was a man who used to
weep too much, and he could not help weeping or reciting the Quran. That situation scared the
nobles of the pagans of Quraish, so they sent for Ibn Ad-Daghina. When he came to them, they
said: 'We accepted your protection of Abu Bakr on condition that he should worship his Lord in
his house, but he has violated the conditions and he has built a mosque in front of his house where
he prays and recites the Quran publicly. We are not afraid that he may affect our women and
children unfavorably. So, prevent him from that. If he likes to confine the worship of his Lord to
his house, he may do so, but if he insists on doing that openly, ask him to release you from your
obligation to protect him, for we dislike to break our pact with you, but we deny Abu Bakr the
right to announce his act publicly.' Ibn Ad-Dhagina went to Abu Bakr and said: 'O Abu Bakr!
You know well what contract I have made on your behalf; now, you are either to abide by it, or
else release me from my obligation of protecting you, because I do not want the Arabs hear that
my people have dishonored a contract I have made on behalf of another man.' Abu Bakr replied: 'I
release you from your pact to protect me and am pleased with the protection from Allah.'
Aisha's narration's continues: "At that time the Prophet was in Mecca, and he said to the Muslims:
'In a dream I have been shown your migration place, a land of date palm trees, between two
mountains, the two stony tracts.' So, some people migrated to Medina, and most of those people
who had previously migrated to the land of Ethiopia, returned to Medina. Abu Bakr also prepared
to leave for Medina, but Allah's Messenger said to him: 'Wait for awhile, because I hope that I will
be allowed to migrate also.' Abu Bakr replied: 'Do you indeed expect this? Let my father be
sacrificed for you!' The Prophet said: 'Yes.' So Abu Bakr did not migrate for the sake of Allah's
Messenger in order to accompany him. He fed two she camels he possessed with the leaves of
As-Samur tree that fell on being struck by a stick for four months.
"One day, while we were sitting in Abu Bakr's house at noon, someone said to Abu Bakr: 'This is
Allah's Messenger with his head covered coming at a time at which he never used to visit us
before.' Abu Bakr said: 'May my parents be sacrificed for him. By Allah he has not come at this
hour except for a great necessity.' So Allah's Messenger came and asked permission to enter, and
he was allowed to enter. When he entered, he said to Abu Bakr: "Tell everyone who is present
with you to go away.' Abu Bakr replied: 'There are none but your family, May my father be
sacrificed for you, O Allah's Messenger!' The Prophet said: 'I have been given permission to
migrate.' Abu Bakr said: 'Shall I accompany you? May my father be sacrificed for you, O Allah's
Messenger!' Allah's Messenger said: 'Yes.' Abu Bakr said, 'O Allah's Messenger! May my father
be sacrificed for you, take one of these two she-camels of mine.' Allah's Messenger replied: 'I will
accept it with payment.' So we prepared the baggage quickly and put some journey food in a
leather bag for them. Asma, Abu Bakr's daughter, cut a piece from her waist belt and tied the
mouth of the leather bag with it, and for that reason she was named 'Dhat-un-Nitaqain' (the owner
of two belts).
"Then Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr reached a cave on the mountain of Thaur and stayed there
for three nights. Abdullah Ibn Abi Bakr who was an intelligent and sagacious youth, used to stay
with them overnight. He used to leave them before daybreak so that in the morning he would be
with Quraish as if he had spent the night in Mecca. He would keep in mind any plot made against
them and when it became dark he would go and inform them of it. 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira, the freed
slave of Abu Bakr, used to bring the milch sheep (of his master, Abu Bakr) to them a little while
after nightfall in order to rest the sheep there. So they always had fresh milk at night, the milk of
their sheep, and the milk which they warmed by throwing heated stones in it. 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira
would then call the herd away when it was still dark (before daybreak). He did the same in each of
those three nights. Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr had hired a man from the tribe of Bani
Ad-Dail from the family of Bani Abd Ibn Adi as an expert guide, and he was in alliance with the
family of Al-As Ibn Wail As-Sahmi and he was in the religion of the infidels of Quraish. The
Prophet and Abu Bakr trusted him and gave him their two she-camels and took his promise to
bring their two she-camels to the cave of the mountain of Thaur in the morning after three nights
later. And when they set out, Amir Ibn Futhaira and the guide went along with them and the guide
led them, along the seashore." (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
The nephew of Suraqa Ibn Ju'sham said that his father informed him that he heard Suraqa Ibn
Jusham saying: "The messengers of the pagans of Quraish came to us declaring that they had
assigned for the persons who would kill or arrest Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr, a reward
equal to their bloodmoney. While I was sitting in one of the gatherings of my tribe, Bani Mudlij, a
man from them came to us and stood up while we were sitting and said: 'O Suraqa! No , I have
just seen some people far away on the seashore, and I think they are Muhammad and his
companions.' I, too, realized that it must have been they. But I said: 'No, it is not they, but you
have seen so-and-so and so-and-so, whom we saw set out.' I stayed in the gathering for a while
and then got up and left for my home, and ordered my slave-girl to get my horse, which was
behind a hillock, and keep it ready for me.
