Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
12. Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah
~ 310 ~
Khaybar, 200 kilometres to the north. The Quraysh
and the Jews were united in their enmity towards
Islam but neither being strong enough to take the
Muslims on alone, they had entered into
negotiations aimed at setting out a plan of joint
action against the Muslims. The latter, for their part,
were not in a position either to take on both
enemies at the same time.
It was against this background that the Prophet,
acting under divine inspiration, set out for
Makkah in the year A.H. 6 along with 1400
companions. He made it absolutely clear that the
Muslims had no intention of fighting anybody,
and were just going for Umrah. The sacrificial
camels, which the Muslims took along with them,
provided further proof of their peaceful
intentions. The camels were even given the
sacrificial emblem, known as
qaladah,
so that the
people of Makkah could be quite sure that they
were meant for sacrifice. This journey was also
aimed at allaying the fears of the Quraysh that the
Muslims intended to destroy the Ka’bah’s
religious and commercial status.
