The Life of Muhammad

Tiban, the king of the Himyarite kingdom (12), had a dream that the Abyssinians
would take over Yemen, and then a prophet will free his people (5).
Sometime later, war broke out between Tiban and the Ansar tribe. Tiban attacks
the Ansar tribe, and then headed back to Yemen (7).
While on the journey home, the Hudhayl of Mecca convinced Tiban to follow
them to get ancient treasure. But really the Hudhayl were trying to destroy the king’s
army (8).
Two rabbis tell the king of the Hudhayl’s plot (7), so the king exterminates the
Hudhayl and cleanses the Ka’ba of their idols (9).
Before returning to Yemen, Tiban converts to Judaism (7). Then when he returns,
he attempts to convince his people to convert as well. To prove Judaism, the king
proposes to light a fire and send the rabbi’s and the pagan’s into the fire, and whoever
survives the flames is following the right religion. The rabbi’s come out. Thus, the
Yemenites convert to Judaism (10) and the king destroys the pagan’s temple (11).
Later the king’s son Hassan comes to power, and attacks the Arabs and Persians
(10). While on the campaign, his followers convince his brother Amr to kill him and
return. Amr does so (12). In remorse of his actions, Amr kills those who convinced him
to do so.
After Amr dies, the Himyarite’s kingdom fell apart (13). Then Amr’s descendant
Dhu Nuwas gained control of one part of the kingdom and allied with the rest.
Around that time, a Christian named Faymiyun brought his religion to Yemen
(14). In an attempt to convert the Najran’s, he invokes Allah to curse a palm-tree which
they worship (15). God destroys their palm-tree, and they convert to Christianity (16).
Dhu Nuwas then attacked the Christian Najran’s, trying to convert them to
Judaism. However, the Najran’s refused and chose death. The Himyarite’s dug a trench
and killed nearly 20,000 Najran’s (17).
Daus Dhu Thalaban, a Najran, went to the Byzantine emperor for help against the
Dhu Nuwas. The emperor wrote to the Abyssinian king, whose territory was near Yemen,
for help defeating the Dhu Nuwas. The Abyssinian and Najran army fought against the
Dhu Nuwas and the Himyarite’s army, and the latter fled (18). Aryat, the leader of the
Abyssinian army then took control of Yemen.
Due to dispute, Aryat fights his soldier Abraha in single combat for control of the
Abyssinian army, and dies. Abraha takes control of the army and Yemen (20). Abraha
then built a church in Sana, in order to divert the Arab’s pilgrimage to it instead of Mecca
(21). An Arab calendar-maker got angry and defiled the church because he felt the church
was unworthy of a pilgrimage (22). Abraha and his vassal Muhammad ibn Khuzai
prepared to attack the Ka’ba with elephants and the Arabs prepare for battle against him.
Abraha captured Dhu Nafr and his people, and later Nufayl the son of Habib al-
Khathami and his tribe, the Shahran and Nahis tribes, and other Arab tribes under Nufayl
the son of Habib al-Khathami (23). Abraha’s army passes by harmlessly the tribe of al-
Nabit the father of Qasiy, who venerated the temple of al-Lat, which was a similar temple
to the Ka’ba.
Once at Mecca, Abraha sent a message to the chief of the country that he wanted
to destroy the Ka’ba only. Negotiations failed, and Abraha persisted (24-25).
 In the morning, Abraha mounted his elephant, gathered his troops, and
prepared for battle. When they made his elephant face Mecca, the captive Nufayl
the son of Habib snuck up and commanded it to kneel or return home, because it
was in a holy land. Thus, the elephant would not move towards Mecca, but would
kneel whenever faced that way. Allah then sent birds from the sea with stones to
defeat Abraha’s army (26). As Abraha’s army fled, he was hit on the body, and his
fingers fell off one by one. He died when his heart burst from his body (27) at Sana
(28).
Once Abraha died his son Yaksum became king of the Abyssinians. When
Yaksum died his brother Masruq reigned over the Abyssinians in Yemen.
Because the people of Yemen endured oppression at the hands of the Abyssinians,
Sayf the son of Dhu Yazan went to Chosroes I offering Yemen if his army would defeat
the Abyssinians (30). Eventually Chosroes I agreed, and sent an army under Wahriz.
Wahriz met Masruq in battle, and killed Masruq with an arrow. Then the Abyssinians
fled and Wahriz conquered Sana, Yemen and then all of the country of Yemen.
Then Chosroes I commands Wahriz to go back to Persia and let Sayf rule Yemen.
Sayf then warred and almost exterminated the Abyssinians. Sayf was then killed by his
Abyssinian slaves. One of them attempted to become leader, and they began slaying the
people of Yemen. Chosroes I then put 4,000 Persians under Wahriz to exterminate the
remaining Abyssinians in Yemen, which he did. Chosroes I then gave Yemen back under
the control of Wahriz (33). Then the Quraysh merchants took over Yemen (34).
The Quraysh had an idol by a well in the middle of the Ka’ba called Hubal and
they adopted Isaf and Na’ila by the place of Zamzam, sacrificing besides them. There
was a man and a woman of Jurhum – Isaf the son of Baghy and Na’ila the daughter
of Dik – who were guilty of sexual relations in the Ka’ba and so Allah transformed
them into two stones (37), which later became idols (45). The Arabs adopted Tawaghit,
which were temples they venerated like the Ka’ba. Amr the son of Luayy put al-Uzza in
Nakhla, and when they finished circling the Ka’ba they circled al-Uzza (38). Manat was
worshipped by the people of Medina (39).
When Ishmael died, his son Nabit and his descendants were in charge of the
Ka’ba for many years, and then Mudad the son of Amr al-Jurhumi took charge. Then, the
Banu Jurhum and Banu Qatura traveled together from Yemen to Mecca. However Mudad
conquered the Banu Jurhum (45) and one of Mudad’s followers, Samayda, conquered the
Banu Qatura. Mudad and his people, comprising of the Banu Jurhum and Banu Ishmael,
took upper Mecca and the Ka’ba. Samayda and his people, comprising mostly of the
Banu Qatura, took lower Mecca. As time passed, these two factions quarreled and war
broke out. In battle, Mudad conquered Samayda, and Mudad brought peace. The Banu
Jurhum then became priests of the Ka’ba, and the Banu Ishmael multiplied, spread, and
conquered other nations (46). Eventually the Banu Jurhum were beaten by the
descendants of Bakr the son of Abdu Manat and the Khuzaa tribe. Because the Banu
Jurhum were defeated, Amr, the grandson of Mudad, buried the two gazelles and the
cornerstone of the Ka’ba in the well Zamzam. Then Ghubshan of Khuzaa took control of
the Ka’ba from the Banu Bakr (47).
Qusayy the son of Kilab then conspired with the Quraysh, the descendants of
Kinana, and the followers of Rizah to drive out the Khuzaa tribe, the Banu Bakr (47-48),
and the Sufa tribe. Qusayy and his conspirators first defeated the Sufa, and then after
intense battle created a peace treaty with the Khuzaa tribe and the Banu Bakr. Qusayy
ended up becoming king of Mecca (52), and gave the Quraysh homes in Mecca and
control over the Ka’ba. When the war was over with Rizah and his companions left (53).
Time passed and Qusayy died (56). Quarrels occurred, and out of such two
groups, the Scented Ones (56-57) and the Confederates, emerged in opposition of one
another. Each group decided that they must exterminate the other. However, when they
were ready to kill one another, a peace treaty was agreed upon and war was prevented.
Several Quraysh tribes also created a similar confederacy, called the Confederacy of the
Fudul (57).
During the peace time created by the Confederacy of the Fudul, Salma married
Hashim, and bore Abdul-Muttalib. Hashim then left Salma, and Abdul-Muttalib’s uncle
raised him in Mecca (59). In Mecca, Abdul-Muttalib learns the trade of feeding the
pilgrims to the Ka’ba (61). Abdul-Muttalib then dug Zamzam (62) and after a quarrel
with the Quraysh, gained control over it (63). Abdul-Muttalib and Fatima, his wife, gave
birth to Abdullah (67). Abdullah then married Amina, consummated the marriage, and
Amina conceived Muhammad (68). While Amina was pregnant, Abdullah died.
As Amina was pregnant with Muhammad she saw a light come forth from
her by which she could see the castles of Busra in Syria (69).
Muhammad was born on Monday, 12th Rabiul-awwal, in the year of the elephant
(69). One of the signs of Muhammad’s birth was a star. Muhammad was then put up for
adoption and Halima adopted him until he was weaned (70). While living with Halima,
two angels in white threw Muhammad on the ground, cut his belly open, took his
heart and split his heart in two, pulled out a black drop out of his heart, and washed
his heart in the snow they brought from heaven (71-72). Muhammad lives. When
Muhammad turned 6, Amina died, and he went to live with Abdul-Muttalib.
When Muhammad turned 8, Abdul-Muttalib died (73), and Abdul-Muttalib’s sons
took charge of Zamzam and the watering of the pilgrims. Muhammad then went to live
with his uncle Abu Talib. Muhammad later went with Abu Talib to Syria in a merchant
caravan (79). There a monk by the name of Bahira had a vision of them coming with
Muhammad, and prepared a feast for everybody. The Quraysh, however, left Muhammad
behind. Bahira then looked at the Quraysh and did not see a person with “the mark which
he knew and found in his books”. The Quraysh got Muhammad, Bahira examined him,
and found one of the marks was between his shoulder blades, which looked like the mark
from a cupping glass (80). Abu Talib then takes Muhammad back to Mecca (81).
The sacrilegious war broke out when Muhammad was 20.
Khadija asked Muhammad to take her merchandise and a man named Maysara to
Syria, Muhammad agreed, and while on the trip sat under a palm tree. A monk told
Maysara that only prophets sat under that tree. After selling the goods, he returned, and
on the road home two angels protected him from the boiling sun. When he returned to
Khadija, Maysara recounted of the angels, and Khadija proposed to Muhammad (82).
Muhammad then asked Khadija’s father, Kjuwaylid, for her hand, and he married her
(83).
When Muhammad was 35, thieves stole treasure from the inside of a well, which
was inside the Ka’ba. So, the Quraysh got a Copt to use timber from a Greek merchant
ship to add a roof to the Ka’ba (84). So, they tore down the old structure and began to
rebuild it partly with the timber from the Greek merchant ship.
 When the Ka’ba was being rebuilt, a man of Quraysh inserted a crowbar
between two stones in order to get them out, and when he moved the stone the whole
of Mecca shuddered so they left the foundation alone (85).
When they got to the place where the black stone was to go, the various tribes
argued who was to put it in place. These clans went their ways, formed alliances, and
prepared to battle each other. However, an old man urged the alliances to make an umpire
out of whoever the first person was to enter the gate of the mosque. Muhammad was the
first to enter, so everybody agreed. Muhammad then got a cloak, put the black stone on
the cloak, and had each clan hold a side of the clan to put the stone in position. Then the
rebuilding went on (86).
Muhammad migrated to Medina and it was there that Salman the son of Abbas
met him and converted (97). Muhammad and his companions then worked to free Salman
from bondage (97-98), and eventually freed him. Salman was at every battle from the
battle of the ditches and onward (98).
Muhammad was 40 when Allah made him an evangelist (104). The first sign of
Muhammad’s prophet hood was dreams resembling the brightness of daybreak (105).
One night, in Muhammad’s sleep, Gabriel brought Muhammad the message “Read!” and
Muhammad replied “What shall I read?”. This repeated thrice. Then Gabriel said:
“Read in the name of thy Lord who created,
Who created man of blood coagulated.