"Then I took my spear and left by the back door of my house dragging the lower end of the spear
on the ground and keeping it low. Then I reached my horse, mounted it and made it gallop. When
I approached them (Muhammad and Abu Bakr), my horse stumbled and I fell down from it. Then
I stood up, gold hold of my quiver and took out the divining arrows and drew lots as to whether I
should harm them or not, and the lot which I disliked came out. But I remounted my horse and let
it gallop, giving no importance to the divining arrows. When I heard the recitation of the Qur'an
by Allah's Messenger who did not look hither and thither while Abu Bakr was doing it often,
suddenly the forelegs of my horse sank into the ground up to the knees, and I fell down from it.
Then I rebuked it, and it got up but could hardly take out its forelegs from the ground, and when
it stood up straight again, its forelegs caused dust to rise up in the sky like smoke. Then again I
drew lots with the divining arrows, and the lot which I disliked came out. So I called upon them
to feel secure. They stopped, and I remounted my horse and went to them. When I saw how I had
been hampered from harming them, it came to my mind that the cause of Allah's Messenger
(Islam) would become victorious. So I said to them: 'Your people have assigned a reward equal
to bloodmoney for your head.' Then I told them all the plans the people of Mecca had made
concerning them. Then I offered them some journey food and goods, but they refused to take
anything and did not ask for anything, but the Prophet said: 'Do not tell others about us.' Then I
requested him to write for me a statement of security and peace. He ordered 'Amir Ibn Fuhaira,
who wrote it for me on a parchment, and then Allah's Messenger proceeded on his way." (Sahih
Al-Bukhari)
Holy Prophet travels to Madina (Hijra)
"Narrated 'Urwa Ibn Az-Zubair: "Allah's Messenger met Az Zubair in a caravan of Muslim
merchants who were returning from Sham. Az -Zubair provided Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr
with white clothes to wear. When the Muslims of Medina heard the new of the departure of
Allah's Messenger from Mecca (towards Medina), they started going to the Harra every morning,.
They would wait for him till the heat of the noon forced them to return. One day, after waiting for
a long while, they returned home, and when they went into their houses, a Jew climbed up to the
roof of one of the forts of his people to look for something, and he saw Allah's Messenger and his
companions, dressed in white clothes, emerging out of the desert mirage.
"The Jew could not help shouting at the top of his voice: 'O you Arabs! Here is your great man
whom you have been waiting for!' So all the Muslims rushed to their arms and received Allah's
Messenger on the summit of Harra. The Prophet turned with them to the right and alighted at the
quarters of Bani Amr Ibn Auf, and this was on Monday in the month of Rabi ul Awal. Abu Bakr
stood up, receiving the people, while Allah's Messenger sat down and kept silent. Some of the
Ansar who came and had not seen Allah's Messenger before began greeting Abu Bakr, but when
the sunshine fell on Allah's Messenger and Abu Bakr came forward and shaded him with his sheet,
only then the people came to know Allah's Messenger. Allah's Messenger stayed with Bani Amr
Ibn Auf for ten nights and established the mosque (Mosque of Quba) which was founded on piety.
Allah's Messenger prayed in it and then mounted his she-camel and proceeded on, accompanied
by the people till his she-camel knelt down at the place of the Mosque of Allah's Messenger at
Medina. Some Muslims used to pray there in those days, and that place was a yard for drying
dates belonging to Suhail and Sahl, the orphan boys who were under the guardianship of Asad In
Zurara. When his she-camel knelt down, Allah's Messenger said: 'This place, Allah willing, will be
our abiding place.' Allah's Messenger then called the two boys and told them to suggest a price for
that yard so that he might take it as a mosque. The two boys said: 'No, but we will give it as a
gift, O Allah's Messenger!' Allah's Messenger then built a mosque there. The Prophet himself
started carrying unburned bricks for its building and while doing so, he was saying: 'This load is
better than the load of Khaibar, for it is more pious in the Sight of Allah and purer and better
rewardable.' He was also saying: 'O Allah! The actual reward is the reward in the Hereafter, so bestow Your Mercy on the Ansar and the Emigrants.' Thus the Prophet recited (by way of
proverb) the poem of some Muslim poet whose name is unknown to me." (Ibn Shibab said, 'In the
hadiths, it does not occur that Allah's Messenger recited a complete poetic verse other than this
one.') (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Hijra - Islamic Calendar marks this date
Thus was accomplished the hijrah, or the flight of Muhammad as called in European annals, from
which the Islamic calendar dates.
Yathrib renamed Al-Madina, Al-Munawara - "The Illuminated City"
When the Prophet Muhammad and his companions settled at Yathrib, this city changed its name,
and henceforth was called, Al-Medina, Al-Munawara, the Illuminated City, or more shortly,
Medina, the City. It is situated about eleven-day's journey to the north of Mecca. At that time it
was ruled by two Kahtanite tribes, Aws and Khazraj. These two tribes, however, were constantly
quarreling among themselves. It was only about that time when the Prophet announced his
mission at Mecca that these tribes, after long years of continuous warfare, entered on a period of
comparative peace. When the Prophet settled at Medina, the tribes of Aws and Khazraj forgot
entirely their old feuds and were united together in the bond of Islam. Their old divisions were
soon effaced and the Ansar", the Helpers of the Prophet, became the common designation of all
Medinites who had helped the Prophet in his cause. Those who emigrated with him from Mecca
received the title of "Muhajereen" or the Emigrants. The Prophet, in order to unite both classes in
closer bonds, established between them a brotherhood, which linked them together as children of
the same parents, with the Prophet as their guardian.
