An Example of Noble Character

Madinah, many of the Arabs there probably hoped that he would act as an arbiter among the opposing parties, and their contact with the Jews may have prepared them for a messianic religious leader, who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom in which justice prevailed.” (Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 12, p. 607) 4. One part of the Prophet’s mission was to bring an end to the era that the French historian Henri Pirenne described as “absolute imperialism.” This political system had long blocked human progress. For this reason, the Prophet was born in the Arabian Peninsula, located between the two great empires of that time: the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires. His mission was destined to engage with the dominant powers of the time. Historically, his emergence occurred at a remarkably opportune moment—during the prolonged war between the Byzantine and Persian empires (603–628 CE). These two powers, the strongest of their era, had been significantly weakened by continuous conflict. The Quran refers to this context in the following words: “The Romans have been defeated in a nearby land, but they will soon be victorious again.” (30:2–3) After the Prophet’s birth, Persia launched an attack against the Byzantine Empire in 603 CE. In the years that followed, the Byzantines suffered defeat, and by 616 CE, much of their eastern territory—including Jerusalem—had come under Persian control. Later, the Byzantine emperor regained strength and launched a counteroffensive in 623 CE. By 624 CE, he