Islam comes to Madinah

ISLAM COMES TO MADINAH B efore the coming of Islam, the city of Madinah was known as Yathrib. Besides the two main tribes of the Aws and Khazraj, some Jewish tribes lived in the area and established their dominance by pursuing a policy of divide and rule. Their prime concern was keeping their Arab neighbours weak and disunited. Just five years before the Prophet emigrated to Madinah, the Khazraj, at the instigation of the Jews, rose against the Aws. An Aws chieftain named Abu’l Baysar Anas ibn Rafi’ went to Makkah along with a few of his fellows to seek the Quraysh’s help. Hearing about their arrival, the Prophet went to see them and invited them to accept Islam. One of their companions, a youth named Ayas ibn Mu’adh, was impressed by the Prophet’s words. He told his companions this was much better than they had come for, but they disagreed. Abu’l Baysar threw some earth in Ayas’ face in disgust and told him to forget what Muhammad had said, for they had other, more pressing business. The Aws delegation returned without accepting Islam. Soon afterwards, the Aws and Khazraj fought a war known as Bu’ath. The enmity between the two tribes had become so intense that each wished to obliterate the other. In this