Read! Thy Lord is the most beneficent,
Who taught men by the pen,
Taught that which they knew not unto men.”
“So I read it, and he departed from me” Muhammad said. Then he awoke from his
sleep and the words were written on his heart. Muhammad then said if the Quraysh say
he was a poet or a possessed man, he would jump off a mountain to kill himself (106).
Muhammad then went to Khadija and she converted to Islam.
Then revelations stopped for a time. Then Gabriel brought Muhammad the Surah
of the Morning (Surah 93), because Muhammad was depressed (111).
Then Muhammad was ordered to pray, by prostrating himself twice for every
prayer. Gabriel then dug a fountain for Muhammad to perform ritual ablution. Gabriel
showed Muhammad how to do said ablution, and taught Muhammad how to pray
correctly. Muhammad then taught Khadija how to do likewise (112).
Ali the son of Abu Talib was the first male to convert to Islam. He used to sneak
out to pray with Muhammad. Zayd then accepted Islam (114). Then Abu Bakr became a
Muslim, and proselytized:
Uthman the son of Affan
al-Zubayr the son of al-Awwam
Abdu l-Rahman
Sa’d the son of Abu Waqqas
Malik the son of Uhayb
Talha the son of Ubaydullah (115)
Muhammad said that Abu Bakr was the only convert who never showed
signs of doubt (116).
For the first years Muhammad hid Islam from the public, and gained many
converts privately. Then Allah commanded him to reveal Islam with Surah 15:8-9 & 94.
Muhammad was reluctant to reveal it until Gabriel said Allah would punish him if he
refused to do so (117). Muhammad then gathered together his followers, and asked them
who would be his helper in preaching Islam, and Ali chose to do so.
Despite the fact that Islam was to become a public religion, the Muslims still
hid themselves when they prayed. One day, when the Muslims were doing so, a band
of polytheists interrupted them, and fighting broke out. Sa’d hit a polytheist with
the jawbone of a camel, and that was the first blood to be spilt due to Islam.
When Muhammad openly displayed Islam, he insulted the polytheist’s gods.
This made them consider Muhammad to be an enemy (118). Muhammad continued to do
this, so his relation with the Quraysh deteriorated.
The polytheists then went to Abu Talib and asked him to reveal the whereabouts
of Muhammad so they could kill him. Abu Talib asked Ali if he would abandon Islam,
Ali refused, and this made Abu Talib concrete in protecting Muhammad from the
polytheists (119). Then the Quraysh incited the people against the Muslims, and the
Muslims stood together to protect Muhammad (120).
The Quraysh went to al-Walid the son of al-Mughira to ask what he believed
Muhammad was. He came to the consensus that he was probably a sorcerer. Allah
then revealed to Muhammad Surah 74:11-25 about al-Walid. al-Walid then retorted
“This is nothing but ancient sorcery, this is nothing but the speech of a mortal”.
Then Allah revealed to Muhammad Surah 15:90.
Abu Talib then wrote a poem (122) stating that they would be killed before losing
Muhammad and they would rise up in arms and fight the polytheists (124).
Around this time Muhammad became known throughout Arabia, particularly at
Medina (128). The Quraysh, under pressure, began to call Muhammad a sorcerer (130),
and began insulting him when he prayed, yet the worst thing they ever did to him was
seize his robe (131). Because of the way the Quraysh were treating Muhammad, Hamza,
the strongest of the Quraysh, converted to Islam (131-132). When he became a Muslim
the Quraysh abandoned harassing Muhammad (132).
Partly because of Hamza’s conversion, the Quraysh attempt to negotiate with
Muhammad. They offered him money, honor, sovereignty (133), and a cure if he was
possessed by demons. Muhammad rejected their offer. Then, the Quraysh asked
Muhammad to get Allah to make them live in a pleasant land and resurrect their fathers.
Muhammad refused. Then they asked Muhammad to get Allah to do something for
himself. Muhammad refused again. Finally, they asked him to ask Allah to let the
heavens drop on them as punishment. Muhammad refused. Thus, the Quraysh declared
Muhammad was not a prophet, and they will fight against him until one party remains
(134).
When Muhammad left Abu Jahl stated that he would wait for Muhammad
to pray towards the Ka’ba, grab a huge rock, sneak up on Muhammad, and split his
skull with it. Abu Jahl attempted to do so, snuck up towards Muhammad, but was
frightened by Gabriel, who is described as “a camel’s stallion” with a frightening
head, shoulders, and teeth. Abu Jahl thought that Gabriel was going to eat him.
Because this happened, the Quraysh retracted their statement that Muhammad
was a sorcerer (135), a poet, and a possessed man. The Quraysh then sent Al-Nadr the
son of al-Harith and Uqba the son of Abu Mu’ayt to the Jewish rabbi’s in Medina to ask
them about the signs of a prophet. The rabbi’s say if Muhammad can give the correct
answer about the “young men who disappeared in ancient days”, the “might traveler who
reached the confines of the East and West” and “what the spirit is”. So, the men returned
to Mecca and asked Muhammad those questions. Muhammad said he would answer
them in one day. However, Muhammad did not give an answer for fifteen days
(136). The people began to spread reports, saying, “Muhammad promised us an
answer on the morrow, and today is the fifteenth day we have remained without an
answer” (136-137).
Muhammad then gives them an answer to the first question. He said that young
men took refuge in a cave, and then Allah sealed their hearing. Then they died, and Allah
resurrected them 309 years later (138).
Muhammad then gave them an answer to the second question. He said that the
mighty traveler was an angel who was given the power to travel on every road and
conquer every nation he came across.
Muhammad then made a response to the third question. What Muhammad
said was that he didn’t know what the spirit was, and neither did the Jews (139).
Abu Jahl, when he was mocking Muhammad, referred to how Muhammad
said Hell is guarded by only 19 guards. Muhammad said that this was a trial to
those who disbelieve (141).
Then the Quraysh persecuted the Muslims. Bilal who belonged to Umayya the
son of Khalaf, was forced outdoors in the boiling sun as punishment for being Muslim.
Abu Bakr saw this, and traded his black non-Muslim slave for Bilal. Abu Bakr freed
many other slaves that were Muslim, which helped their cause (144). Because of this the
polytheists increased their persecution (145).
Due to the persecution, Muhammad asked his followers to travel to Abyssinia. In
total, either 82 or 83 Muslims went to Abyssinia to avoid persecution (146). The Quraysh
then sent Abdullah the son of Abu Rabi’a and Amr the son of al-As to Abyssinia to ask
the Negus (which is a king) to forcibly return them (150). The Negus refused (151) and
then converted to Islam (152). The Abyssinians then revolted because the Negus left
Christianity (154) and met him on the battlefield. There, he tricked the Abyssinian
revolters into believing he was a Christian, so they went their way.
After this, Umar became a Muslim. Muhammad’s companions were so fortified
by him and Hamza that they got the upper hand of the Quraysh (155). The Quraysh then
gathered together in order to create a boycott against the Muslims (159) which lasted two
or three years (160).
The Quraysh, knowing they couldn’t kill Muhammad, began to mock and laugh at
him (161). They called him Mudhammam, which means reprobate. Abu Jahl told
Muhammad stop cursing their gods or they will curse Allah, so Gabriel sent him Surah
25:6, and Muhammad stopped cursing their gods (162). Abu Jahl also stated that
Muhammad was taking verses for the Quran from ancient stories to which the Quran
denies such in Surah 83:13 (163). Uqba the son of Abu Mu’ayt spit in Muhammad’s face
(164).
Around this time Al-Aswad the son of al-Muttalib and al-Walid the son of al-
Mughira asked Muhammad to combine Islam with polytheism, and Muhammad revealed
Surah 109, stating “you have your religion and I have mine”. Yet because Muhammad
wanted the Quraysh to follow Islam, he revealed Surah 53:1-20, which states al-Lat,
al-Uzza, and Manat are Numidian cranes whose intercession is to be hoped for (165-
166). The Quraysh were delighted about the way he spoke of their gods, and listened to
his message.
Because of this, some of Muhammad’s followers in Abyssinia returned to Mecca.
But Gabriel came and stated to Muhammad “What have you done, Muhammad? You
have read to these people something I did not bring you from God and you have said
what He did not say to you.” Allah then annulled what Satan made Muhammad say
with Surah 22:51 and Surah 53:19-27 (166). Thus, the polytheists remarked that
Muhammad had changed his mind, and became violent towards the Muslims (167).
Then, out of passion towards the suffering of the Muslims, some of the polytheists
convened another meeting to annul the boycott. Although not all wanted it annulled, such
as Abu Jahl (172), it was agreed upon to be annulled anyway. However, when they went
to tear it up, worms had already eaten the document (173).
Abu Jahl bought camels from a foreigner, yet didn’t pay (177). The man he
bought them from went to Muhammad to get him to help. Muhammad went to Abu Jahl’s
house, knocked on the door, and commanded him to pay the foreigner. Abu Jahl,
frightened by Muhammad’s voice, brought the money out, to see a camel stallion with a
bizarre head, shoulders and teeth, towering above Muhammad’s head.
Rukana the son of Abdu Yazid, the strongest man among the Quraysh, offered to
accept Islam if Muhammad could throw him to the ground. Muhammad did twice.
Muhammad then offered to call a tree to come to him (178). The tree came, and
Muhammad told it to return to its original spot, which it did.
It was around this time that Muhammad was woken up by Gabriel and rode
on a white half-donkey half-mule with wings and legs that were long enough for
every stride it took could take it as far as its eye could see. This donkey traveled
from Mecca to Jerusalem, where Muhammad led Abraham, Moses, and Jesus in
prayer and given milk, water, and wine to drink (he chose milk symbolizing true
primeval religion), and then the donkey traveled back to Mecca in one night (182).
Many of Muhammad’s followers, upon hearing this, abandoned Islam (183).
After Muhammad traveled to Jerusalem, a ladder was brought to him and he
climbed up to heaven. He met an angel called Ishmael was in charge of the gates of
heaven. He met an angel called Malik, the keeper of hell, who showed hell to him. He
met Adam, who judged the spirits of his offspring. He saw men with lips like camels, in
their hands were pieces of fire like stones which they ate (185). He met the family of
Egypt who had strange bellies (185-186). He met adulterous men who were forced to eat
stinking meat and adulterous women who were hung by their breasts. In the second
heaven he met Jesus and John the Baptist. In the third heaven he met Joseph the son of
Jacob. In the fourth heaven he met Idris the exalted. In the fifth heaven he met Aaron. In
the sixth heaven he met Moses. In the seventh heaven he met Abraham. Then
Muhammad entered into paradise and met a damsel with dark red lips which
Muhammad thought was attractive. In paradise the duty of fifty prayers a day was laid
upon Muhammad. When Muhammad was leaving, he met Moses (186) and Moses
lowered the fifty prayers a day down to five a day (186-187).
Because some of the polytheists began to mock Muhammad, Gabriel killed the
principle offenders (187). Khadija and Abu Talib died in the same year, which severely
hurt Muhammad’s defense (191). Muhammad then went to Ta’if to seek help from his
enemies (192), but he got none so he returned to Mecca (193). However, he found a
protector in Mecca by the name of al-Mut’im the son of Adiy (194).
Around this time a portion of the Khazraj tribe accepted Islam (198), all of the
sons of Abdul-Ashhal accepted Islam, many of the Ansar tribe accepted Islam (201).
A member of the Ansar tribe, al-Bara the son of Ma’rur, began to pray towards
the Ka’ba instead of the rest of the Muslims, who prayed towards Jerusalem. In conflict,
they went to Muhammad and asked him what to do. He commanded al-Bara to pray
towards Jerusalem (202).
