The Prophet's Early Years in Madinah

The Prophet's first year in Madinah was spent in settling down. Although the majority of the Arabs of Madinah were Muslims, some of them were not interested in Islam. Because they were out-numbered by the Muslims, and they had to coexist with them without being able to manage on their own, they had no choice but to join in by pretending to be Muslims. This category was known as hypocrites (the Munafiqun).

The Jews whose interest clashed with Islam, had many things in common with the hypocrites, so they joined hands in plotting against Islam. Many times the hypocrites would decline to participate in military expeditions and battles against the pagan Arabs. However, they signed an agreement of co-existence with the Muslims.

Almost a year after his arrival, the Prophet (SAWS) was given the permission from Allah to fight the polytheists who were nearby. This was thirteen years after he was commanded to speak to the people. So, he went forth on his first military expedition. He raided the people of Al-Abwa who were heading for the Quraish. The people of Al-Abwa made peace with him and he returned to Madinah without engaging in a combat. After this, Allah's Messenger (SAWS) dispatched expeditions on regular intervals some of which he lead himself.

In the month of Ramadan, March 624, Allah's Messenger (SAWS) heard that Abu Sufyan, the head of the Umaiyad clan was coming from Syria with a wealthy Makkan caravan of the Quraish accompanied by thirty or forty men. The Prophet (SAWS) summoned the Muslims and went with 315 men to intercept it as a compensation for the persecution of Muslims who had to flee Madinah with their religion.

Having taken alarm, Abu Sufyan sent a man to call the Quraish in defense of their property and to tell them that Muhammad (SAWS) and his Companions were lying in wait for the caravan. Upon hearing this news the Quraish set out to fight the Prophet (SAWS) and his Companions.

Abu Sufyan managed to elude the Muslims by taking different routes. When he saw that he had saved the caravan, he sent a word to Quraish to return to Makkah, but their leaders refused and insisted upon war and marched forth with 900 men and reached a place near Badr where they camped.

The battle started with individual duels, then fighting became fierce. The leaders of Quraish fell one after another along with 45 of their men who were killed including Abu Jahl, and 70 of them were taken as prisoners, while 14 Muslims were killed. This flash victory was a Divine vindication of Muhammad's Prophethood, and he (SAWS) and his Companions were greatly elated.

When the Prophet (SAWS) had finished with the enemy, he ordered that the dead of the pagans be thrown into a pit. The news of the great victory reached the people of Madinah and was met with jubilation. Allah's Messenger (SAWS) and his Companions arrived in Madinah bringing along with them the captives, while the Quraish returned home to wail their dead. Many captives ransomed themselves or their Makkan relatives sent ransom money for them.

The victory in Badr had weakened the Muslim's most serious opponents in Madinah, the hypocrites or nominal Muslims whose allies were the Jews. Thus, the victory of Badr strengthened the Muslims. After the Battle of Badr, Allah's Messenger (SAWS) summoned the Jewish clan of Banu Qainuaqa' in their market place and said to them: "O Jews! Beware lest Allah brings upon you the vengeance as He brought upon the Quraish. Accept Islam, you know I am the Prophet whose description is mentioned in your Scripture."

They refused to admit it and were defiant. Thereupon Allah revealed the following: "Say (O Muhammad) to the infidels: you will be vanquished and summoned to Hell, an evil resting place. You have already had a lesson in two forces that met, one force fought in the cause of Allah. And the other infidels." (3:12-13)

Banu Qainuqa' were the first Jews to break their agreement with Allah's Messenger (SAWS) by mistreating a Muslim woman in their market. Allah's Messenger (SAWS) besieged them until they surrendered unconditionally and were exiled out of Madinah.

When Quraish suffered their defeat at Badr, they used the revenue of Abu Sufyan's caravan to finance another expedition against the Muslims in Madinah to avenge their dead at Badr. So they mobilized the Makkans and their allies in the year 625 and reached the outskirts of Madinah with 3000 men.

When Allah's Messenger (SAWS) heard about their march, he went out to meet them and stationed his 700 troops at a high ground on mount Uhud. The next morning, the pagans waged their attack but were repulsed with considerable loss by the Muslim archers. As the Muslims pursued, the pagan cavalry launched a flank attack after the archers left their positions and the Muslims were thrown into confusion. Some made for a fort and were cut down, but the Prophet (SAWS) and the bulk of his force managed to gain the lower slopes of Mount Uhud. There they were safe from the pagan cavalry. The pagans, because of their losses, were unable to press home their advantages and without delay they set out for home.

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) returned along with his troops to Madinah. The next day he went after the pagans who themselves thought of returning to the Muslims but were disheartened by the news of the Muslims marching towards them.

The Battle of Uhud, although the pagans killed many Muslims, did not produce the decisive victory they had hoped for, neither did it deal the Muslims a crippling defeat, it was only a temporary military reversal, and soon the Muslims regained confidence and high morale.

The hypocrites of Madinah were trying hard to destabilize the Islamic state in Madinah. They abandoned the Prophet (SAWS) and the Muslims at the Battle of Uhud and collaborated with the Jews whose ultimate goal was to put an end to the Prophet (SAWS) and his Companions.

For two years after the Battle of Uhud, the Muslim position was strengthened through expeditions led by Allah's Messenger (SAWS) himself or those that he sanctioned. Such military activities also helped to extend the Prophet's alliances and prevent others from joining the Makkan pagans.

Pursuant to their plot against his life, the Prophet (SAWS) raided the Jews of Banu An-Nadir who were deceived by false promises of support by the hypocrites of Madinah. They succumbed and asked the Messenger (SAWS) to spare their lives and let them leave allowing them to take with them their movable property excluding their armor to which he agreed.

In the 5th year of Hijrah 627, a number of Jews who had formed a party against the Muslims, went to the Quraish in Makkah and proposed a joint attack against the Muslims. The Quraish who had suffered losses and humiliation at the hands of the Muslims, welcomed the idea and mobilized 10,000 men and marched under the command of Abu Sufyan hoping to crush the Muslims.

When the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) heard the news, he ordered a trench to be dug around Madinah and worked at it himself encouraging the Muslims who all worked together on it.

By the time the trench was dug, the Quraish arrived and encamped just outside Madinah and besieged the Muslims for a fortnight. Attempts to cross the trench failed, and fodder for their horses grew scare. The Prophet's agents fomented dissension between his enemies; they were successful and the Jews broke their relations with the Makkah pagans, and so did the other Arab tribes.

After many days of the hopeless siege, one night of cold wind and rain, Abu Sufyan decided to return home. He gave up the hope of dislodging the Prophet (SAWS) whose position was now greatly strengthened. The Prophet (SAWS) informed the Muslims that the Quraish would not attack them after that year, and that they would attack the Quraish. The Quraish never attacked after that. It was the Muslims who attacked the Quraish when they conquered Makkah.

By joining the Confederates against the Muslims, the Jews of Banu Quraithah broke their alliance with the Prophet (SAWS) and subjected themselves to a fatal end.