The Migration to Madinah

Now the Muslims began to emigrate to Yathrib in large numbers to escape persecution at the hands of the Quraysh. Only the Prophet, Abu Bakr and a few Muslims were left in Makkah. This infuriated the Quraysh, for Islam was now strengthening its root in Yathrib. There was nothing more dangerous than that. So they resolved to remove the danger once and for all. They said: “Kill Muhammad and Islam will die with him.” The young men with whom the Quraysh planned to carry out the assassination, duly collected in that fateful night. But before they could put their plan into action, God, having conceived of a different plan for the Prophet, commanded him to leave for Madinah. And who can overrule God’s plan? Accordingly, the Porphet — after giving Ali all the people’s deposits to be returned to them made Ali lie down in his bed, while he himself left the house at midnight. Before dawn, the Prophet, accompanied by Abu Bakr, left Makkah and, about five miles from the city the two men took shelter in a cave called Thawr. When the Makkans learnt of the Prophet’s escape, they were mad with rage. They offered a reward of a hundred camels to anyone who captured The Prophet Muhammad and a number of horsemen immediately raced out into the desert. Some of them even managed to reach the very mouth of the cave of Thawr. Abu Bakr was stricken with fear lest they harm the Prophet. But the Prophet reassured him, saying: “Fear not. We are not two only in this cave. There is a third—God.” The Prophet and Abu Bakr lay hidden in this cave for three days and three nights. On the fourth day they came out and continued the journey. Their guide for this dangerous journey was Abdullah ibn al Uraiqit, a non-Muslim, who was a friend of Abu Bakr. Love for Humanity The first problem faced by the Prophet was that of the Makkan refugees. They had neither homes nor money. Most of them had been well-to-do in Makkah, but they had left everything behind them. So the first important thing for the Prophet to do was to settle them in their new surroundings. The solution to this problem was found in the concept of brotherhood in Islam. The Prophet collected the Muslims and suggested that one Ansar (Madinan Muslim) and one Muhajir (Makkan Muslim) should become linked together as two brothers. The Muslims of Madinah immediately accepted the suggestion of the Prophet. Each Ansar took one Makkan Muslim as his brother. This bond between the two became even stronger than a blood relationship. The Ansar gave his Makkan brother half of everything he possessed—house, land, money and other belongings. The Prophet gave his first sermon after migration to Madinah on the first Friday at the Mosque of Jumu‘a while he was travelling from Quba to Madinah. He said: 1. Worship Almighty God. 2. You should be truthful in your life. 3. Love everyone in your society. 4. Fulfill the promises and commitments you make. 5. Differentiate between the lawful and the unlawful in your life. 6. Behave in a good manner with others. The Prophet, after being tortured and forced by the Makkans to migrate, did not mention any kind of revenge but instead talked about spreading love, peace and humanity among the people of Madinah.