Allah's Apostle Settles in Madina
The first step the Prophet took, after his settlement at Medina, was to built a mosque for the
worship of Allah according to principles of Islam. Also, houses for the accommodation of the
emigrants were soon erected.
Muhammad's Charter - Jews and Muslims unite to defend against enemies
Medina and its suburb were at this time inhabited by three distinct parties, the Emigrants, the
Helpers, and the Jews. In order to weld them together into an orderly federation, the Prophet
granted a charter to the people, clearly defining their rights and obligations. This charter
represented the framework of the first commonwealth organized by the Prophet. It started thus:
'In the name of he Most Merciful and Compassionate Lord, this charter is given by Muhammad,
the Messenger of Allah to all believers, whether of Quraish or Medina, and all individuals of
whatever origin who have made common cause with them, who shall all constitute one nation."
The following are some extracts from the charter: The state of peace and war shall be common to
all Muslims; no one among them shall have the right of concluding peace with, or declaring war
against, the enemies of his co-religionists. The Jews who attach themselves to our commonwealth
shall be protected from all insults and vexations; they shall have an equal right with our people to
our assistance and good offices. The Jews of the various branches and all others doiciled in
Medina shall form with the Muslims one composite nation; they shall practice their religion as
freely as the Muslims. The allies of the Jews shall enjoy the same security and freedom. The guilty
shall be pursued and punished. The Jews shall join the Muslims in defending Medina all enemies.
The interior of Medina shall be a sacred place for all who accept this charter. All true Muslims
shall hold in abhorrence every man guilty of crime, injustice or disorder; no one shall uphold the
culpable, though he be his nearest kin.
After dealing with the interior management of the State, the charter concluded as follows: "All
future disputes arising among those who accept this charter shall be referred, under Allah to the
Prophet."
Thus this charter put an end to the state of anarchy that prevailed among the Arabs. It constituted
the Prophet Muhammad as chief magistrate of the nation.
Charter faces Mutiny (Inside enemies) - The Hypocrites and unsatisfied Jews
The party of the Ansars, or Helpers, included some lukewarm converts who retained an
ill-concealed predilection for idolatry. These were headed by Abdullah Ibn Ubai, a man with some
claims to distinction. They ostensibly joined Islam, but in secret were disaffected. They often were
a source of considerable danger to the newborn commonwealth and required unceasing
watchfulness on the part of the Prophet. Towards them he always showed the greatest patience
and forbearance, hoping in the end to win them over to the faith, which expectations were fully
justified by the result. While the death of Abdullah Ibn Ubai, his party which were known as the
party of the "Munafiqeen" (the Hypocrites) disappeared.
The Jews who constituted the third party of the Medinites were, however, the most serious
element of danger. No kindness or generous treatment on the part of the Prophet would seem to
satisfy them. They soon broke off and ranged themselves with the enemies of the new faith. They
did not hesitate to declare openly that they preferred idolatry, with its attendant evils, to the faith
of Islam. Thus, the Prophet had to keep an eye on his enemies outside Medina, on the one hand,
and those within the city on the other. The Meccans who had sworn Muhammad's death were well
acquainted, thanks to the party of the Hypocrites and of the Jews at Medina, with the real forces
of the Muslims. They also knew that the Jews had accepted Muhammad's alliance only from
motives of temporary expedience and that they would break away from him to join the idolaters
as soon as the latter showed themselves in the vicinity of Medina. The safety of the state required
the proscription of the traitors who were secretly giving information to the common enemy.
About six men were executed for high treason of this nature.
Madina under Sabotage style attacks on Food, Cattle etc...
Towards the second year of the hijrah, the idolaters of Mecca began a series of hostile acts against
the Muslims of Medina. They sent men in parties to commit depredations on the fruit trees of the
Muslims of Medina and to carry away their flocks. Now came the moment of severest trial to
Islam. It became the duty of the Prophet to take serious measures to guard against any plot rising
from within or a sudden attack from without.
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Battle of Badr - Makkan Troop formations approaching Madina
Allah's Prophet put Medina in a state of military discipline. He had to send frequent
reconnoitering parties to guard against any sudden onslaught. No sooner did the Prophet organize
hi state than a large well-equipped army of the Meccans was afield. A force constituting of one
thousand men marched under Abu Jahl, a great enemy of Islam, towards Medina to attack the
city. The Muslims received timely notice of their enemies' intention. A body of three hundred
adherents, of whom two thirds were citizens of Medina, was gathered to forestall the idolaters by
occupying the valley of Badr, situated near the sea between Mecca and Medina. When the
Prophet saw the army of the infidels approaching the valley, he prayed that the little band of
Muslims might not be destroyed.
Victory - Battle Badr is Won
The army of the Meccans advanced into the open space which separated the Muslims from the
idolaters. According to Arab usage, the battle was began by simple combats. The engagement that
became general. The result of the battle was that the Meccans were driven back with great loss.
Several of their chiefs were slain, including Abu Jahl.
Allah's Apostle set rules for treatment of POWs
A large number of idolaters remained prisoners in the hands of the Muslims. They were, contrary
to all usage and traditions of the Arabs, treated with the greatest humanity.
The Prophet gave strict orders that sympathy should be shown to them in their misfortune and
that they should be treated with kindness. These instructions were faithfully obeyed by the
Muslims to whose care the prisoners were confided. Dealing with this event, Sir William Muir, in
his book Life of Muhammad, quotes one of the prisoners saying: "Blessing be on the men of
Medina; they made us ride, while they themselves walked; they gave us wheaten bread to eat,
when there was little of it, contenting themselves with dates."
