THE TRUE JIHAD

~ 16 ~ The entire life of the Prophet is a practical demonstration of his peaceloving policy. within its walls. In view of this situation, the first verses to be revealed in the Quran should have been to this effect: “Purify the Kabah of all idols,” and then, after making it a centre of tawhid or oneness of Allah, work for your mission. But beginning his mission with this task would have amounted to waging war, for it was the Quraysh who were the guardians of the Kabah as the well as the leaders of Arabia. The Prophet therefore totally avoided the physical purification of the Kabah and limited himself to the theoretical communication of the message of monotheism. It was the first prophetic example of adopting a peaceful and nonconfrontational method instead of a violent or confrontational method. 2. Adhering strictly to this peaceful principle, the Prophet continued to work in Makkah for a period of thirteen years. But even then, the Quraysh turned his dire enemies. Ultimately, the Quraysh’s leaders in consultation among themselves arrived at a