The Prophet in Makkah

and seek a place for ourselves in God’s land. We will keep going until God releases us from our affliction.” “May God go with you,” ‘Umar said, tears running down his face as he talked. I had never seen him act like this before. Then he went on his way and was sad to see us leave Makkah.112 In every day and age, some ideas take root in the popular psyche. Before these ideas are banished, no new message, however rational, can become acceptable. The opposition, which the Arabs first presented to the message of Islam, was not just the result of stubbornness or expediency on their part. Instead, it was genuinely difficult for them to understand how any religion which differed from that of the patrons of the Holy Ka’bah could be the true religion. Arab tribes living in the vicinity of Jewish areas were generally free of such restrictive creeds. They had often heard from the Jews that it was written in their scriptures that a Prophet would come among the Arabs. As the historian Tabarani explains, that was why it was easier for the people of Madinah to see the truth of Islam: When the Ansar heard the teachings of the Prophet, they remained silent. Their hearts were satisfied that what he preached was true. They had heard from the People of the Book what the Final Prophet would be like. They recognized the truth of his message. They confirmed his teachings and believed in him.113 When the Prophet went to the fair of ‘Ukaz and, entering the tent of the Banu Kandah, explained his teachings, this is what one youth had to say in reply: