Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
7. The Revolution of the Prophet
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One outstanding example of the selflessness
involved in the act of faith at that time was the
event known as
bay’at ‘aqbah thaniyah
(The Second
Oath of Allegiance), which was made before the
Prophet emigrated to Madinah. Just when
persecution of Muslims in Makkah had reached
intolerable levels, some of them started spreading
the message of Islam in Madinah, and soon it
reached every home there. At that time some of the
people of Madinah resolved to go to Makkah, swear
allegiance to the Prophet, and invite him to
emigrate to Madinah. Jabir al-Ansari later recalled
how, when Islam had spread to every house of
Madinah,
they held
consultations
among
themselves. “How long can we let the Prophet
wander around the hills of Makkah, fearful and
distressed?” They said to one another. To those who
judged from appearances alone the very fact that
the Prophet was alone, with few supporters, was
proof of his not being in the right: how could he be
God’s prophet, and be left in such an abject state?
But the people of Madinah looked at the matter on a
more profound level. They had realized the truth of
his prophethood, and saw that by helping him they
would earn God’s grace and good favour.
