Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah

EMIGRATION—FROM MAKKAH TO MADINAH broadened, and now Islam had to take account of social issues as well. The policy adopted by the Prophet at this juncture was aimed at softening people’s hearts towards Islam so that the purpose of his mission could be achieved without conflict. “I have been assisted by the feelings of awe which I inspire—this has been the equivalent of one month’s journey,” he once said. Usually, his missions were carried through to success by sheer force of personality. There were two complementary aspects to this method: one was based on overawing the opponents of Islam, while the other aimed to plant the seed of love in them. The first meant accumulating strength awesome enough to convince the opponents of Islam that they could not beat it and that being so, they had best come to its fold.145 The second way was to offer gifts to the opponents of Islam to soften their hearts towards Islam and Muslims.146 The generosity that the Prophet showed to win people over to his cause was without a peer. No one before or after him can lay claim to such boundless munificence. Safwan ibn Umayyah, a noble of Makkah, hid in a mountain ravine. After the Muslim conquest of Makkah, the Prophet extended an amnesty to him and asked to see him. After Hawazin had been subdued, the Prophet was overseeing the distribution of spoils at Ji’ranah. Safwan ibn Umayyah was with him. As yet, he had not accepted Islam. Standing on the gully’s side, he gazed wonderfully at the goats and camels swarming beneath him. “Abu Wahab,” the Prophet