The Prophet in Makkah

THE PROPHET IN MAKKAH “Praise God,” he told them, “for today, Rabi’ah’s offspring have as good as overcome the Persians.”136 The Prophet saw how the Ansar strengthened Islam by taking the Muslims in. He realized it would only be a matter of time before the Muslims conquered mighty Persia. The Prophet began to make preparations for emigration to Madinah. He was to take six months after the conversion of the Aws and Khazraj to do this. All this while he attempted to maintain the utmost secrecy, but still the polytheists, the Quraysh, learnt of his plans to leave. They heard about the refuge he had been granted in Madinah and the protection the Ansar had extended him. The fact that the Ansar had accepted Islam also came to their notice, and they learned that the Muslims were gathering in Madinah. Plotting against the Prophet, they decided to take him captive at his departure and kill or keep him prisoner.137 But their plans came to nothing. When all his arrangements were complete, he succeeded in migrating to Madinah in total secrecy.