Some time after that Muhammad aligned with the Khazraj and the Aus
against the Jews (203), and declared that he would go to war against the Jews, who
were the Khazraj’s and Aus’s enemies(204). At this time many of the Muslims went on
their migration to Medina (207) and the first person there to convert was Amr the son of
al-Jumah (208). After the second Aqaba, Allah gave permission to Muhammad to
fight and protect himself against those who treated the Muslims badly (212) with
Surah 22:40-42 (212-213). Then Allah gave Surah 2:198 which allows Muhammad
to fight those who seduce Muslims to other religions and until Islam only exists.
Muhammad also commanded his followers in Mecca to travel without him to Medina to
meet up with the Ansar there (213).
Because Muhammad had gained followers outside the Quraysh, the Quraysh
convened a council about what to do (221). They decided to kill Muhammad (222), but
their plan failed. Muhammad then got a command from Gabriel to travel to Medina
(223), which he did (224). There, he ordered the building of a mosque (228).
Muhammad then recited Surah 34:36, which states every good deed will be worth
700 bad deeds.
Muhammad then wrote a peace treaty between the Muslims, the Medinans,
and the Jews (231), stating that Muslims shall be against those who spread
corruption to Muslims. This treaty also makes reference to war in the way of God,
and Muslims must avenge those killed in these wars (232).
In Medina Muhammad instituted prayer, the alms tax, fasting was perscribed,
legal punishments, and halal and haram also (235). In Medina Abdullah the son of Zayd
had a dream which he told Muhammad. The dream contained Falah, the call to prayer,
which was to be said three times. Muhammad liked it and institutionalized it. Falah
states:
“Allahu Akbar. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah. I beat witness that
Muhammad is the apostle of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to prayer. Come to divine
service. Come to divine service. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. There is no God but Allah”
(236).
In Medina Muhammad also made the speech that Satan looks like Nabtal the
son of al-Harith, a sturdy black man with dark ruddy cheeks (243).
Despite the peace treaty, Muhammad met much opposition hostility from the Jewish
rabbis (239). Some Jews converted to Islam, while others did not. Huyayy the son of
Akhtab and Abu Yasir (241), for example, recognized Muhammad from their Torah and
declared they would be his enemy forever. Muhammad also commanded Umar to kill
Julas the son of Suwayd (242). Because of the attitudes of the Jews, Gabriel sent
Muhammad the first 100 verses of Surah 2 (247).
 The first hundred verses of the Surah of the Cow came down in reference to the
Jewish rabbis and the hypocrites of Aus and Khazraj (247), because the Aus and Khazraj
were polytheists but ransomed their prisoners in accordance with the Torah, and the
Jewish rabbis were helping them instead of the Muslims who worshipped God like the
Jews (253).
A number of Jewish rabbis came to Muhammad and asked him to answer four
questions, saying that if he did so they would follow him and testify to his truth. They
began: ‘Why does a boy resemble his mother when the semen comes from the man?’ ‘I
adjure you by God and His favours towards the children of Israel, do you not know
that a man’s semen is white and thick while a woman’s is yellow and thin, and the
likeness goes with that which comes to the top?’ They said: ‘Tell us about your sleep.’
‘My eye sleeps but my heart is awake.’ They said: ‘Tell us about what Israel voluntarily
forbade himself.’ ‘Do you not know that the food he loved best was the flesh and milk of
camels and that once when he was ill God restored him to health so he deprived himself
of his favorite food and drink in gratitude of God?’ They said: ‘Tell us about the Spirit.’
‘Do you not know that it is Gabriel, he who comes to me?’ They said: ‘Agreed, but O
Muhammad he is an enemy to us, an angel who comes only with violence and the
shedding of blood, and were it not for that we would follow you.’ Muhammad responded:
‘Who is an enemy to Gabriel? For it is he who brought it down to thy heart by God’s
permission confirming was before it and a guidance and good tidings to the believers’ as
far as the words ‘Is it not that when they make a covenant some of them set it aside, nay
most of them do not believe. And when an apostle comes to them from God confirming
that which they have, some of them who have received the scripture, the book of God,
put it behind them as if they did not know it and they follow that which the satans read
concerning the kingdom of Solomon,’ i.e. sorcery. One of the rabbis said, ‘Don’t you
wonder at Muhammad? He alleges that Solomon was a prophet, and by God he was
nothing but a sorcerer’ (255).
Muhammad then wrote to the Jews of Khaybar, which in part said: ‘Do you find
in what He has sent down to you that you should believe in Muhammad? If you do not
then there is no compulsion upon you’ (256).
When the Christians of Najran came to Muhammad the Jewish rabbis came also
and they disputed one with the other before him. Rabi said, ‘You have no standing,’ and
he denied Jesus and the Gospel; and a Christian said to the Jews, ‘You have no standing’
and he denied that Moses was a prophet and denied the Torah. So Allah sent down
concerning them: ‘The Jews say the Christians have no understanding; and the Christians
say that Jews have no standing, yet they read the scriptures’ (258).
Abu Bakr went into a Jewish school and found a good many men gathered round
a certain Finhas, one of their learned rabbis. Abu Bakr called on him to accept Islam, and
Finhas replied: ‘We are not poor compared to Allah but He is poor compared to us…
Were he independent of us He would not ask us to lend Him our money as your master
pretends, prohibiting you to take interest and allowing us to.’
Abu Bakr was enraged and hit Finhas hard on the face, saying, ‘Were it not for
the treaty between us I would cut off your head, you enemy of Allah’ (263)!
Sukayn and Adiy ibn Zayd said: ‘O Muhammad, we do not know of God’s having
sent down to mortals anything after Moses.’ So Allah sent down concerning their words:
‘We have revealed unto thee as we revealed unto Noah and the prophets after him, and
we revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and Jesus and
Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon and we brought to David the Psalms’ (265).
A deputation of sixty Christians from Najran came to Muhammad to speak with
him (270-271). Two Christians spoke to Muhammad, and said they had submitted to him.
Muhammad said they hadn’t, because they taught “God has a son, your worship of the
cross, and your eating pork hold you back from submission.” They retorted “But who is
His Father, Muhammad?” To that Muhammad was silent, and Allah sent down over 80
verses of Surah 3 (272), which also contains the curse of Allah.
Muhammad then summoned the Christians from Najran to mutually invoke the
curse if they opposed him. The Christians asked their leader, Abu l-Qasim, what to do,
and he said that Muhammad was a prophet, and if they cursed him, they’d be
exterminated. So, they came to Muhammad and told him they wouldn’t curse him and
would go home (277).
While Muhammad was in Medina (279), a fever broke out and his companions
suffered so severely from it they could only pray while sitting. Muhammad then said that
“the prayer of the sitter is only half as valuable as the prayer of the stander.”
Then Muhammad “prepared for war in pursuance of God’s command to fight his
enemies and to fight those polytheists who were near at hand whom God had commanded
to fight” (280).
At the beginning of the twelfth month from Muhammad’s coming to Medina, he
went forth raiding in Safar. Later he reached Waddan, which is the raid of al-Abwa,
attempting to attack the Quraysh and the Banu Damra. The Banu Damra made peace with
Muhammad, so war was avoided. After that, Muhammad sent Ubayda ibn al-Harith with
sixty to eighty riders as far as the water in the Hijaz below Thaniyatul-Murra, where he
met a large number of Quraysh. No fighting occurred, but a Muslim shot an arrow.
Al-Miqdad ibn Amr al-Bahrani and Utaba ibn Gazwan joined the Muslims at this
time (281).
When Muhammad was staying in Medina, he sent Hamza to the seashore with
thirty riders (283) to call the people to Islam (284). There he met Abu Jahl with three-
hundred riders (283), and fighting broke out (284), but Majdi b Amr al-Juhani intervened
between them, and they separated (283).
Then Muhammad went raiding in the month of Rabi’u’l-Awwal making for
Quraysh, and then returned to Medina without fighting.
After part of the month of Jumada’l-Ula passed, Muhammad again raided the
Quraysh. While raiding them, he made a treaty with the Banu Mudlij and their allies the
Banu Damra (285).
Muhammad then sent Sad ibn Abu Waqqas with eight men as far as al-Kharrar to
raid. There was no fighting.
After Muhammad went raiding the Al-Ushayra, Kurz ibn Jabir al-Fihri raided the
camels of Medina. Muhammad attempted to overtake him, unsuccessfully. This was the
first raid of Badr.
After the first raid of Badr, Muhammad sent Abdullah ibn Jahsh ibn Riab al-Asadi
and eight others (283) to Nakhla to spy on the Quraysh. While spying, the Muslims
decided to kill as many of the Quraysh pilgrims as they could and steal all their
property. One Quraysh, Amr ibn al-Hadrami, was killed, two Quraysh surrendered, and
one escaped. When the Muslims came to Muhammad, Abdullah ibn Jahsh said he wanted
to donate a fifth of the booty of Muhammad (this was before it was required).
Muhammad, however, was angry with them because they fought on a sacred month, and
refused to take the booty (287).
Because the Muslims fought in a sacred month, the Jews turned the raid into an
omen against Muhammad. Muhammad then revealed Surah 2:214, which says “They will
ask you about the sacred month, and war in it. Say, war therein is a serious matter, but
keeping people from the way of Allah and disbelieving in him and in the sacred mosque
and driving out his people therefrom is more serious with Allah.”
After Surah 2:214 was revealed, Muhammad decided to take the prisoners
and booty. Muhammad then traded the two prisoners for two Muslim prisoners.
Then the Muslims asked the question of whether or not they will be rewarded for
their raid during the sacred month, and Muhammad revealed Surah 2:218, which says:
“Those who believe and have emigrated and fought in the way of God, these may hope
for God’s mercy, for God is forgiving, merciful” (288).
In the beginning of the eighteenth month after Muhammad’s arrival to Medina,
the Qibla was changed to the Ka’ba.
Then Muhammad heard that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb was coming from Syria
with a large caravan of Quraysh, so he summoned the Muslims and said, “This is
the Quraysh caravan containing their property. Go out and attack it, perhaps God
will give it as a prey.” The people then went out to war with the caravan, and Abu
Sufyan called for reinforcements (289).
The Quraysh prepared for war with Muhammad, and when they had finished
preparing, they remembered the quarrel between them and the Banu Bakr ibn Abdu
Manat ibn Kinana, and were afraid that they would be attacked by them from behind
(291). However, one of the chiefs of the Banu Kinana said that there would be no attack
from behind, so they went.
Muhammad set out (292) with about 300 men (297) in the month of Ramadan,
and was preceded by two black flags. His companions had seventy camels on which men
rode in turns (292). While they were journeying, they captured Aslam, a slave of the
Banu al-Hajjaj, and others who were sent to water the camels of the Quraysh. Because
they were unimportant, the Muslims beat the captives and then freed them.
Muhammad asked his companions if they knew how where the Quraysh were and how
many there were. From the information given, Muhammad estimated there were between
nine-hundred and a thousand, with some of its best men included.
Abu Sufyan learned that Muhammad’s army was near, he fled as quickly as
possible (295). However, when Abu Sufyan told the Quraysh about how he saved their
caravan, Abu Jahl wanted to go to Badr to fight Muhammad. This split up the Quraysh
and their allies, and some of them followed Abu Jahl.
Unfortunately, a rain turned the soft sand of the wadi behind al-Aqanqal into a
hard surface, which didn’t hinder Muhammad’s movements, but hindered the Quraysh.
Muhammad then moved to the nearest water of Badr and halted (296). Muhammad then
ordered a cistern be built, so his troops could be watered while the Quraysh would have
nothing to drink.
