Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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would take place between the Muslims and the Makkans. By the
terms of this treaty the Muslims were to go back without visiting
the Kabah. They were to come again the following year and stay in
Makkah for just three days.
The treaty appeared to be a victory for the Quraysh, for the
Prophet had unilaterally accepted all their conditions. But it soon
proved to be otherwise. Now there being no danger of war, people
were able to mix freely with any tribe they liked. This gave the non-
Muslims an opportunity to have a closer look at Islam. During this
period of free interaction, Islam became a subject of general
discussion. The call of Islam spread rapidly. The Arabs, impressed
by the virtues of Islam and began to enter its fold in large numbers.
Within the next two years the number of Muslims greatly increased.
CALL TO THE WORLD
Now that peace prevailed, the Prophet took full advantage of
the opportunities it afforded him. He sent his companions with
letters to the rulers and kings the borders of whose kingdoms were
contiguous with, or close to Arabia. The companions used to
deliver these letters to the rulers. – Iran, Byzantium, Abyssinia,
Egypt and Syria, amongst others. These letters contained the
fundamental teachings of Islam and the rulers were invited to
accept Islam.
Some of them, like Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia accepted
Islam, while others rejected it, but they accepted the letters
graciously and sent presents to the Prophet. Only the Emperor of