Almighty Allah said:
"And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear
Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah
much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained) that you may be grateful.
(Remember) when you (Muhammad) said to the believers, "is it not enough for you that your
Lord (Allah) should help you with three thousand angels; sent down? Yes, if you hold on to
patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five
thousand angels having marks of distinction. Allah made it not but as a message of good news
for you and as an assurance to your hearts. And there is no victory except from Allah the All
Mighty, the All Wise. That He might cut off a part of those who disbelieve, or expose them to
infamy, so that they retire frustrated." (Ch 3:123-127 Quran).
The remarkable circumstances, which led to the victory of Badr, and results, which followed from
it, made a deep impression on the minds of the Muslims; the angels of the heaven had battled on
their side against their enemies. The division of the spoils created some dissension between the
Muslim warriors. For the moment, the Prophet divided it equally among all. Subsequently, a
Qur'an revelation laid down a rule for future division of the spoils. According to this rule, a fifth
was reserved for the public treasury for the support of the poor and indigent, while the
distribution of the remaining four fifths was left to the discretion of the Chief of the State.
Makkan Avenge Loss in Badr - Battle of Uhud
The next battle between the Quraish and the Muslims was the battle of Uhud, a hill about four
miles to the north of Medina. The idolaters, to revenge their loss at Badr, made tremendous
preparations for a new attack upon the Muslims. They collected an army of three thousand strong
men, of whom seven hundred were armed with coats of mail, and two hundred horses. These
forces advanced under the conduct of Abu Sufyan and encamped at a village six miles from
Medina, where they gave themselves up to spoiling the fields and flocks of the Medinites. The
Prophet, being much inferior to his enemies in number, at first determined to keep himself within
the town and to receive them there; but afterwards, the advice of some of his companions
prevailing he marched out against them at the head of one thousand men, of whom one hundred
were armed with coats of mail; but he had no more than one horse, besides his own, in his whole
army. With these forces he halted at Mount Uhud. He was soon abandoned by Abdullah Ibn Ubai,
the leader of the Hypocrites, with three hundred of his followers. Thus, the small force of the
Prophet was reduced to seven hundred.
At Mount Uhud the Muslim troops passed the night, and in the morning, after offering their
prayers, they advanced into the plain. The Prophet contrived to have the hill at his back, and, the
better to secure his men from being surrounded, he placed fifty archers on the height in the rear,
behind the troops, and gave them strict orders not to leave their posts whatever might happen.
When they came to engage, the Prophet had superiority at first. But afterward, his archers left
their position for the sake of plunder, thus allowing the enemy to attack the Muslims in the fear
and surround them. The Prophet lost the day and very nearly lost his life. He was struck down by
a shower of stones and wounded in the face by two arrows, and one of his front teeth was broken.
Of the Muslims, seventy men were killed, among whom was the Prophet's uncle Hamza. Of the
infidels, twenty-two men were lost.
Exhausted Quraish leave Madina victorious
The Quraish were too exhausted to follow up their advantage, either by attacking Medina or by
driving the Muslims from the heights of Uhud. They retreated from the Medinite territories after
barbarously mutilating the corpses of their dead enemies.
Almighty Allah said:
"So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory)
if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing ) has touched you, be sure a similar
wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give
to men by turns, that Allah may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from
among you. And Allah likes not the Zalimeen (polytheists and wrongdoers).
And that Allah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbeliveers. Do you
think that you will enter Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are patient? You did indeed wish for death (Ash-shahadah- martyrdom)
before you met it. Now you have seen it openly with your own eyes." (Ch 3:139-143 Quran)
Allah the Exalted also said:
"We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in
worship with Allah for which He has sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil
is the abode of the Zalimeen (polytheists and wrong-doers). And Allah did indeed fulfil His
Promise to you when you were killing them (your enemy) with His Permission; until (the
moment) you lost your courage and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed after He
showed you (of the booty) which you love. Among you are some that desire this world and some
that desire the Hereafter. Then He made you flee from them (your enemy), and He might test
you. But surely, He forgave you, and Allah is most Gracious to the believers.
And remember when you ran away (dreadfully) without even a casting a side-glance at anyone,
and the Messenger (Muhammad) was in your rear calling you back. There did Allah give you
one distress after another by way of requital to teach you not to grieve for that which had
escaped you, nor that which had befallen you. And Allah is Well Aware of all that you do.
Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while
another party was thinking about themselves (as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others
and the Prophet) and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance. They said, "Have we
any part in the affair?" Say you (O Muhammad): "Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah."
They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you, saying: "If we had anything to do
with the affair, none of us would have been killed here." Say: "Even if you had remained in your
homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their
death," but that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to Mahis (to test, to purify, to get
rid of) that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All Knower of what is in (your) breasts."
(Ch 3:151-154 Quran).