When the Quraysh camped opposing to Muhammad’s army, some men tried to
get water from the cistern Muhammad made, and were killed (297). Other Quraysh
attempted to stop the battle for fear they would lose. Nonetheless, Abu Jahl convinced the
Quraysh to go into battle (298).
Al-Aswad ibn Abdul-Asad al Makhzumi stepped forth and Hamza ibn Abdul-
Muttalib fought him, and Hamza won. Then a three on three melee broke out, and
Muhammad’s three won.
Then, on Friday morning on the 17th of Ramadan (300) the armies drew near to
one another. From a hut, Muhammad ordered his army not to attack until his command,
and if they were surrounded they should shoot arrows at them (299). Muhammad went
out to his army, straightening them out, went back to the hut, and beseeched Allah with
these words: “O God, if this band perish today Thou wilt be worshipped no more.”
Muhammad then falls asleep in the hut, wakes up, and tells Abu Bakr that Gabriel is
leading his army into battle (300). Muhammad then commands his army to charge. While
fighting, angels wearing white turbans appeared from a glen and fought for the
Muslims (303). Also Ukkasha ibn Mihsan ibn Hurthan al-Asadi was given a club by
Muhammad which turned into a long, gleaming, strong sword which was called al-
Aun (305). Satan was also present at Badr, who ran at the site of the angels (320),
which caused Muhammad to later reveal Surah 8:50 (319).
The Quraysh were routed and many Quraysh were killed or captured (301), much
loot was obtained (302), and revenge was taken. Among those killed was “the arch-
infidel Umayya ibn Khalaf” (303) and Abu Jahl was beheaded. Ibn Masud then
brought Abu Jahl’s head to Muhammad, and Muhammad praised God (304). Then
Muhammad ordered the dead Quraysh to be buried in a pit. As they were being
buried, Muhammad stood and said: “O people of the pit, have you found that what God
threatened is true? For I have found that what my Lord promised me is true” (305).
Muhammad then revealed Surah 4:99 about some Muslim apostates who had been
killed at Badr. Next, Muhammad gathered the loot together, and the Muslims quarreled
over who was to get the booty, so Muhammad revealed Surah 8 about how the booty was
to be divided equally among the Muslims (307). See also pg. 321-327. Muhammad then
sent Abdullah ibn Rawaha to Lower Medina to reveal their victory.
Muhammad then began his return to Medina with the unbelieving prisoners.
While on the journey, Muslims came to congratulate him on the victory. Muhammad
retorted that he had “only met some bald old women like the sacrificial camels who
are hobbled, and we slaughtered them!” When Muhammad was in ‘Irqu’l-Zabya,
Muhammad ordered Uqba to be killed. Uqba asked Muhammad: “But who will
look after my children, O Muhammad?” “Hell”, he said (308).
Meanwhile, Muhammad saw Ummu’l-Fadl as a baby crawling before him, and
said: “If she grows up and I am still alive I will marry her.” But he died before she
grew up (311).
After the Battle of Badr, Muhammad told Zaynab not to have sex with her non-
Muslim husband, for she was not lawful to him. Shortly after her husband Abu’l-‘As’s
became a Muslim, and he was restored to Zaynab (317).
After that, Umayr ibn Wahb, one of the leaders of the Quraysh (318), became a
Muslim. Umayr then converted many Quraysh to Islam (319).
Muhammad stayed only seven nights in Medina before he himself made a raid
against the Banu Sulaym, but with no fighting (360).
 Later, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb went to raid Muhammad in revenge of those at Badr,
but when Muhammad went out to defend himself, Abu Sufyan and his followers fled,
leaving some of their belongings behind to flee faster. Muhammad collected them,
considering it booty (361). When Muhammad returned from the raid, he stayed in
Medina for the rest of Dhu’l-Hijja. Then he raided Najd, which is called the raid of Dhu
Amarr. He stayed in Najd during the month of Safar, or nearly all of it, and then returned
to Medina without any fighting. There he remained for the month of Rabi’u’l-Awwal.
Then he made a raid on the Quraysh as far as Bahran, stayed there for the next two
months, and returned to Medina without any fighting (362).
Meanwhile there was the affair of the Banu Qaynuqa. Muhammad
assembled them in their market and said: “O Jews, beware lest God bring upon you
the vengeance that He brought upon Quraysh and become Muslims.” They replied if
they fought him, he’d realize they were real men. Muhammad then revealed Surah 3:12-
13, which says unbelievers will go to hell and Allah revealed the Muslims were correct
by having them win against the Quraysh.
The Banu Qaynuqa then broke their agreement with Muhammad and went to war
with him. Muhammad besieged them until they surrendered unconditionally. Abdullah
ibn Ubayy ibn Salul went to Muhammad and asked for him to deal kindly with the Jews.
Muhammad did so, letting Abdullah have them. Also, Muhammad revealed Surah
5:51-56 concerning Ubada ibn al-Samit, who converted to Islam, and Abdullah ibn
Ubayy, which says Muslims are not to take non-Muslims as friends.
Because the Quraysh were afraid to follow their usual route to Syria after what
happened at Badr, they went by the Iraq route to trade, carrying a great deal of silver
which formed the larger part of their merchandise. Muhammad duly sent Zayd, and he
met them by that watering-place and captured the caravan and its contents, but the men
got away. He brought the spoils to Muhammad (364).
When Kab ibn al-Ashraf became certain that the news about Badr was true, he
went to Mecca and began to inveigh against Muhammad and to recite verses in which he
bewailed the Quraysh who were thrown into the pit. Then he composed sexual verses of
an insulting nature about the Muslim women. Muhammad then said “Who will rid me
of Ibnu’l-Ashraf?” Muhammad ibn Maslama said “O apostle of God, we shall have
to tell lies.” He answered, “Say what you like, for you are free in this matter.”
Muhammad ibn Maslama sent Silkan ibn Salama ibn Waqsh to Kab ibn al-Ashraf, and
Silkan told Kab he was an enemy of Muhammad, and wanted to align himself with Kab.
Kab asked for weapons as a sign of the pledge, and Silkan agreed and went to
Muhammad (387). They went back to Kab at night, and they, without Muhammad, went
to Kab’s castle. Kab came out, and they convinced him to go on a walk. There they
attacked him, but their swords were worthless. So Muhammad ibn Maslama pulled out
a dagger, and Kab ibn al-Ashraf screamed. Muhammad ibn Maslama then stabbed
him in the lower body, and dragged the blade down to his genitals. There he died.
“Our attack upon God’s enemy cast terror among the Jews, and there was no
Jew in Medina who did not fear for his life (368).
Muhammad said, “Kill any Jew that falls in your power.” Thereupon
Muhayyisa ibn Mas’ud leapt upon Ibn Sunaya, a Jewish merchant, and killed him.
Huwayyisa was not a Muslim at that time, but his killing Ibn Sunaya converted him to
Islam.
 After his arrival from Bahran Muhammad stopped for the months of Jumada,
Rajab, Sha’ban, and Ramadan, and stayed in Median. At this time the Quraysh made the
raid of Uhud in Shawwal (369).
The events of Uhud are like this. When the unbelieving Quraysh met distaster at
Badr and the survivors returned to Mecca and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb returned with his
caravan, the Quraysh gathered together their money to fight Muhammad and get revenge.
This caused Muhammad to reveal Surah 8:36. So, the Quraysh, some of the tribes of
Kinana, and the people of the low country gathered together to fight Muhammad (370).
They went forward until they halted at Aynayn on a hill in the valley of al-Sabkha of
Qanat by the side of the wadi opposite Medina.
When Muhammad heard of this, he revealed a dream he had which told him to
stay in Medina, so that his enemies would be in a bad position. Some men asked
Muhammad if they could go out into battle instead (371), and they kept urging him until
he put on his armor. The men changed their mind, and tried to convince Muhammad to
go back to Medina, so Muhammad replied: “It is not fitting that a prophet who has put on
his armour should lay it aside until he has fought.” So he marched out with a thousand of
his companions until they reached al-Shaut between Medina and Uhud, and a third of
them left (372). He then went on until he came down the gorge of Uhud on the high
ground of the wadi towards the mountain. He put his camels and army towards Uhud and
said, “Let none of you fight until we give the word.”
He then drew up his troops for battle, about 700 men, with 50 archers used for
protection against cavalry (373). The Quraysh had about 300 men with 200 horses.
The first fighting was between the third that left Muhammad with the black troops
and the slaves of the Meccans. After that the Meccans fought the Banu Abdu’l-Dar, who
fought for Muhammad (374). In battle, an Ethiopian slave flung a javelin at Hamza ibn
Abdul-Muttalib and killed him (375).
The Muslims slew the enemy with the sword until they cut them off from their
camp and there was an obvious rout, but when the archers turned aside to the camp
making for the spoil, they opened the rear to the cavalry and were attacked (379). The
Muslims were then put to flight and the Meccans slew many of them (380). Utba ibn Abu
Waqqas (382) hit Muhammad with a rock, which caused his face to bleed. Muhammad
asked the question: “How can a people prosper who have stained their prophet’s face
with blood while he summoned them to their Lord?” So Muhammad revealed Surah
3:128 as a response to his question (380). Muhammad then fled to the top of the glen with
Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Talha, al-Zubayr, al-Harith ibn al-Simma, and others. Suddenly a
troop of Quraysh came up the mountain. Muhammad said: “O God, it is not fitting that
they should be above us”, so Umar (382) and a number of emigrants fought until they
drove them down the mountain (383).
Even though the Meccans had won the battle, they were the ones to leave the
battlefield first (383) towards Mecca (387). Hind bint Utba and other women began
mutilating the corpses of Muslims, and she even cut out Hamza’s liver and began
chewing on it. She then mounted a high rock and shrieked at the top of her voice: “We
have paid you back for Badr” (385).
Once Abu Sufyan learned that Muhammad was still alive, he said they were to
meet at Badr next year for battle. Muhammad agreed (386).
 The Muslims searched for their dead, and Muhammad found Hamza’s corpse with
its liver out, its eyes and nose missing. When the Muslims’ saw Muhammad’s grief, they
said: “By God, if God gives us victory over them in the future we will mutilate them as
no Arab has ever mutilated anyone before.” Muhammad then revealed Surah 16:126-127,
which says: “If you punish, then punish as you have been punished. If you endure
patiently that is better for the patient. Endure thou patiently. Thy endurance is only in
God. Grieve not for them, and be not in distress at what they plot.” So Muhammad
pardoned them and was patient (387) and forbade mutilation. Muhammad then told the
Muslims to bury their dead (388).
The next day Muhammad’s crier called to the men who were at Uhud to go in
pursuit of the enemy. Muhammad merely marched out as a demonstration against the
enemy (389) to let them know that he was pursuing them so that they might think he was
in strength, and that their losses had not weakened them. They went as far as Hamra’u’l-
Asad, and stayed there four days before returning to Medina (390). Muhammad revealed
sixty verses in Surah 3 about the day of Uhud (392).
After Uhud a number of ‘Adal and al-Qara came to Muhammad, saying they had
accepted Islam and wanted teachers to instruct them in Islam. Muhammad sent six men,
who went to al-Raji, where they were betrayed (426) and killed by the Hudhayl (427).
This caused Muhammad to reveal Surah 2:205-207 (429).
Muhammad stayed in Medina for the rest of Shawwal, Dhu’l-Qa’da, Dhu’l-Hijja,
and al-Muharram while the polytheists supervised the pilgrimage. Then he sent the men
of Bi’r Ma’una forth in Safar, for months after Uhud (433).
