Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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pledged to protect the Prophet from his enemies. For all this
sacrifice on their part they wanted only one assurance from the
Prophet: that when the Prophet had gained power, he should not
leave them and return to Makkah. The Prophet replied:
“You have that assurance. I am yours and you are
mine.”
Now the Muslims began to emigrate to Yathrib in large
numbers to escape persecution at the hands of the Quraysh. Only
the Prophet, Abu Bakr and a few Muslims were left in Makkah.
This infuriated the Quraysh for Islam was now strengthening its
root in Yathrib. They were greatly alarmed that their enemies were
gaining a firm foothold. There was nothing more dangerous than
that. So they resolved to remove the danger once and for all. They
said:
“Kill Muhammad and Islam will die with him.”
As the Makkans plotted against his life, God sent His command
to the Prophet to leave for Yathrib. First of all he called Ali and
gave him the deposits of the people and asked him to return it to
the depositors. The young men with whom the Quraysh had
planned to carry out the assassination collected on that fateful
night to put their plan to action. But God had another plan. And
who can overrule the plan of God? Accordingly, the Prophet made
Ali lie in his bed while he himself left the house at midnight.
The Prophet had already informed Abu Bakr, his closest friend,
of the plan to emigrate, to be conducted in total secrecy. They left