Narrated Al-Baraa' Ibn Azib: "The Prophet appointed Abdullah Ibn Jubair as the commander of
the infantry men (archers) who were fifty on the day (of the battle) of Uhud. He instructed them:
'Stick to your place, and don't leave it even if you see birds snatching us, till I send for you; and if
you see that we have defeated the infidels and made them flee, even then you should not leave
your place till I send for you.' Then the infidels were defeated. By Allah I saw the women fleeing
lifting up their clothes revealing their leg bangles and their legs. So, the companions of Abdullah
Ibn Jubair said: "The booty! O people, the booty! Your companions have become victorious,
what are you waiting for now?" Abdullah Ibn Jubair said: "Have you forgotten what Allah's
Messenger said to you?" They replied: "By Allah! We will go to the people (the enemy) and
collect our share from the war booty." But when they went to them, they were forced to turn back
defeated. At that time Allah's Messenger in their rear was calling them back. Only twelve men
remained with the Prophet, and the infidels martyred seventy men from us.
"The Prophet and his companions caused the Pagans to lose one hundred and forty men, seventy
of whom were captured and seventy were killed. Then Abu Sufyan asked three times: 'Is
Muhammad present among these people?' The Prophet ordered his companions not to answer
him. Then he asked three times: 'Is Ibn Abu Quhafa present amongst these people?' He asked
again three times: 'Is Ibn Al Khattab present among these people?' He then returned to his
companions and said: 'As for these (men), they have been killed.' 'Umar could not control himself
and said to Abu Sufyan: ' You told a lie, by Allah! O enemy of Allah! All those you have
mentioned are alive, and the thing which will make you unhappy is still there.' Abu Sufyan said:
'Our victory today compensates for yours in the Battle of Badr, and in war (the victory) is always
undecided and is shared in turns by the belligerents. You will find some of your killed men
mutilated, but I did not urge my men to do so, yet I do not feel sorry for their deed.' After that he
started reciting cheerfully: 'O Hubal, be superior!' On that the Prophet said (to his companions):
'Why don't you answer him back?' They said: 'O Allah's Messenger! What shall we say?' He said:
'Say, Allah is Higher and more Sublime.' Then Abu Sufyan said: 'We have the idol of Al-Uzza, and
you have no 'Uzza.' The Prophet said (to his companions): 'Why don't you answer him back?'
They asked: 'O Allah's Messenger! What shall we say?' He said: 'Say Allah is our Helper and you
have no helper.'" (Sahih Al Bukhari)
The moral effect of this disastrous battle was such as to encourage some neighboring nomad
tribes to make forays upon the Medinte territories, but most of these were repelled.
More Mutiny as Charter members cause dissent
The Jews also were not slow to involve in trouble the Prophet and his followers. They tried to
create disaffection among his people and slandered him and his adherents. They mispronounced
the words of the Qur'an so as to give them an offensive meaning. They also caused their poets,
who were superior in culture and intelligence, to use their influence to sow sedition among the
Muslims. One of their distinguished poets, called Ka'b, of the Bani An-Nadir, spared no efforts in
publicly deploring the ill success of the idolaters after their defect at Badr.
By his satires against the Prophet and his disciples, and his elegies on the Meccans who had fallen
at Badr, Ka'b succeeded in exciting the Quraish to that frenzy of vengeance which broke out at
Uhud. He then returned to Medina, where he continued to attack the Prophet and the Muslims,
men and women, in terms of the most obscene character. Though he belonged to the tribe of Bani
An Nadir, which had entered into the compact with the Muslims and pledged itself both for the
internal and external safety of the State, he openly directed his acts against the commonwealth of
which he was a member.
Another Jew, Sallam by name, of the same tribe, behaved equally fiercely and bitterly against the
Muslims. He lived with a party of his tribe at Khaibar, a village five days' journey northwest of
Medina. He made every effort to excite the neighboring Arab tribes against the Muslims. The
Muslim commonwealth with the object of securing safety among the community, passed a
sentence of outlawry upon Ka'b and Sallam.
The members of another Jewish tribe, namely Bani Qainuqa', were sentenced to expulsion from
the Medinite territory for having openly and knowingly infringed the terms of the compact. It was
necessary to put an end to their hostile actions of the sake of maintaining peace and security. The
Prophet had to go to their headquarters, where he required them to enter definitively into the
Muslim commonwealth by embracing Islam or to leave Medina. To this they replied in the most
offensive terms: "You have had a quarrel with men ignorant of the art of war. If you are desirous
of having any dealings with us, we shall show you that we are men." They then shut themselves
up in their fortress and set the Prophet and his authority at defiance. The Muslims decided to
reduce them and laid siege to their fortress without loss of time. After fifteen days they
surrendered. Though the Muslims at first intended to inflict some severe punishment on them,
they contented themselves by banishing the Bani Qainuqa'.
The Bani An-Nadir had now behaved in the same way as Bani Qainuqa'. The had likewise,
knowingly and publicly, disregarded the terms of the Charter. The Prophet sent them a message
similar to that which was sent to their brethren, the Qainuqa'. Then, relying on the assistance of
the Hypocrites' party, returned for a defiant reply. After a siege of fifteen days, they sued for
terms. The Muslims renewed their previous offer, and the Jews of An Nadir chose to execute
Medina. They were allowed to take with them all their movable property, with the exception of
their arms. Before leaving Medina, they destroyed all their dwellings in immovable property and
arms which they could not carry away with them were distributed by the Prophet with the consent
of the Ansar and the Emigrants. A principle was henceforth adopted that any acquisition not made
in actual warfare should belong to that state and that its disposal should be left to the discretion of
the ruling authorities.
Almighty Allah said: (And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were
expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him.