Then he sent forty-one Muslims to the people of Najd as missionaries, and when
they halted at Bi’r Ma’una, and they sent Haram ibn Milhan with Muhammad’s letter to
Amir ibn Tufayl. Haram then rushed at Amir and killed him before he even looked
at the letter. Amir appealed to the Banu Sulaym, and they came out and surrounded the
missionaries and killed all of them but Ka’b ibn Zayd, who was injured.
Two Muslims saw vultures, so they went to investigate. One of the men was
killed by the Banu Sulaym, and Amr ibn Umayya al-Damri, the other Muslim, was let go
alive (434). While heading to Muhammad, Amr killed to two people of the Banu Amir,
who were allies with the Muslims (435). This caused Muhammad to go to the Banu al-
Nadir to ask for help in paying the bloodwit, but instead, they plotted to go to the top of a
house and drop a rock on Muhammad. But he had a revelation to go to Medina, which he
did.
Muhammad ordered the people of Medina to prepare for war and to march against
the Banu al-Nadir. The Jews took refuge in their forts and Muhammad ordered that
the palm-trees should be cut down and burnt. So the Jews called out to him:
“Muhammad, you have prohibited wanton destruction and blamed those guilty of it.
Why then are you cutting down and burning our palm-trees?” However, the Banu al-
Nadir’s allies abandoned them, and out of fear they surrendered. They asked Muhammad
to deport them and to spare their lives on condition that they could retain all their
property which they could carry on camels, except their armour, and he agreed. Some
went to Khaybar and others went to Syria (437). Muhammad then took the left-behind
property as his own, and divided it among the first emigrants. He then revealed Surah 59
concerning how Allah wreaked vengeance on the Jews and gave Muhammad power over
them and how he dealt with them (438).
 After the attack on the Banu al-Nadir Muhammad stayed in Medina during
Rabi’u’l-Akhir and part of Jumada. Then he raided Najd making for the Banu Muharib
and the Banu Tha’laba of Ghatafan. This was the raid of Dhatu’l-Riqa, and there was no
fighting. During this raid the prayer of fear, which is found in Surah 4:102, was revealed.
One of the men of the Banu Muharib called Ghaurath went to kill Muhammad by
surprise. Ghaurath went to Muhammad, asked to see his sword, he allowed Ghaurath,
Ghaurath then asked if Muhammad was afraid of him, he said no, and Ghaurath gave him
his sword back. This caused Muhammad to reveal Surah 5:14 (445). When Muhammad
came to Medina after this raid he stayed there for the rest of Jumada’l-ula, Jamada’l-
akhira, and Rajab.
In the month of Shaban he went forth to Badr to keep his appointment with Abu
Sufyan and stopped there. Abu and the Quraysh went as far as the area of Murr al-
Zahran, but returned because they couldn’t pasture their animals (447).
Muhammad returned to Medina and stayed there until Dhu’l-Hijja had passed.
This was the fourth year of his sojourn in Medina and the polytheists were in charge of
the pilgrimage. Then he attempted to raid Dumatu’l-Jandal, but didn’t reach the place.
Then he stayed in Medina the rest of the year (449).
During Shawwal, 5 AH, a number of Jews, the Banu al-Nadir and Banu Wa’il,
formed a party against Muhammad with the Quraysh. The Quraysh asked if their religion
was better than Muhammad’s, and the Jews said yes. This caused Muhammad to reveal
Surah 4:51-55. The Jews also allied themselves with the Ghatafan of Qays ‘Aylan.
When Muhammad heard of their intention he drew a trench about Medina and
worked at it himself encouraging the Muslims with the hope of reward in heaven.
However, some slacked off on the trench (450), so Muhammad revealed Surah 24:62-64
(451).
When the trench was finished the Quraysh came and encamped with ten thousand
of their black mercenaries and their followers from Banu Kinana and the people of
Tihama. Ghatafan too came with followers from Najd and halted at Dhanab Naqma
towards the direction of Uhud.
Muhammad came out with three thousand men and pitched his camp there with
the trench there with the trench between him and his foes (452) and gave orders for the
women and children to be taken into the forts. Muhammad was betrayed by Ka’b ibn
Asad al-Qurazi, which made everybody frightened (453). This caused Mu’attib ibn
Qusyahr to say: “Muhammad used to promise us that we should eat the treasures of
Chosroes and Caesar and today not one of us can feel safe in going to the privy!”
Muhammad and the polytheists remained twenty days and more, nearly a month,
without fighting except for shooting some arrows and the siege. Then some horsemen
made for a narrow part of the trench (454) and beat their horses so that they dashed
through. One of the horsemen, Amr ibn Abdu Wudd, was challenged by the Muslim Ali
to combat, and Ali killed Amr. Then the calvary fled (455).
The Banu Qurayza cut communication between Muhammad and the fort
containing the women and children, and a Jew began to circle it. To keep the weaknesses
of the fort secret, Safiya bint ‘Abdu’l-Muttalib got a club and bludgeoned him to death.
Then Nu’aym ibn Mas’ud ibn Amir of the Banu Ghatafan came to Muhammad
saying he had converted to Islam, and since he hadn’t told any of his people Muhammad
said: “You are only one man among us, so go and awake distrust among the enemy to
draw them off us if you can, for war is deceit.” Nu’aym then goes to the Jews, telling
them that the Quraysh and Ghatafan could abandon them if it gets bad, so they should
capture some of their chiefs as insurance (458). They liked the idea, and he went to the
Quraysh and Ghatafan and told them the Jews were going to attempt to capture their
chiefs to give to Muhammad to behead (459).
The angel Gabriel then appeared to Muhammad, telling him he must go fight
against the Banu Qurayza. Muhammad then ordered that nobody should perform the
afternoon prayer until after he had reached the Banu Qurayza. As Muhammad
approached the fort he said: “You brothers of monkeys, has God disgraced you and
brought His vengeance upon you?” Muhammad then asked if his companions had seen
anybody pass them. They said Dihya ibn Khalifa al-Kalbi pass upon a white mule with a
saddle covered with a piece of brocade. He said that was Gabriel “who has been sent
to the Banu Qurayza to shake their castles and strike terror to their hearts.”
Muhammad besieged them for twenty-five nights until they were sore pressed and
Allah cast terror into their hearts (461). In the morning they submitted to Muhammad’s
judgment and the al-Aus leapt up and said: “O Apostle, they are our allies, not allies of
Khazraj, and you know how you recently treated the allies of our brethren.” So
Muhammad said: “Will you be satisfied, O Aus, if one of your own number pronounces
judgment on them?” To this the al-Aus chose Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (463). Sa’d then said:
“Then I give judgment that the men should be killed, the property divided, and the
women and children taken as captives.”
Then Muhammad confined them in Medina in the quarter of bint al-Harith,
a woman of the Banu al-Najjar. Then he went out to the market of Medina and dug
trenches in it. Then he sent for them and struck off their heads in those trenches as
they were brought to him in batches. There were 600 or 700 in all, though some put
the figure as high as 800 or 900. As they were being taken out in batches to the
apostle they asked Ka’b what he thought would be done with them. He replied:
“Will you never understand? Don’t you see that the summoner never stops and
those who are taken away do not return? By Allah it is death!” This went on until
Muhammad made an end of them.
When Huyayy saw Muhammad he said: “By God, I do not blame myself for
opposing you, but he who forsakes God will be forsaken.” Then he went to the men
and said, “God’s command is right. A book and a decree, and massacre have been
written against the Sons of Israel.” Then he sat down and his head was struck off.
Only one woman was killed (464).
Then Muhammad divided the property, wives, and children of the Banu
Qurayza among the Muslims. Muhammad had chosen one of their women for
himself, Rayhana bint ‘Amr ibn Khunafa, and she remained with him until she
died, in his power. Muhammad revealed the Surah 33 concerning the trench and the
Banu Qurayza (466).
When the fight at the trench and the affair of the Banu Qurayza were over,
Khazraj asked and obtained the permission to kill Sallam ibn Abu’l-Huqayq, who
collected the mixed tribes against Muhammad. When they got to Khaybar they went to
Sallam’s house by night, having locked every door in the settlement on the inhabitants.
Now he was in an upper room chamber of his to which a latter led up (482). They came
out and asked who they were and they told her that they were Arabs in search of supplies.
They entered his room and bolted the door, smote him with their swords, and Abdullah
ibn Unays bore down with his sword into his belly until it went right through him.
They then went to Muhammad and disputed before him as to who had killed him,
each laying claim to the deed. Muhammad demanded to see the swords and when he
looked at them he said, ‘It is the sword of Abdullah ibn Unays that killed him; I can see
traces of food on it’ (483).
Amr ibn al-As, Khalid ibn al-Walid, and Uthman ibn Talha ibn Abu Talha later
accepted Islam, and Amr said to Muhammad, ‘O apostle, I will give you my allegiance
on condition that my past faults are forgiven and no mention is made of what has gone
before.’ He said, ‘Give allegiance Amr, for Islam does away with all that preceded it, as
does the hijra.’ So he gave his allegiance and went away.
In Jumada’l-Ula, six months after the conquest of Qurayza, Muhammad went out
against the Banu Lihyan to avenge his men killed at al-Raji. He made as though he was
going to Syria in order to take the people by surprise. He found that the people had been
warned and taken up strong positions on the tops of the mountains. When Muhammad
got there and saw that he had failed to take them by surprise (485) as he had intended, he
turned and went back.
Muhammad spent only a few nights in Medina when Uyayna ibn Hisn ibn
Hudhayfa ibn Badr al-Fazari with the cavalry of Ghatafan raided Muhammad’s milch-
camels, and killed the man in charge of the camels and his wife (486). Muhammad then
ordered the alarm to be sounded in Medina and the cavalry rallied to him. He set Sa’d ibn
Zayd over them and told them to go in pursuit of the band until he himself overtook them
with the army. The horsemen went in pursuit of the band until they overtook them (487).
They recovered some of the milch-camels (488).
Muhammad stayed in Medina during the latter part of Jumada’l-Akhira and
Rajab; then he attacked Banu al-Mustaliq of Khuza’a in Sha’ban A.H. 6. He did this
because he received news that Banu al-Mustaliq were gathering together against him.
Allah gave Muhammad their wives, children, and property as booty (490). One of those
taken was Juwayriya bint al-Harith ibn Abu Dirar, Muhammad’s wife. When Muhammad
married her a hundred families were released.
While on that journey (493), Aisha lost a string of Jafar beads from her neck, and
she went to find it. The men left, and she was left behind. While she was waiting for them
to return for her, she met Safwan ibn al-Mu’attal al-Sulami, who knew her before the veil
was prescribed. They met up with Muhammad’s army the next day (494) and people
began to say Aisha had an affair. Muhammad treated her differently after that (495), until
Muhammad received a revelation of her innocence (497).
Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salul was enraged at the fact that Muhammad was waging
war against his people, and said ‘By Allah when we return to Medina the stronger will
drive out the weaker’, speaking of himself and Muhammad respectively. News came to
Muhammad, and Umar said that they should kill Abdullah. Muhammad answered, ‘But
what if men should say Muhammad kills his own companions? But give orders to set
off.’ He continued his journey through the Hijaz as far as water a little above al-Naqi. As
he traveled at night a violent wind distressed the men and they dreaded it. Muhammad
told them not to be afraid because the wind announced the death of one of the greatest of
the unbelievers, and when they got to Medina they found that Rifa’a ibn Zayd ibn al-
Tabut of Banu Qaynuqa, one of the most important Jews and a secret shelterer of the
disaffected, had died that day.
A Surah came down in which Allah mentioned the disaffected with Ibn Ubayy
and those like-minded with him (491).
