JALALIA MOSQUE AND
ISLAMIC EDUCATION CENTRE
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PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon him) Part 2
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| Alarmed at the bold part which the Prophet and his followers were not
able to assume, and roused by the return of the deputies from Abyssinia
and the announcement of their unsuccessful mission, the Quraish determined
to check by a decisive blow any further progress of Islam. Towards this
end, in the seventh year of the mission, they made a solemn covenant
against the descendants of Hashim and Muttalib, engaging themselves to
contract no marriage with any of them and to have no communication with
them. Upon this, the Quraish became divided into two factions, and the two
families of Hashim and Muttalib all repaired to Abu Talib as their chief.
Abu Lahab, the Prophet's uncle, however, out of his inveterate hatred of
his nephew and his doctrine, went over to the opposite party, whose chief
was Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, of the family of Umayya. The persecuted party,
Muslims as well as idolaters betook themselves to a defile on the eastern
skirts of Mecca. They lived in this defensive position for three years.
The provisions, which they had carried with them, were soon exhausted.
Probably they would have entirely perished but for the sympathy and
occasional help received from less bigoted compatriots. |
| Towards the beginning of the tenth year of the mission, reconciliation
was concluded between the Quraish and the two families of Hashim and Abdul
Muttalib through the intermediation of Hisham, Ibn Umar, and Zobeir, Ibn
Abu Umayya. Thus, the alliance against the two families was abolished, and
they were able to return to Mecca. |
| During the period the Prophet and his kinspeople passed in their
defensive position, Islam made no progress outside; but in the sacred
months, when violence was considered sacrilege, the Prophet used to come
out of his temporary prison to preach Islam to the pilgrims. In the
following year, both Abu Talib and Khadijah died. Thus the Prophet lost in
Abu Talib the kind guardian of his youth who had hitherto protected him
against his enemies, and in Khadijah his most encouraging companion. She
was ever his angel of hope and consolation. The Prophet, weighed down by
the loss of his amiable protector and his beloved wife, without hope of
turning the Quraish from idolatry, with a saddened heart, yet full of
trust, resolved to exercise his ministry in some of her field. He chose
Taif, a town about sixty miles east of Mecca, where he went accompanied by
a faithful servant Zaid. The tribe of Thakif, who were the inhabitants of
Taif, received Muhammad very coldly. However, he stayed there for one
month. Though the more considerate and better sort of men treated him with
a little respect, the slaves and common people refused to listen to his
teachings; they were outrageously indignant at his invitation to abandon
the gods they worshipped with such freedom of morals and lightness of
heart. At length they rose against him, and bringing him to the wall of
the city, obliged him to depart and return to Mecca. |
| The repulse greatly discouraged his followers; however, the Prophet
boldly continued to preach to the public assemblies at the pilgrimage and
gained several new converts, among whom were six of the city of Yahtrib
(later called Medina), of the Jewish tribe of Khazraj. When these
Yathribites returned home, they spread the news among their people that a
prophet had arisen among the Arabs who was to call them to Allah and put
an end to their inquiries. |
| In the twelfth year of his mission, the Prophet made his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and thence to heaven. His journey, known in history as Miraj (Ascension) was a real bodily one and not only a vision. It was at this time that Allah ordered the Muslims to pray the five daily prayers. |
| Almighty Allah had said: Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) (above
all that evil they associate with Him), Who took His slave Muhammad for a
journey by night from AL Masjid al Haram (at Makka) to the farthest mosque
(in Jerusalem), the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, order that We
might show him (Muhammad) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs,
etc.). Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Seer." (Ch 17:1 Quran) |
| Abbas Ibn Malik reported that Malik Ibn Sasaa said that Allah's
Messenger described to them his Night Journey saying: "While I was lying
in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open
from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud, who was by my side, "What does he
mean?" He said: "It means from his throat to his public area," or said,
"From the top of the chest." The Prophet further said, "He then took out
my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was
washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original
place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a
donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked: "Was it in the Buraq,
O Abu Hamza?" I (Anas) replied in the affirmative. The Prophet said: "The
animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the
reach of the animals' sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with
me till we reached the nearest heaven. |
| "When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?'
Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompany you?' Gabriel
replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel
replied in the affirmative. Then it was said. 'He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the
first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said to me: 'This is your father,
Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the
greetings to me and said: 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious
Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven.
Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is it?'
Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompany you?' Gabriel
replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered
in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed. What an excellent
visit his is!' The gate was opened. |
| "When I went over the second heaven, here I saw John (Yahya) and Jesus
(Isa), who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said to me: "These are John
and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them
returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother
and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and
asked for its gate to be opened. IT was asked 'Who is it?' And Gabriel
replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompany you?' Gabriel replied,
'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the
affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit
his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there
I saw Joseph (Yusuf), Gabriel said to me: 'This is Joseph, pay him your
greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said:
'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel
ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened.
IT was asked 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked: 'Who is
accompany you?' Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been
called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is
welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' |
| "The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I
saw Enoch (Idris), Gabriel said to me: 'This is Enoch; pay him your
greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said:
'You are welcomed O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel
ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened.
