Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah

EMIGRATION—FROM MAKKAH TO MADINAH about to desert him. ‘Urwah’s remark was too much for the normally placid Abu Bakr, who sternly rebuked him and said, “So you think that we will leave the Prophet on his own?” But the Prophet himself refused to be provoked. He accepted all the Quraysh’s demands and completed a ten-year truce with them. As long as the truce lasted, the Quraysh were prevented—directly or indirectly—from participating in any hostilities against the Muslims. This treaty weighed so heavily on the Muslims that, after it had been completed, no one responded to repeated calls by the Prophet for the sacrifice of the camels they had brought with them. So it was with heavy hearts that they finally rose to make the sacrifice. So much so that when they shaved their heads afterwards, it seemed as if they were going to cut one another’s throats, so deep was their sorrow. But this truce, the terms of which appeared so unfavourable to the Muslims, was destined to reap incalculable benefits for them later. At the time of the truce, two main enemies confronted the Muslims—the Jews of Khaybar and the Quraysh of Makkah. The Muslims were not yet strong enough to face both simultaneously. Attacking one would have given the other a golden opportunity to attack Madinah from the rear, thus demolishing the Muslims’ stronghold. By accepting all the Quraysh’s demands, the Prophet had consolidated a ten-year truce with one of the two. No longer could they conduct forays against the Muslims. With the Quraysh out