After that, Safwan ibn al-Mu’attal attacked Hassan ibn Thabit for satirizing him,
and Thabit ibn Qays ibn al-Shammas leapt upon Safwan and tied his hands to his neck
and took him to the quarter of the Banu al-Harith ibn al-Khazraj. Abdullah ibn Rawaha
met him and asked if Muhammad knew about what he had done, and when he said that he
did not he told him that he had been very daring and that he must free the man. He did so.
They came to Muhammad and told him of the affair and he summoned Hassan and
Safwan, and Muhammad gave Hassan Bir Ha, which is the castle of the Banu Hudayla in
Medina (498). Muhammad also gave him Sirin a Copt slave-girl, and she bare him
‘Abdul-Rahman.
Then Muhammad stayed in Medina during the months of Ramadan and Shawwal
and went out on the little pilgrimage in Dhul-Qada with no intention of making war
(499). He took the sacrificial victims with him and donned the pilgrim garb so that all
would know his purpose was to visit the temple and venerate it. But the Quraysh
encamped at Dhu Tuwa and swore that he would never enter Mecca in defiance of them.
Muhammad said: ‘Alas, Quraysh, war has devoured them! What harm would they have
suffered if they had left me and the rest of the Arabs to go our own ways? If they should
kill me that is what they desire, and if God should give me the victory over them they
would enter Islam in flocks. If they do not do that they will fight while they have the
strength, so what are Quraysh thinking of? By Allah, I will not cease to fight for the
mission with which God has entrusted me until he makes it victorious or I perish.’
Muhammad went as far as the pass of al-Murar and when his camel knelt and the men
said, ‘The camel won’t get up,’ (500) he said: ‘It has not refused and is not its nature, but
the One who restrained the elephant from Mecca is keeping it back.’ Then he told the
people to dismount. They objected that there was no water there by which they could
halt, so he took an arrow from his quiver and gave it to one of his companions and he
took it down into one of the waterholes and prodded the middle of it and the water rose
(501).
Then Quraysh sent Suhayl ibn Amr to Muhammad with instructions to make
peace with him on condition that he went back this year. After a long discussion peace
was made and nothing remained but to write an agreement. Then Muhammad
summoned Ali and told him to write ‘In the name of Allah the Compassionate, the
Merciful.’ Suhayl said ‘I do not recognize this; but write “In thy name, O Allah.”’
Muhammad told him to write the latter and he did so. And the rest of the agreement
was written, which stated ‘He who wishes to enter into a bond and agreement with
Muhammad may do so and he who wishes to enter into a bond and agreement with
Quraysh may do so.’ The Khuza’a chose Muhammad, the Banu Bakr chose the Quraysh
(504).
When the agreement was finished, Abu Jandal ibn Suhayl appeared, having
escaped to Muhammad. But because of the agreement, he was given back to the Quraysh.
Abu Jandal shrieked at the top of his voice, ‘Am I to be returned to the polytheists that
they may entice me from my religion O Muslims?’ and that increased the people’s
dejection. Muhammad told him to be patient, for they cannot break their agreement in
Allah’s name.
When the peace was concluded he slaughtered his victims and sat down and
shaved his head. When the men saw what he had done they leapt up and did the same.
Muhammad then went on his way back and when he was half-way back the Surah
al-Fath came down (505), which includes ‘God has fulfilled the vision to His apostle in
truth. You shall enter the sacred mosque if God will, safely with heads shaved and hair
cut short fearing not.’
When Muhammad arrived in Medina, Abu Basir Utba ibn Asad ibn Jariya, a
Muslim imprisoned in Mecca, came to him. Abu said to him ‘Would you return me to the
polytheists who will seduce me from my religion?’ He said, ‘God, for God will bring
relief and a way of escape for you and the helpless ones with you.’ So Abu went with a
man of Banu Amir ibn Lu’ayy, and Abu killed him, and returned to Muhammad.
Muhammad said ‘Woe is his mother, he would have kindled a war had there been others
with him’ (507). Then Abu went off until he halted at al-Is, and the Muslims at Mecca
heard about what Muhammad said of Abu, so they attached themselves to him. They
killed every Quraysh they could get hold of and cutting to pieces every caravan that
passed them. The Quraysh wrote Muhammad to take the Muslims from them, and he
agreed. When Suhayl heard what happened to his Amiri guard, he demanded the man’s
bloodwrit be paid, but the Muslims refused (508).
Umara and al-Walid sons of Uqba ibn Abu Mu’ayt asked Muhammad to return
their sister Umm Kulthum in accordance with the agreement between him and the
Quraysh, but he would not. Allah forbade him (509).
After his return from al-Hudaybiya Muhammad stayed in Medina during Dhu’l-
Hijja and part of al-Muharram, and then he marched against Khaybar (510). They met the
workers of Khaybar coming out in the morning with their spades and baskets. When they
saw Muhammad and the army they cried, ‘Muhammad with his force,’ and turned tail
and fled. Muhammad said, ‘Allahu akbar! Khaybar is destroyed’ (511).
Marhab the Jew came out from their fort carrying his weapons (512), and
challenged all to single combat. Muhammad ibn Maslama accepted, and when they
approached one another an old tree with soft wood lay between them, and they began to
hide behind it. They slashed at the tree til it lost its branches, then Marhab attacked
Muhammad ibn Maslama and struck him on the shield; his sword got stuck. Muhammad
ibn Maslama then gave him a fatal blow. After Marhab’s death his brother Yasir came
out with his challenge. al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam accepted (513), and al-Zubayr killed
him (514).
When Ghatafan heard about Muhammad’s attack on Khaybar they gathered
together and marched out to help the Jews against him, but they went back after hearing a
rumor that their property was attacked.
Muhammad seized the property of Khaybar piece by piece and conquered the
forts one by one as he came to them. The first to fall was the fort of Na’im; there
Mahmud ibn Maslama was killed by a millstone which was thrown on him from it; then
al-Qamus. Muhammad took captives from them among whom was Safiya bint
Huyayy ibn Akhtab who had been the wife of Kinana ibn al-Rabi ibn Abu’l-
Huqayq, and two cousins of hers. Muhammad chose Safiya for himself (511).
 When Muhammad married Safiya, he spent the night with her in a tent of
his. Abu Ayyub, Khalid ibn Zayd guarded Muhammad, saying “I was afraid for you
with this woman for you have killed her father, her husband, and her people and till
recently she was in unbelief, so I was afraid for you on her account’ (517).
The people of Khaybar asked Muhammad to let them go, and spare their lives,
and he did so. They then asked for Muhammad to employ them on the property with half
share in the produce, and he agreed. He made a similar agreement with the men of Fadak
(515). So Khaybar became the prey of the Muslims, while Fadak was the personal
property of Muhammad.
Muhammad prohibited that day the carnal intercourse with pregnant women who
were captured (512).
Kinana ibn al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of the Banu al-Nadir, was
brought to Muhammad who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A
Jew came to Muhammad and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin ever
morning early. When Muhammad said to Kinana, ‘Do you know that if we find you
have it I shall kill you?’ he said Yes. They excavated the ruins and found some
treasure. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so Muhammad
gave orders to al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, ‘Toture him until you extract what he
has,’ so he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead.
Then Muhammad delivered him to Muhammad ibn Maslama and he struck off his
head, in revenge for his brother (515).
When Muhammad had rested Zaynab bint al-Harith, the wife of Sallam ibn
Mishkam prepared for him a lamb shoulder, and put a lot of poison in it. Muhammad
realized it was poisoned, but he died later anyway.
Having finished with Khaybar, Muhammad went to Wadi’l-Qura and besieged its
people for some nights, then he left for Medina (516).
When Khaybar had been conquered al-Hajjaj ibn ‘Ilat al-Sulami said to
Muhammad, ‘I have money with my wife... and among the Meccan merchants, so give
me permission to go and get it.’ Having got his permission he said, ‘I must tell lies, O
apostle’. He said, ‘Tell them.’ Then he came to some men of Quraysh asking about
Muhammad’s war with Khaybar, and he lied saying Muhammad lost (519). They brought
him to Mecca to announce the news, and there al-Hajjaj collected his money (520).
Later, due to various disputes of bloodwrit, the Jews were expelled from the
Arabic peninsula (525).
When Muhammad returned from Khaybar to Medina he stayed there from the
first Rabi’ until Shawwal, sending out raiding parties and expeditions. Then in Dhu’l-
Qa’da, the month in which the polytheists had prevented him from pilgrimage, he went
out to make the ‘fulfilled pilgrimage’. Those Muslims who had been excluded with him
went out in A.H. 7, and when the Meccans heard of it they got out of his way. There,
Muhammad kissed the stone, and went out trotting as did his companions until when the
temple concealed him from them and he had kissed the southern corner he walked to kiss
the black stone (530). Then he trotted similarly three circuits and walked the rest.
Muhammad married Maymuna bitn al-Harith in that journey of his when he was haram.
Muhammad remained three days in Mecca, and then went on to Medina.
He remained there for the rest of Dhu’l-Hijja, and throughout al-Muharram and
Safar (531) and the two Rabi’s. In Jumada’l-Ula he sent to Syria his force which met with
disaster in Mu’ta by the hands of Heraclius with 100,000 Greeks and 100,000 men from
Lakhm and Judham and al-Qayn and Bahra and Bali (532).
After Muhammad had sent his force to Mu’ta he stayed in Medina during the
latter Jumada and Rajab. Then the Banu Bakr ibn ‘Abdu Manat ibn Kinana attacked
Khuza’a while they were at a well of theirs in the lower region of Mecca. Because of the
peace of Hudaybiya was concluded between Muhammad and the Quraysh which stated
that whoever wanted to enter into a treaty with either party could do so, the Banu Bakr
joined Quraysh and the Khuza’a joined Muhammad (540).
Then, the Quraysh and Banu Bakr had combined against Khuza’a and killed some
of them, thereby breaking their covenanted word with Muhammad in violating Khuza’a
who were in treaty with him (542). Then a number of Khuza’a came to Muhammad and
told him of their misfortune, and having done so they returned to Mecca. Because the
Quraysh were afraid of what Muhammad would do to them, they tried to extend the
peace treaty (543), but Muhammad refused, so they granted protection between men.
Muhammad then ordered preparations to be made for a foray with the Quraysh.
Later Muhammad informed the men that he was going to Mecca (544). Then Muhammad
went on his journey and put over Medina Abu Ruhm Kulthum ibn Husayn ibn Utba ibn
Khalaf al-Ghifari. He went on until he came to Marr al-Zahran with 10,000 Muslims;
Sulaym numbered 700 and some say 1,000; and Muzayna 1,000; and in every tribe there
was a considerable number of Muslims. The Muhajirs and Helpers went as one man; not
one stayed behind (545). When Muhammad had reached Marr al-Zahran Quraysh were
completely ignorant of the fact and did not even know what he was doing. When
Muhammad camped at Marr al-Zahran Abbas said, ‘Alas, Quraysh, if the apostle enters
Mecca by force before they come and ask for protection that will be the end of Quraysh
forever’ (546).
Muhammad then converted Abu Sufyan to Islam (547), and said that whoever
enters his house, he who locks his door is safe, and he who enters a mosque is safe. Then
Abu Sufyan went to the Quraysh, and told them, and they fled to these places (548).