And helping Allah (helping His Religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad). Such are indeed the
truthful (to what we say); and those who, before them, had homes (in Al Madina) and had
adopted the Faith, love, those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for
that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An Nadir), and give them (emigrants)
preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from
his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful." (Ch 59:8-9 Quran)
The expulsion of the Bani An-Nadir took place in the fourth year of the hijrah. The remaining
portion of this year and the early part of the next were passed in repressing the hostile attempts of
the nomadic tribes against the Muslims and inflicting punishment for various murderous forays on
the Medinite territories. Of this nature was the expedition against the Christian Arabs of Dumat Al
Jandal (a place about seven days' journey to the south of Damascus), who had stopped the
Medinites traffic with Syria and even threatened a raid upon Medina. These marauders, however,
fled on the approach of the Muslims, and the Prophet returned to Medina after concluding a treaty
with a neighboring chief, to whom he granted permission of pasturage in the Medinite territories.
Enemy's Army (headed by Abu Sufyan) march towards Madina
In the same year, the enemies of Islam made every possible attempt to stir up the tribes against the
Muslims. The Jews also took an active, if hidden, part in those intrigues. An army of ten thousand
well-equipped men, marched towards Medina under the command of Abu Sufyan. They
encamped near Mount Uhud, a few miles from the city. The Muslims could gather only an army
of three thousand men. Seeing their inferiority in numbers on the one hand, and the turbulence of
the Hypocrites within the town on the other, they preferred to remain on the defensive. They dug
a deep moat round the unprotected quarters of Medina and encamped outside the city with a
trench in front of them. They relied for safety of the other side upon their allies, the Quaraiza,
who possessed several fortresses at a short distance towards the south and were bound by the
compact to assist the Muslim s against any raiders. These Jews, however, were induced by the
idolaters to violate their pledge and to join the Quraish. As these Jews were acquainted with the
Hypocrites within the walls of the city were waiting for an opportunity to play their part, the
situation of the Muslims was most dangerous.
The siege had already lasted for twenty days. The enemy made great efforts to cross the trench,
but every attempt was fiercely repulsed by the small Muslim force. Disunion was now rife in the
midst of the besieging army. Their horses were perishing fast, and provisions were becoming less
every day. During the night, a storm of wind and rain caused their tents to be overthrown and
their lights extinguished. Abu Sufyan and the majority of his army fled, and the rest took refuge
with the Quraiza. The Muslims, though they were satisfied with the failure of their enemies, could
not help thinking that the victory was unsatisfactory so long as the Quraiza, who had violated
their sworn pledge, remained so near. The Jews might at any time surprise Medina from their side.
The Muslims felt it their duty to demand an explanation of the violation of the pledge. This was
utterly refused. Consequently, the Jews were besieged and compelled to surrender at discretion.
They only asked that their punishment should be left to the judgment of Sa'd Ibn Mu'adh, the
prince of the tribe of Aws. This chief, who was a fierce soldier, had been wounded in the attack,
and, indeed, died of his wounds the following day. Infuriated by the treacherous conduct of the
Bani Quraiza, he gave judgment that the fighting men should be to death and that the women and
children should become the slaves of the Muslims. The sentence was carried into execution.
The Prophet protects the Christians of Madina
It was about this time that the Prophet granted to the monks of the Monastry of St. Catherine,
near Mount Sinai, his liberal charter by which they secured for the Christians noble and generous
privileges and immunities. He undertook himself and enjoined his followers, to protect the
Christians, to defend their churches and the residences of their priests and to guard them from all
injuries. They were not to be unfairly taxed; no bishop was to be driven out of his diocese; nor
Christian was to be forced to reject his religion; no monk was to be expelled from his Monastry;
no pilgrim was to be stopped from his pilgrimage; nor were the Christian churches to be pulled
down for the sake of building mosques or houses for the Muslims. Christian women married to
Muslims were to enjoy their own religion and not to be subjected to compulsion or annoyance of
any kind. If the Christians should stand in need of assistance for the repair of their churches or
monasteries, or any other matter pertaining to their religion, the Muslims were to assist them. This
was not to be considered as supporting their religion, but as simply rendering them assistance in
special circumstances. Should the Muslims be engaged in hostilities with outside Christians, no
Christian resident among the Muslims should be treated with contempt on account of his creed.
The Prophet declared that any Muslim violating any clause of the charter should be regarded as a
transgressor of Allah's commandments, a violator of His testament and neglectful of His faith.
The Treaty of Hudaibiya
Six years had already elapsed since the Prophet and his Meccan followers had fled from their
birthplace. Their hearts began to yearn for their homes and for their Sacred House the Ka'ba. As
the season of the pilgrimage approached, the Prophet announced his intention to visit the holy
center, and numerous voices of his disciples responded to the call. Preparations were soon made
for the journey to Mecca. The Prophet, accompanied by seven or eight hundred Muslims,
Emigrants and Ansars, all totally unarmed, set out on the pilgrimage. The Quraish, who were still
full of animosity towards the Muslims, gathered a large army to prevent them from entering
Mecca and maltreated the envoy whom the Prophet had sent to ask permission to visit the holy
places. After much difficulty, a treaty was concluded by which it was agreed that all hostilities
should cease for ten years; that anyone coming from the Quraish to the Prophet without the
permission of the guardian or chief should be given back to the idolaters; that any Muslim persons
going over to the Meccans should not be surrendered; that any tribe desirous of entering into
alliance, either with the Quraish or with the Muslims, should be at liberty to do so without
disputes; that the Muslims should go back to Medina on the present occasion and stop advancing
further; that they should be permitted in the following year to visit Mecca and to remain there for
three days with the arms they used on journeys, namely, their scimitars in sheaths.