It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who
is accompany you?' Gabriel replied 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been
called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is
welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' So when I went over the fifth
heaven, there I saw Aaron (Harun), Gabriel said to me: "This is Aaron; pay
hyour greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and
said: "You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet." The Gabriel
ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened.
It was asked: 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who
is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was said: 'Has he
been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said: 'He is
welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' |
| "When I went over the sixth heaven, there I saw Moses (Musa). Gabriel
said to me: "This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he
returned the greetings to me and said: "You are welcomed, O pious brother
and pious Prophet." When I left him (Moses) he wept. Someone asked him:
'What makes you weep?' Moses said: 'I weep because after me there has been
sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in
greater numbers than my followers.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the
seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked: 'Who is
it?' Gabriel replied: 'Gabriel.' It was asked: 'Who is accompanying you?'
Gabriel replied: 'Muhammad.' It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel
replied in the affirmative. Then it said: 'He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!' |
| "So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham
(Ibrahim). Gabriel said to me: 'This is your father; pay your greetings to
him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You
are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to
Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary). Behold! Its
fruits were like the jars of Hajr (a place near Medina) and its leaves
were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said: "This is the Lote Tree
of the utmost and boundary.' Behold! There ran four rivers, two were
hidden and two were visible, I asked: 'What are these two kinds of rivers,
O Gabriel?' He replied: 'As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in
Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.' |
| "Then Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (the Sacred House) was shown to me and a
container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey
were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked: 'This is the
Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the
prayers were enjoined on me: they were fifty prayers a day. When I
returned, I passed by Moses, who asked me; 'What have you been ordered to
do?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses
said: 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah I have
tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel
in vain. Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your
followers'' burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me.
Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said
before. Then again I went back to Allah, and He reduced ten more prayers.
When I came to Moses he said the same. I went back to Allah, and He
ordered m to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he
repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to
observe five prayers a day. |
| "When I came back to Moses, he said: 'What have you been ordered?' I
replied: 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said:
'Your followers cannot bear fear prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got
an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best
with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lesson
your followers' burden.' I said: 'I have requested so much of my Lord that
I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.'
When I left, I heard a voice saying: 'I have passed My order and have
lessened the burden of My worshippers.'" |
| In this year, twelve men of Yathrib, of whom ten were of the Jewish
tribe of Khazraj and the other two of Aws, came to Meccan and took an oath
of fidelity to the Prophet at Al-Aqaba, a hill on the north of that city.
This oath was called the Women's' Oath, not that any women were present at
this time, but because a man was not thereby obliged to take up arms in
defense of the Prophet or his religion, it being the same oath that was
afterwards exacted of the women. This oath was as follows: "We will not
associate anything with Allah; we will not steal nor commit adultery or
fornication, nor kill our children (as the pagan Arabs used to do when
they apprehended that they would not be able to maintain them), nor forge
calumnies; we will obey the Prophet in everything that is reasonable, and
we will be faithful to him in well and sorrow." When they had solemnly
engaged to do all this, the Prophet sent one of his disciples, Mus'ab Ibn
Umair, home with them to teach them the fundamental doctrines and
ceremonies of the religion. Mus'ab, having arrived at Yathrib by the
assistance of those who had been formerly converted, gained several new
converts, particularly Usaid Ibn Khudair, a chief of man of the city, and
Sa'd Ibn Mu'adh, prince of the tribe of Aws. Islam spread so fast that
there was a scarce a house that did not have some Muslims in it. |
| The next year, being the thirteenth of the mission (A.D. 622) Mus'ab
returned from Yathrib accompanied by seventy-three men and two women of
that city who had adopted Islam, besides others who were as yet
unbelievers. On their arrival, these Yathribites immediately sent to the
Prophet and invited him to their city. The Prophet was not in great need
of such assistance, for his opponents had by this time grown so powerful
in Mecca that he could not stay there much longer without imminent danger.
He therefore accepted their proposal and met them one night by appointment
at Al Aqaba attended by his uncle Al-Abbas, who, though he as not then a
convert, wished his nephew well. Al Abbas made a speech to those of
Yathrib wherein he told them that, as the Prophet Muhammad was obliged to
quit his native city and seek shelter elsewhere, and they had offered him
their protection, they would do well not to deceive him; and that if they
were not firmly resolved to defend and not to betray him, they had better
declare their minds and let him provide for his safety in some other
manner. Upon their professing their sincerity, the Prophet swore to be
faithful to them, on condition that they should worship none but Allah
observe the precepts of Islam, obey the Prophet in all that was right, and
protect him against all insults as heartily as they would their wives and
families. They then asked him what would be their return, if they should
happen to be killed in the cause of Allah; he answered: "Paradise,"
whereupon they pledged their faith to him and his cause. 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 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. |
| 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. |
| "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) |
| "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) |
| Thus was accomplished the hijrah, or the flight of Muhammad as called
in European annals, from which the Islamic calendar dates. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. He
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. |
| 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. 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). |
Jalalia Mosque and
Islamic Education Centre
Machen Place • Riverside
• Cardiff • CF11 6ER • United Kingdom
tel: 029 2022 1309
e-mail:info@jalaliamosque.org.uk