Muhammad had instructed his commanders when they entered Mecca only to
fight those who resisted them, except a small number who were to be killed even if they
were found beneath the curtains of the Ka’ba. Among them was Abdullah ibn Sa’d,
brother of the Banu Amir ibn Lu’ayy. The reason he ordered him to be killed was that
he had been a Muslim and used to write down revelation; then he apostatized and
returned to Quraysh. Another was Abdullah ibn Khatal of the Banu Taym ibn
Ghalib, who was a Muslim (550) and killed a lazy Muslim slave and apostatized. He
had two singing-girls Fartana and her friend who used to sing satirical songs about
Muhammad, so he ordered that they should be killed with him. Another was al-
Huwayrith ibn Nuqaydh ibn Wahb ibn Abd ibn Qusayy, who used to insult
Muhammad in Mecca. Another was Miqyas ibn Hubaba because he killed an Ansari
and returned to Quraysh as a polytheist. And Sara who had insulted him in Mecca
(551).
After Muhammad arrived in Mecca, when the population settled down, went to
the temple and encompassed it seven times on his camel touching the black stone with a
stick which he had in his hand. This done he summoned Uthman ibn Talha and took the
key of the Ka’ba from him, and when the door was opened for him he went in. Inside it
contained 360 idols which Iblis had strengthened with lead. Muhammad was standing by
them with a stick in his hand, saying, ‘The truth has come and falsehood has passed
away; verily falsehood is sure to pass away’. Then he pointed at them with his stick and
they collapsed on their backs one after the other. Muhammad spared pictures of Jesus and
Mary (552). Then Muhammad said, ‘O Quraysh, what do you think I am about to do with
you?’ They replied, ‘Good. You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother.’ He said, ‘Go
your way for you are the freed ones.’ Then the populace gathered around to do homage to
him and Islam (553).
Muhammad then sent out troops in the district round Mecca inviting men to God:
he did not order them to fight. Among those he sent was Khalid ibn al-Walid, but he
subdued the Banu Jadhima and killed some of them. When the news reached Muhammad
he raised his hands to heaven and said, ‘O God, I am innocent before Thee of what
Khalid has done’ (561).
Then Muhammad sent Khalid to al-Uzza which was in Nakhla. It was a temple
which this tribe of Quraysh and Kinana and all Mudar used to venerate. When Khalid
arrived he destroyed her and returned to Muhammad (565).
When Hawazin heard how Muhammad had taken Mecca, Malik ibn Auf al-Nasri
collected all the Thaqif, the Nasr, and the Jusham; they decided to attack Muhammad
(566). When Muhammad heard about them he decided to go out against Hawazin, he
marched with 2,000 Meccans and 10,000 of his companions who had gone out with him
when he conquered Mecca (567). When they approached Wadi Hunayn they came down
through a wadi, but their enemies had gotten there first, and they attacked Muhammad’s
forces as one man. Muhammad’s forces fled, only a number of Muhajirs and Ansar and
men of his family remained with him (569). The men went on fighting and when those
who had run away returned they found only prisoners handcuffed (570).
It is said that before the people fled and men were fighting the like of a black
garment coming from heaven descended and black ants everywhere filled the wadi. There
was no doubt that they were the angels. Then the enemy fled (572).
When the polytheists were routed they came to al-Ta’if (574). They shut the gates
of the city and made preparations for war. Muhammad followed them (587). When he
came there that day he allowed retaliation for homicide, and that was the first time such a
thing happened in Islam. A man of Banu Layth had killed a man of Hudhayl and
Muhammad killed him in retaliation. When he was in Liya Muhammad ordered that the
fort of Malik ibn Auf should be destroyed.
Muhammad went on until he halted near al-Ta’if, and he besieged them for some
twenty days. When the day of storming came at the wall of al-Ta’if a number of his
companions went under a testudo and advanced up to the wall to breach it. Thaqif let
loose on them scraps of hot iron so they came out from under it and Thaqif shot them
with arrows and killed some of them (589).
Muhammad said to Abu Bakr while he was besieging al-Ta’if, ‘I saw (in a dream)
that I was given a bowl of butter and a cock pecked at it and spilt it.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘I
don’t think that you will attain your desire from them today.’ Later the army moved on
(590).
When Muhammad left al-Ta’if he went by the way of Dahna, having a large
number of Hawazin captives. Then a deputation from Hawazin which had accepted Islam
came to him and asked him to have pity on them. Muhammad said, ‘Which are dearest to
you? Your sons and your wives or your cattle?’ They asked for their wives and their sons,
and Muhammad said, ‘So far as concerns what I and the Banu Abdu’l-Muttalib have they
are yours’ (592). The Muhajirs and the Ansar also gave up their Hawazin captives.
Muhammad then told the Hawazin to tell Malik ibn Auf that if he came to him as
a Muslim, he would return his family and property to him and give him a hundred camel.
Malik accepted (593).
Then Muhammad left al-Ji’rana to make the lesser pilgrimage. Having completed
the pilgrimage he returned to Medina. He left Attab ibn Asid in charge of Mecca. He
arrived in Medina towards the end of that month or in Dhu’l-Hijja (597).
There, he gave orders to prepare to raid the Byzantines. One day when
Muhammad was making his arrangements he said to Jadd ibn Qays of Banu Salima:
‘Would you like to fight the Byzantines, Jadd?’ He replied, ‘Will you allow me to stay
behind and not tempt me, for everyone knows that I am strongly addicted to women and I
am afraid that if I see the Byzantine women I shall not be able to control myself.’
Muhammad gave him permission to stay behind (602). About him Surah 9:49 came
down, ‘There are some who say Give me leave and do not tempt me. Surely they have
fallen into temptation already and hell encompasses the unbelievers,’ i.e. it was not that
he feared temptation from the Byzantine women: the temptation he had fallen into was
greater in that he hung back from Muhammad and sought to please himself rather than
Muhammad. Allah said in Surah 14:19, ‘Verily hell is behind him.’
The disaffected said one to another, ‘Don’t go forth in the heat,’ disliking
strenuous war, doubting the truth, and creating misgivings about Muhammad. So Allah
set down concerning them in Surah 9:82: ‘And they said, Go not forth in the heat. Say:
The fire of hell is hotter did they but understand.’
When Muhammad’s road was clear he determined to set off (603). When he
reached Tabuk Yuhanna ibn Ru’ba governor of Ayla came and made a treaty with him
and paid him the poll tax. Muhammad wrote for them a document which they still have
(607). Muhammad stayed in Tabuk some ten nights, not more. Then he returned to
Medina (608). Tabuk was the last raid that Muhammad made (624).
Muhammad went on until he stopped in Dhu Awan, where the owners of a
mosque, called the mosque of opposition, came to him and said, ‘We have built a mosque
for the sick and needy and for nights of bad weather, and we should like you to come to
us and pray for us there.’ Muhammad said he was on the point of traveling and was
preoccupied, and that if God willed he would come back and pray for them.
When he stopped in Dhu Awan news of the mosque came to him, and told Malik
ibn al-Dukhshum to go to the mosque of those evil men and destroy and burn it. He did
so. A portion of the Quran came down concerning them in Surah 9:108: ‘Those who
chose a mosque in opposition and unbelief and to cause division among believers’ to the
end of the passage (609).
When Muhammad returned to Medina (614) the Thaqif took council and said one
to another, ‘Don’t you see that your herds are not safe; none of you can go out without
being cut off.’ So they sent riders to make their submission and accept Islam on
Muhammad’s conditions provided they could get a document guaranteeing their people
and their land and animals (615). They accepted Islam (616).
Muhammad remained there for the rest of the month of Ramadan and Shawwal
and Dhu’l-Qa’da. Then he sent Abu Bakr in command of the hajj in the year 9 to enable
the Muslims to perform their hajj while the polytheists were at their pilgrimage stations.
A discharge came down permitting the breaking of the agreement between
Muhammad and the polytheists that none should be kept back from the temple
when he came to it, and that none need fear during the sacred month (617). This is
found in Surah 9 (618).
When the discharge came down to Muhammad after he had sent Abu Bakr to
superintend the hajj, Muhammad sent Ali with the message. Muhammad said, ‘No
unbeliever shall enter Paradise, and no polytheist shall make pilgrimage after this year.’
Then the discharge was told to the heathen Arabs. Then Muhammad gave orders to fight
the polytheists who had broken the special agreement as well as those who had a general
agreement after the four months which had been given them as a fixed time (619).
The people began to say that they would become poor because the pagans
couldn’t come to Mecca, so Allah sent down ‘If you fear poverty God will enrich you
from His bounty if He will. He is knowing, wise. Fight those who do not believe in God
and the last day and forbid not that which God and His apostle have forbidden and follow
not the religion of truth from among those who have been given the scripture until they
pay the poll tax out of hand being humbled’ (620).
When Muhammad had gained possession of Mecca, and had finished with Tabuk,
and Thaqif had surrendered and paid homage, deputations from the Arabs came to him
from all directions (627). In deciding their attitude to Islam the Arabs were only waiting
to see what happened to this clan of Quraysh and Muhammad. When Mecca was
occupied and Quraysh became subject to him and he subdued it to Islam, and the Arabs
knew that they could not fight Muhammad or display enmity towards him they entered
into Islam in batches (628).
Surad came to Muhammad and became a good Muslim with the deputation from
al-Azd. Muhammad put him in command of those of his people who had accepted Islam
and ordered him to fight the neighboring polytheists from the tribes of the Yaman with
them.
On Muhammad’s return from Tabuk a messenger brought a letter from the kings
of Himyar with their acceptance of Islam (642). Farwa ibn Amr ibn al-Nafira al-Judhami
of the clan of Nufatha sent a letter to Muhammad telling him that he had accepted Islam.
Farwa was governor for the Byzantines of the Arabs lying near the Byzantine border
based on Ma’an and the surrounding land of Syria. The Byzantines imprisoned him
(644).
In the year 11, at the beginning of Dhu’l-Qa’da Muhammad prepared to make the
pilgrimage and ordered the men to get ready. Neither he nor the men spoke of anything
but the pilgrimage, until when he was in Sarif and had brought the sacrificial victims with
him. He ordered the people to remove their pilgrim garments when they entered Mecca
except those who brought victims (649).
Muhammad continued his pilgrimage and showed the men the rites and taught
them the customs of their hajj (650). He made a speech which included: ‘You will surely
meet your Lord and he will ask you your works.’ And ‘All usury is abolished.’ And ‘All
blood shed in the pagan period is to be left unavenged.’ And ‘Postponement of a sacred
month is only an excess of disbelief.’ And ‘You have rights over your wives and they
have rights over you… God allows you to put them in separate rooms and to beat them
but not with severity’ (651). Muhammad also said later that adulterers must be stoned.
 Muhammad returned and stopped in Medina for the rest of Dhu’l-Hijja,
Muharram, and Safar (652).
He then sent out some of his companions in different directions to the kings of the
Arabs and the non-Arabs inviting them to Islam. A memorandum of those Muhammad
sent contained a statement which in part said that they should not be displeased like
Jesus’ disciples were when He sent them on a long journey.
‘Those whom Jesus Son of Mary sent, both disciples and those who came after
them, in the land were: Peter the disciple and Paul with him, (Paul belonged to the
followers and was not a disciple) to Rome; Andrew and Matthew to the land of the
cannibals; Thomas to the land of Babel which is in the land of the east; Philip to Carthage
which is Africa; John to Ephesus the city of the young men of the cave; James to
Jerusalem which is Aelia the city of the sanctuary; Bartholomew to Arabia which is the
land of the Hijaz; Simon to the land of the Berbers; Judah who was not one of the
disciples was put in the place of Judas’ (653).
When there was peace in Arabia, and when Heraclius had conquered Persia and
recaptured his great cross which they had plundered, Heraclius went to Jerusalem to pray.
