Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
11. Islam comes to Madinah
~ 290 ~
change of attitude. They began to think in terms of
peace instead of war, of unity instead of civil
conflict. They started setting their relations with
their neighbours in a wider context than that of the
battlefield. They saw that the problem lay more
between the Arab tribes of the Aws and Khazraj on
one side, and the Jews on the other, than between
the two Arab tribes themselves. If the Aws and
Khazraj could unite on a single platform, they
would be able to present a united front to the Jews.
A unifying faith was just what they needed to heal
the wounds of tribal conflict, and patch up the
differences between the two tribes. And if they
could find a leader acceptable to both sides, he
would be able to see the process of reconciliation
through to its completion. In the person of the
Prophet Muhammad, they found the leader and the
faith they needed. They rushed to accept his
religion.
It was Islam, then, that benefited indirectly from the
war of Bu’ath, for it made the Aws and Khazraj
realize the futility of war and seek peace among
themselves. This peace they found in Islam, and
they united with one another as helpers of the