The Treaty of Hudaibiya thus ended, the Prophet returned with his people to Medina.
Prophet Muhammad dispatches envoys
About this time it was revealed to the Prophet that his mission should be universal. He dispatched
several envoys to invite the neighboring sovereigns to Islam. The embassy to the king of Persia,
Chosroes Parvis, was received with disdain and contumely. He was haughtily amazed at the
boldness of the Mecca fugitive in addressing him on terms of equality. He was so enraged that he
tore up into pieces the Prophet's letter of invitation to Islam and dismissed the envoy from his
presence with great contempt. When the Prophet received information on this treatment, he
calmly observed: "Thus will the Empire of Chosroes be torn to pieces."
Heraclius submits to Almighty God and embraces Islam
The embassy to Heraclitus, the Emperor of the Romans, was received much more politely and
reverentially. He treated the ambassador with great respect and sent the Prophet a gracious reply
to his message.
Another envoy was sent to an Arab price of the Ghassanite tribe, a Christian feudatory of
Heraclius. This prince, instead of receiving the envoy with any respect, cruelly murdered him. This
act caused great consternation among the Muslims, who considered it as an outrage of
international obligations.
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb informed me that Heraclius had sent a
messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish. They were merchants
doing business in Sham (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan) at the time when Allah's
Messenger had a truce with Abu Sufyan and Quraish infidels. So Abu Sufyan and his companions
went to Heraclius at Ilya (Jerusalem).
Heraclitus called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He
called for his translator who, translating Heraclius's question, said to them: "Who among you is
closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abu Sufyan replied: "I am the nearest
relative to him (amongst the group)."
Heraclius said: "Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stand behind him."
Abu Sufyan added: "Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to put
some questions to me regarding that man (The Prophet) and if I told a lie they (my companions)
should contradict me. By Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I
would have not have spoken the truth about the Prophet." Abu Sufyan's narration continues: The first question he asked me about him was;
What is his family status among you?"
"I replied: "He belongs to a good noble family amongst us."
Heraclius further asked: "Has anybody among you ever claimed the same (to be a Prophet) before
him?"
I replied: "No."
He said: "Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?"
I replied: "No."
Heraclius asked: "Do the nobles or the poor follow him?"
I replied: "It is the poor who follow him."
He said: "Are his followers increasing or decreasing (day by day)?"
I replied: "They are increasing."
He then asked: "Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and
renounce the religion afterwards?"
I replied: "No."
Heraclius said: "Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?"
I replied: "No."
Hereaclius said: "Does he break his promises?"
I replied: "No. We are at truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it." I could not
find opportunity to say anything against him except that.
Heraclius asked: "Have you ever had a war with him?"
I replied: "Yes."
Then he said: "What was the outcome of the battles?"
I replied: "Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we."
Heraclius said: "What does he order you to do?"
I said: "He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him,
and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be
chaste and to keep good relations with our kith and kin."
Heraclius asked the translator to convey to me the following: "I asked you about his family and
your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact, all the Messengers come from
noble families among their respective peoples. I questioned you whether anybody else among you
claimed such a thing; your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I
would have thought that this man was following the previous man's statement. Then I asked you
whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in
the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. I
further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said and your
reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could
ever tell a lie about Allah. I then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor.
You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And, in fact, all the Messengers have been
followed by this very class of people. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or
decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and, in fact, this is the way of true faith, till it is
complete in all respects. I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his
religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. You reply was in the negative, and, in fact
this is (the sign of) true faith, when its delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely. I
asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative, and likewise the Messengers
never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to
worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and forbade you to
worship idols, and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth and to be chaste. If what you have said
is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures)
that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach
him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash
his feet."
Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by Allah's Messenger which had been delivered by
Dihya to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter
were as follows: "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. (This letter is) from
Muhammad, the slave of Allah and His Messenger to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be
upon him who follows the right path. Furthermore, I invite you to Islam, and if you become a
Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of
Islam, you will be committing a sin by misguiding your subjects.
And I recite to you Allah's Statement: SAY (O Muhammad): 'O People of the Scripture (Jews &
Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and
that we associate no partners with Him and that none of us shall take others as lords besides
Allah.' Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims.' "
Abu Sufyan then added: When Heraclius had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was
a great hue and cry in the Royal Court. So we turned out of the court. I told my companions that
the question of Ibn-Abi-Kabsha (the Prophet Muhammad) had become so prominent that even the
King of Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) was afraid of him. Then I started to become sure that he (the
Prophet) would be the conqueror in the near future till I embraced Islam (Allah guided me to it).
The sub narrator added that Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of Ilya (Jerusalem) and Heraclius
was the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn An-Natur narrated that once while Heraclius was
visiting Ilya (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning with a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him
why he as in that mood. Hreaclius was a foreteller and an astrologer. He replied: "At night when I
looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared
(become the conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?" The people replied: "Except
the Jews, nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews). Just Issue
orders to kill every Jew present in the country.'
While they were discussing it, a messenger sent by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of
Allah's Messenger to Heraclius was brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the
people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The people, after seeing
him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the Arabs. The
messenger replied: "Arabs also practice circumcision."