After doing so, he said, “In a vision of the night I saw the kingdom of a circumcised man
victorious.” A messenger of the governor of Busra came and said, “This man, O king, is
from the Arabs… a man appeared among us alleging that he was a prophet. Some
followed and believed”. Heraclius said, “This, by God, is the vision I saw” (654). Later,
Muhammad sent Heraclius a letter, saying “If you accept Islam you will be safe; if you
accept Islam God will give you a double reward” (655).
Heraclius brought together the Roman generals and fastened the doors, and said,
“Muhammad had written me a letter summoning me to his religion. By God, he is truly
the prophet whom we expect and find in our books, so come and let us follow him.” As
one man they uttered cries of disgust and ran to the doors to get out, but they found it
bolted. Heraclius said, “I spoke these words that I might see the firmness of your religion
in face of what has happened, and I am delighted with what I have seen of your behavior”
(656).
Heraclius then tried to get the Romans to follow Muhammad, but they refused. He
then tried to get them to pay the jizya, but they refused. He then tried to get them to
surrender Syria to Muhammad, but they refused. Then Heraclius said Syria would fall
into the hands of Muhammad anyway, and he drove off to Constantinople (657).
Muhammad then sent a letter to Chosroes and when he had read it he tore it up.
Then Chosroes wrote to Badhan, telling him to send two stout men to bring Muhammad
to him. Badhan sent the two men, and they came to Muhammad. They came to
Muhammad with shaven beards and long moustaches, so that he could not bear to look at
them. He advanced on them and said, ‘Who ordered you to do this?’ To which they
replied, ‘Our Lord’ meaning Chosroes. Muhammad replied, ‘But my Lord has ordered
me to let my beard grow long and to cut my moustache.’
News came from heaven to Muhammad to the effect that God had given
Shirawayh power over his father Chosroes and he had killed him. Muhammad told the
two men (658), and they reported this to Badwan, and because of this revelation Badwan
converted to Islam (659).
Muhammad then sent Ghalib ibn Abdullah al-Kalbi on a night raid on the Banu
al-Mulawwah (660). When the Banu al-Mulawwah went to sleep and towards dawn the
Muslims attacked them and killed some and drove off the cattle. The Banu al-Mulawwah
cried out to one another for aid, and a multitude came out which the Muslims could not
resist. The Muslims fled through the wadi, and Allah sent a flood, which brought such
water that none could resist it and none could pass over. And thus the Muslims escaped
with the cattle. It was said that the war-cry of the Muslims that night was Slay! Slay
(661)!
Muhammad then sent Rifa’a ibn Zayd al-Judhami with a letter inviting his people
to Islam. When he did so, Dihya ibn Khalifa al-Kalbi reached one of their wadis and was
attacked by a clan of Judham. News of this reached some of al-Dubayb of the kin of
Rifa’a, and they went after the clan of Judham. This provoked a skirmish. The al-Bubayb
beat the clan of Judham, and freed Rifa’a, and Rifa’a went to Muhammad to ask
permission to kill two people of the clan of Judham. Muhammad sent Zayd ibn Haritha
against them and that was what provoked the raid of Zayd on Judham.
Zayd’s forces came up from the direction of al-Aulaj and attacked al-Maqis. They
rounded up the cattle and killed the two men Rifa’a requested (662). Ibn Hadrad shot a
man in the heart with an arrow, and then cut of his head shouting ‘Allahu akbar’ (671).
Then, the Muslims rounded up the prisoners. Men then went to Muhammad to find out
what to do with the prisoners (663), and Muhammad gave back those who are alive to
their relatives. Ali objected that Zayd would not obey him, whereupon Muhammad told
him to take his sword and gave it to him.
Zayd ibn Haritha also raided al-Taraf, which was on the road to Iraq (664). He
then swore that he would have no sex until he raided the Banu Fazara. Muhammad then
sent him against them with a force. Zayd fought them, and Umm Qirfa Fatima bint
Rabi’a ibn Badr was taken prisoner. Zayd ordered Qays ibn al-Musahhar to kill her
and he put a rope to her two legs and to two camels and drove them until they rent
her in two (665).
Muhammad sent Abdullah ibn Unays against Khalid, who was in Nakhla
collecting men to attack Muhammad, and he killed him. Muhammad gave Abdullah a
stick for his success, and said that it was for a sign between them when the resurrection
happens (666). Muhammad then sent Uyayna ibn Hisn to raid the Banu al-Anbar, and he
killed some and captured others (667).
Muhammad then ordered Abdu’l-Rahman ibn Auf to make his preparations for
the expedition on Dumatu’l-Jandal. He said, ‘Fight everyone in the way of God and kill
those who disbelieve in God. Do not be deceitful with the spoil; do not be treacherous,
nor mutilate, nor kill children” (672)
Muhammad sent a force to the coast commanded by Abu Ubayda and furnished
them with a supply of dates. The dates ran out, but Allah brought a whale from the sea,
and they ate that. After the killing of Khubayb and his companions Muhammad sent an
Ansari telling him to go kill Abu Sufyan. After circling the Ka’ba seven times, the
Meccans noticed him and made him flee (673). They went to al-Tan’im, and saw
Khubayb hanging on a cross. He removed him from the cross, but he left him behind
when people found out. The Ansari man then went to the valley of Dajnan, where he met
a man who sang a song saying he wouldn’t remain a Muslim for long. The Ansari waited
for him to fall asleep, and killed him in a more horrible way then any man has been
killed. He put the end of his bow in his only eye, then he bore down on it until he forced
it out at the back of his neck. He then fled again, and found to Meccans spying on
Muhammad. He killed one, and captured the other, and brought him to Muhammad
(674).
When Muhammad killed al-Harith ibn Suwayd ibn Samit, Abu Afak disaffected
and wrote a poem about Muhammad. Muhammad said, ‘Who will deal with this rascal
for me?’, whereupon Salim ibn Umayr went forth and killed him (675).
When Abu Afak had been killed Umayr bint Adiy disaffected and wrote a poem
about Muhammad. When Muhammad heard what she said he said, ‘Who will rid me
of Marwan’s daughter?’ Umayr ibn Adiy al-Khatmi went to her house and killed
her. The day after Bint Marwan was killed the men of Banu Khatma became Muslims
because they saw the power of Islam (676).
In the raid of Muharib and Banu Tha’laba, Muhammad captured a slave called
Yasar, and he put him in charge of his milch-camels to shepherd them in the
neighborhood of al-Jamma. Some men of Qays of Kubba of Bajila came to
Muhammad suffering from an epidemic and enlarged spleens, and the apostle told
them that if they went to the milch-camels and drank their milk and urine (677)
they would recover, so off they went. When they recovered, they killed Yasar and stuck
thorns in his eyes and drove away Muhammad’s camels. Muhammad sent Kurz ibn
Jabir in pursuit of them, he overtook them, brought them to Muhammad as he
returned from the raid of Dhu Qarad. He cut off their hands and feet and gouged
out their eyes.
Muhammad sent Usama to Syria and commanded him to take the calvary into the
borders of the Balqa and al-Darum in the land of Palestine. The first emigrants with with
Usama.
While matters were thus Muhammad began to suffer from the illness by which
God took him to what He intended shortly before the end of Safar. It began when he went
to Baqi’u’l-Gharqad in the middle of the night to pray for the dead. Then he returned to
his family and in the morning his sufferings began. He said the pain began in his head
(678). When he was going the round with his wives, he was overpowered in the house of
Maymuna, and asked to be nursed in Aisha’s house.
Muhammad went out walking between two men of his family, one of whom was
al-Fadl ibn al-Abbas. His head was bound in a cloth and his feet were dragging as he
came to Aisha’s house. Then Muhammad’s illness worsened and he suffered much pain.
He said, ‘Pour seven skins of water from different wells over me so that I may go out to
the men and instruct them.’ They did so until he cried, ‘Enough, enough’.
He then went to the men and said that God’s servants the choice between this
world and the next. Abu Bakr perceived that he meant himself and he wept saying that he
and his children would be Muhammad’s ransom (679).
Then he came down and entered into his house and his pain increased until he was
exhausted. Then some of his wives gathered to him, and forced him to take medicine.
When he recovered he said the medicine came from Abyssinia and was used to cure
pleurisy. Muhammad then said he didn’t need the medicine, so he forced his wives to
take the medicine as punishment.
Muhammad then ordered Abu Bakr in charge of prayers (680), but the Muslims
thought Umar was also worthy of leading the prayers (681).
Muhammad’s illness became severe again, so that he was unable to speak. When
he was at the point of death, the last word he said was, ‘Nay, rather the Exalted
Companion of paradise’, i.e. Surah 4:71. The Muslims said to themselves, ‘Then by God
he is not choosing us’ (681)! Muhammad then died after saying that, in the heat of the
noon.
Umar then got up and said that Muhammad hadn’t died, but would reappear in
forty days like Moses did (682). Abu Bakr then refuted him, saying ‘O men, if anyone
worships Muhammad, Muhammad is dead; if anyone worships God, God is alive,
immortal.’ The people believed Abu Bakr.
When Muhammad died, the Ansar had gathered round Sa’d in the hall of the
Banu Sa’ida, so Abu Bakr and Umar attempted to promote homogeny under Abu Bakr
(683). They went to Medina at the end of Dhu’l-Hijja and Umar gave a speech, saying,
‘God sent Muhammad and sent down the scripture to him. Part of what he sent down was
the passage on stoning; we read it, we were taught it, and we heeded it. Muhammad
stoned (adulterers) and we stoned them after him. I fear that in time to come men will say
that they find no mention of stoning in God’s book and thereby go astray by neglecting
an ordinance which God has sent down. Verily stoning in the book of God is a penalty
laid on married men and women who commit adultery, if proof stands or pregnancy is
clear or confession is made (684). Did not Muhammad say, “Do not praise me
extravagantly as Jesus Son of Mary was praised and say the servant and the apostle of
God? Don’t let a man deceive himself by saying the acceptance of Abu Bakr was an
unpremeditated affair. God averted the evil of that. What happened was that when God
took away Muhammad the Ansar opposed us and gathered with their chiefs in the hall of
Banu Sa’ida; and Ali and al-Zubayr and their companions withdrew from us; while the
Muhajirin gathered to Abu Bakr.’
Abu Bakr and Umar then went to the Ansar (865), and Abu Bakr said “The Arabs
will recognize authority only in this clan of Quraysh, they being the best of the Arabs in
blood and country. I offer you one of these two men: accept which you please.” Thus
saying he took hold of Abdullah ibn Abbas and Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah.
One of the Ansar said: ‘I am the rubbing post and the fruitful propped-up palm.
Let us have one ruler and you another, O Quraysh.’ Altercation waxed hotter and voices
were raised until when a complete breach was to be feared, so Abdullah ibn Abbas said
‘Stretch out your hand, Abu Bakr.’ Abdullah paid him homage, and then the Muhajirin,
and then the Ansar.
On the morrow of Abu Bakr’s acceptance in the hall (686), Umar asked the
Muslims to swear fealty to Abu Bakr. They did so.
When men swore fealty to Abu Bakr, men came to prepare Muhammad for burial
on Tuesday (687). A voice told them to wash Muhammad’s body with his clothes on, and
then they laid him on his bed. They made a grave beneath the bed. People prayed over his
body, and then they buried him in the middle of the night on Wednesday (688). When
Muhammad was laid in his grave and the earth was laid over him.
Muhammad said, ‘God slay a people who choose the graves of their prophets as
mosques.’ The last injunction he gave was in his words, ‘Let not two religions be left in
the Arabian peninsula.’
Muhammad died on the 12th Rabi’u-l-awwal on the very last day that he came to
Medina as an emigrant, having completed exactly twelve years in his migration (689).