After hearing that Heraclius remarked that sovereignty of the Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then
wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then
left for Homs (a town in Syria) and stayed there till he received the reply of his letter from his
friend, who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet and the fact that
he was a Prophet. On that, Heraclius invited all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his
palace at Homs. When they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then
he came out and said: "O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek right guidance and
want your empire to remain, then give a pledge of allegiance to this Prophet (embrace Islam)."
(on hearing the views of Heraclius) the people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but
found the doors closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost the hope
of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in audience.
(When they returned) he said: "What was already said was just to test the strength of your
conviction and I have seen it." The people prostrated before him and became pleased with him,
and this was the end of Heraclius's story (in connection with his faith). (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Attack from the Jews of Khaibar thwarted
In the same year the Jews of Khaibar, a strongly fortified territory at a distance of four days'
journey from Medina, showed implacable hatred towards the Muslims. United by alliance with the
tribe of Ghatfan, as well as with other cognate tribes, the Jews of Khaibar made serious attempts
to for ma coalition against the Muslims. The Prophet and his adherents were apprised of this
movement and immediate measures were taken in order to repress any new attack upon Medina.
An expedition of fourteen hundred men was soon prepared to march against Khaibar. The allies of
the Jews left them to face the war with the Muslims all alone. The Jews firmly resisted the attacks
of the Muslims, but eventually all their fortress had to be surrendered, one after the other to their
enemies. They prayed for forgiveness, which was accorded to them on certain conditions. Their
lands and immovable property were secured to them, together with the free practice of their
religion. After subduing Khaibar, the Muslims returned to Medina in safety.
Allah's Messenger and the Muslims perfom Hajj
Before the end of the year, it being the seventh year of the hijrah, the Prophet and his adherents
availed themselves of their armistice with the Quraish to visit the holy Ka'ba. The Prophet,
accompanied by two hundred Muslims, went to Mecca to perform the rites of pilgrimage. On this
occasion the Quraish evacuated the city during the three days which the ceremonies lasted.
Sir William Muir, in his book, Life of Mohammed Vol. III comments on the incident as follows:
It was surely a strange sight, which at this time presented itself at the vale of Mecca, a sight
unique in the history of the world. The ancient city is for three days evacuated by all its
inhabitants, high and low, every house deserted, and as they retire, the exiled converts, many
years banished from their birth-place, approach in a great body accompanied by their allies, revisit
the empty homes of their childhood, and within the short allotted space, fulfil the rites of
pilgrimage. The outside inhabitants, climbing the heights around take refuge under tents or other
shelter among the hills and glens; and clustering on the overhanging peak of Abu Qubeis, thence
watch the movements of the visitors beneath, as with the Prophet at their head, they make the
circuit of the Ka'ba and rapid procession between Essafa and Marwah, and anxiously scan every
figure, if perchance they may recognize among the worshippers some long lost friend or relative.
It was a scene rendered only by the throes, which gave birth to Islam.
In accordance with the terms of the treaty, the Muslims left Mecca at the end of three day's visit.
This peaceful visit was followed by important conversions among the Quraish. Khalid Ibn
Al-Walid, known as the Sword of Allah, who, before this, had been a bitter enemy of Islam and
who commanded the Quraish cavalry at Uhud; and Amr Ibn Al' As, another important character
and warrior, adopted the new faith.
Retribution for the Murder of the Muslim Envoy
When the Prophet and his followers returned to Medina, they arranged in expedition to exact
retribution from the Ghassanite prince who had killed the Muslim envoy. A force of three
thousand men, under the Prophet's adopted son Zaid, was sent to take reparation from the
offending tribe.
Khalid Ibn Al-Walid was one of the generals chosen for the expedition. When they reached the
neighborhood of Muta, a village to the southeast of the Dead Sea, they met with an overwhelming
force of Arabs and Romans who were assembled to oppose them. The Muslims, however,
resolved resolutely to push forward. Their courage was of no avail and they suffered great losses.
In this battle Zaid and Ja'far, a cousin of the Prophet, and several other notables were killed.
Khalid Ibn Al-Walid, by a series of maneuvers, succeeded in drawing off the army and conducting
it without further loses to Medina. A month later, however, Amr Ibn Al-' As marched unopposed
through the lands of the hostile tribes, received their submission, and restored the prestige of
Islam on the Syrian frontier.
Quraish violate terms of Hudaibiya, Prophets army march against Idolators
About the end of the seventh year of the hijrah, the Quraish and their allies, the Bani Bakr,
violated the terms of the peace concluded at Hudaibiya by attacking the Bani Khuzaah, who were
in alliance with the Muslims. The Bani Khuzzah appealed to the Prophet for help and protection.
The Prophet determined to make a stop to the reign of injustice and oppression, which had lasted
so long at Mecca. He immediately gathered ten thousand men to march against the idolaters and
set out on January, 630.
After eight days the Muslims army halted, and alighted at Marr Az-Zahran, a day's journey from
Mecca. On the night of their arrival, Abu Sufyan, who was delegated by the Quraish to ask the
Prophet to abandon his project, presented himself and besought an interview. In the morning it
was granted. "Has the time not come, O Abu Sufyan," said the Prophet, "for you to acknowledge
that there is no deity save Allah and that I am His Messenger?" Abu Sufyan, after hesitating for
awhile, pronounced the prescribed formula of belief and adopted Islam. He was then sent back to
prepare the city for the Prophet's approach.

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